Sophie Hilton, 2nd Year Mount Anville student with her teacher Jennifer Estevez
Two secondary schools in Dublin – Mount Anville and St Vincent’s Castleknock College – are in the vanguard of adoption of the new Microsoft Surface Pro 3 hybrid computer, which they will use to replace laptops.
Teachers and students in the schools will be among the first people in the country to get their hands on the Surface Pro 3 devices, which will go on sale to the public later today.
All teachers in both schools are being trained to ensure the maximum benefit offered by the technology is provided to the students.
“Students face into a work environment that looks very different from the one their parents inherited at the start of their careers,” said Oliver Murphy, principal of St Vincent’s Castlenock College.
“Technology has reshaped the professional landscape. In evaluating different tablet options, we determined that familiarity with Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office will stand to our students, as these are skills employers seek when recruiting.”
Grainne Clear, deputy principal of Mount Anville Secondary School, agreed. “We all learn differently, and the new devices together with the Office 365 will facilitate teamwork and research in new ways. The range of educational apps available for Surface will also bring a new dimension to the education our teachers provide.”
The new frontier of learning
Dr Kevin Marshall, head of education at Microsoft Ireland, said education and technology are combining to make possible a new frontier of learning.
“The Surface Pro 3 devices, as key elements in a technological education strategy, will enable new possibilities in classroom learning, but more than that they will also help to equip students for a world where technology has impacted every career path and given rise to whole new industries.”
The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 will go on sale at Currys, PC World, Harvey Norman (in store and online), and from Microsoft’s Surface website.
Schools and business users can also order through authorised device resellers Hibernia Evros Technology Group, BT Northern Ireland, or education specialists Wriggle.
