USA Today recently reported that Chromebook sales have surpassed 51% in the K-12 market nationwide in the third quarter, beating out Apple and establishing themselves as the new leader in the U.S. educational market.
The article reports that reasons behind the change in leadership reflects “a fundamental shift in how American schools are buying tech in bulk and assessing students online, placing an emphasis on low-cost, easy-to-manage machines.”
With the amount of schools implementing 1:1 programs continuing to increase, schools are looking to implement devices that are affordable and easier to manage, and Chromebooks meet many of these needs.
“It’s a tidal wave: Chrome is the clear U.S. market leader now,” says Mike Fisher, associate director of education technology at Futuresource. He says districts are drawn to the Chromebook’s Web-based operating system, ease of use, IT manageability and $200 to $300 price range.
USA Today further reports unlike Chromebooks, Apple products tend to cost more, for both the devices and the apps. Chromebook’s apps are free, adding to the draw of the product in the educational market. With web-based learning and assessment on the rise in K-12 education, schools are in need of devices that will provide them with the tools they need at a reasonable price.
RELATED: Going 1:1 in the K-12 Classroom
Chromebook may not be the leader for long, however, as the article reports that Microsoft is partnering with Lightspeed, a software firm, to better manage a range of devices at schools. Microsoft is also looking to bring new devices to the market that are likely to compete directly with Google in the $300 price range.
Even with Chromebook’s increased popularity in the K-12 education market, some schools are choosing to stick with Apple products.
Carl Hooker, director of innovation and digital learning at Eanes Independent School District in Austin, where 8,000 K-12 students are enrolled, says he’s likely to stick with iPads after four years and the district is considering options other than Chromebooks. “We looked at Chromebooks but felt it was limited in innovation and creativity,” he says.
As more and more schools look to implement digital learning strategies into their curriculums, the need for reliable and affordable digital devices will be ever-present. That being said, schools will continue to adjust and adopt new learning methods to enhance student learning, and must stay on their toes when it comes to making purchasing decisions. Even the most popular devices on the market might not be the right fit for every school, so it’s important schools do their research and make sure the devices they are purchasing will support their learning goals and teaching strategies.
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