Choose the Right Education Device: How to Make an Ideal Selection
Education Devices Are More Important Than Ever
Remote and hybrid learning. Personalized education. Data science, coding, and content creation. And more. Education technology is central to the modern learning and teaching experience, impacting almost every aspect. For parents, teachers, and school district staff, that makes selecting the right device more important than ever.
With the right tools, students can practice real-world problem-solving throughout their educational experience. Doing so, they gain critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will be invaluable in an emerging job market that’s increasingly shaped by technology, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Tips to Simplify Your Search
Device Selection Guide
Learn how to evaluate devices and ensure alignment with your environment, security, functionality, manageability, and cost requirements.
Technology’s Current Role in Education
Find out how the right technologies enable students to have more meaningful learning experiences.
Recommendations by Age
Explore technology usage scenarios by age and get advice on which devices are best suited for teaching and learning needs.
Functionality: What to Consider
Performance
The amount of horsepower your device requires is dictated by how it will be used. Advanced skills-building workloads like simulation and data science require higher performance processors. Less complex tasks such as internet browsing or word processing aren’t as CPU intensive. As students progress through grade levels, they’ll need higher-performance devices to continue building their skills.
Portability and Flexibility
Today’s students need to learn comfortably from anywhere. Be sure to consider the amount of portability that will be required from your device purchase, especially if it will be used in a flipped classroom environment. Integrated webcams and microphones are essential for remote learners. The 2-in-1 configuration allows more flexibility by providing both laptop and tablet form factors in one device.
Connectivity
Be mindful of network adapters, USB ports, display ports, and other compatibility requirements. Be sure to align your choice with any preexisting investments. The right connectivity options ensure a smoother experience for the student user.
How to Choose the Right Form Factor
Desktop PCs
Give students, educators, and staff the power to keep pace with the digital world. Deliver outstanding performance and responsiveness for complex coursework.
Laptops and Notebooks
Empower students to take accelerated performance and creative capabilities on the go—with all the communication essentials they need too. Laptops, convertibles, detachables, and 2-in-1s provide portability and flexibility while helping ensure a comfortable, intuitive experience.
Educator Resources
Technology Planning for K–12
Get insights to help you leverage technology in your classroom and enrich student outcomes.
Online Safety for Kids
Offer this DIY course to your students to help them understand and avoid online risks.
Typical Student Usage and the Performance You Need
Processor requirements for your device vary based upon the way it will be used. Generally, K–12 learners need more performance as they move through grade levels:
- Elementary school students will use devices mostly for accessing content and basic productivity applications, so they need a device that supports those tasks without interruption.
- Middle schoolers are likely to be introduced to advanced skills and technologies, so they’ll need performance capabilities that allow them to explore the possibilities and build their skill sets.
- High school students will begin to use advanced software for modeling, analytics, content creation, and more—which means they’ll need powerful performance to best apply their skills and unleash their full potential.
Of course, to make an optimal investment, you should future-proof your choices by considering both the needs of today and what will be needed in the coming years.
The chart to the right shows you how to best align Intel® processors with student use cases.
The Right Device Helps Build Skills for Innovation
Intel is focused on ensuring teachers and students have access to the technologies and tools they need to meet the challenges of a changing world.