The LEGO Learning System is a great way to teach STEM in the classroom. The following are different ways to incorporate learning and play with LEGO Education.
Read our list of five reasons why Chromebooks for teachers make sense
We are proud to announce that we will now be a UK Distributor for LEGO® Education, offering our customers a suite of LEGO Education products that promote learning through play. Guy Watts, MD of Getech, said, “We are known for bringing innovative solutions to the education sector. We are delighted to be working alongside such an established brand that offers a hands-on learning system that can create inspiring teaching environments.” With over 40 years of experience working alongside teachers and students, LEGO Education solutions teach critical 21st century STEAM skills through hands-on, purposeful play that help students and teachers build confidence in learning. LEGO Education products are designed for all school ages and include intelligent hardware to introduce children to robotics, preparing them for the jobs of tomorrow in an engaging, joyful setting. The LEGO Learning System provides teachers with the assessment tools, lesson plans and professional development they need to make learning inspiring, engaging and practical. Tom Hall, General Manager, LEGO® Education, said, “We look forward to bringing the proven benefits of purposeful play to more classrooms, teachers and students across the UK as we build vital confidence in STEAM skills through LEGO® Education.” Learn more about Getech and LEGO for Education >
Ipswich-based Getech Limited, one of the largest independent value-added distributors and providers of IT services in the UK along with Leading cloud, AI, have announced they have become the first UK distributor for Merlyn Mind, the US-based company behind a new digital assistant for teachers powered by artificial intelligence. Symphony Classroom is the new hardware and software solution built just for classrooms to bring the power of AI enabled voice to teachers to help them with their work. Symphony Classroom comes as an AI hub, remote control and AI software platform custom built for the unique needs of education and the privacy and security needs of schools, colleges and universities. Powering all of this is Merlyn, the world’s first digital assistant for teachers. The solution from Merlyn Mind works with the technology teachers already use in their learning spaces. As a voice-enabled artificial intelligence solution, Merlyn responds to the teacher’s voice from wherever she is in the classroom. A remote control adds additional interactive features such as an air mouse and media navigation buttons. The solution is designed for education environments and delivers shortcuts to learning resources powered by just the teacher’s voice, so the teacher can focus on what they do best – teaching. Guy Watts, MD of distribution partner Getech said “We are known for being innovative in bringing leading technology solutions to the communities we serve and the Symphony Classroom solution from the team at Merlyn Mind is a great example of this. Along with our partners at C-Learning we look forward to helping educators in the UK to harness the potential of this solution to make life better for teachers”. Gus Schmedlen, President & Chief Revenue Officer at Merlyn Mind said, “After years of development, we are thrilled to share our technology with the global education community, delivering on our mission to give teachers the freedom to teach, powered by AI. We are delighted to partner with Getech on the next phase of this exciting journey to bring leading artificial intelligence technology to the classrooms of the UK.”
Looking for a new device for your education establishment? Get inspiration from our guide on the Top 5 Chromebooks for Schools Acer 311 C733T MODEL: Acer Chromebook 311 C733 Touch | SKU: NX.H8WEK.002 This entry-level Acer Chromebook still packs a lot of features into its slim chassis. Smaller than a sheet of A4 paper and weighing in just around a bag of sugar, it’s easy enough to slip into any school bag. Lower power-consuming components give young school children everything they need to get online and learn from anywhere. With a battery that lasts all day, this EPEAT certified device is one of the most environmentally friendly Chromebooks in its price range. Until the end of September, this device comes with an extended “return-to-base” warranty and a free 90-minute Espresso session for schools buying 30 or more units. Asus C204MA MODEL: Asus Chromebook C204MASKU: C204MA-BU0326-3Y (Touch) C204MA-GJ0208 (Non-touch) Built to meet the demanding, military-grade standards of the classroom, durability is a big feature of the Asus C204 Chromebook. It can withstand drops taller than most primary schoolers, pressure tested to 30kg of force, and the hinge and ports have been reinforced to endure the stresses and strains of everyday use. This device has a rubber safety grip, a durable 3D-textured scratch-resistant finish, and a tamper-resistant keyboard that can also survive a spilt drink. Still, Asus have bundled in a 3-year warranty as standard to give users the peace of mind these Chromebooks will last. Lenovo 300E MODEL: Lenovo Chromebook 300E Gen 2 SKU: 82CE0001UK The popular Lenovo 300E Chromebook has a durable 360-degree hinge, allowing it to be flipped into tablet mode and used with a pen… or a pencil. Pencil Touch technology means you can even use an HB pencil to interact directly on the 10-point multitouch screen without leaving a mark or a scratch! This device comes with an AES (active electrostatic) stylus which recharges when garaged and lets students draw or take notes with more detail. The battery will last a full school day, and the AMD A4 processor can power anything kids need whilst they’re in the classroom. HP 11 G8 MODEL: HP Chromebook 11 G8 SKU: 9VX76EA Considering this device has metal reinforcements that help it survive a fall from up to 122cm, HP have been able to keep the Chromebook 11 (Celeron) and 11A (AMD A4) slim and portable for young kids at just 1kg. Durability is a key feature of any Chromebook going into a classroom environment, and now it’s more important to ensure shared devices can stand up to rigorous cleaning regimes adopted by schools and libraries. The battery will charge to 90% in 90 minutes, making the HP 11 G8 an ideal device for a class set or Grab-and-Go solution, where students can pick up a Chromebook when they need one and return to a charging trolley or shelf when not in use. Dell 3100 MODEL: Dell 3100 Chromebook SKU: G2GJC The Dell 3100 Chromebook is an inexpensive, no-frills device with rugged features and components that will just get the job done. Rubber bumpers help minimise impact from inevitable bashes, and will survive drops onto steel from up to 30-inches. Extra protection comes at a cost, with this 11.6″ clamshell being the weightiest Chromebook on the list at 1.41kg. However, the 3100 has covered and recessed ports, and reinforced brackets to outperform similar devices that will wear out more quickly from the abuse these devices can handle.
