Welcome to Future Ink: a series on how E Ink technology pushes the boundaries between industries to put Creativity on Display. This is the second post in the series.
Ask grandpa about how he got to school, and you’re sure to hear the old trope, “we walked to school uphill – both ways!” We laugh now, but someday the millennial generation will be those grandparents. But instead of talking about the commute, they’ll be saying things like, “Our backpacks were easily ten pounds. We had to carry one book for EVERY class!” Or maybe, “Homework was done on paper! If you forgot your assignment at school, you were out of luck.”
As more and more schools adopt technology to create a digital education environment, today’s students are adapting to a new normal. The ultimate goal of technology in schools is to remove obstacles, integrating seamlessly into existing processes and make learning the focus. E Ink’s digital paper is inherently durable, low-power material that, when used in eNotes, lends itself to be used in the school of the future
What is an eNote?
Simply put, it’s an eReader that you can write on! There are different kinds of eNotes with different capabilities, like drawing, audio, voice-to-text, or the ability to upload and edit files like PDFs.
When an eNote is put in each student’s hands, teachers can digitally distribute documents to each device, whether that is reading, in-class lesson materials or even homework assignments. Once assignments are due, teachers can recall assignments on demand: giving a whole new meaning to a hard deadline.
When it comes to staying organized, eNotes help students and teachers keep everything in line. A digital system prevents those dread-filled moments like when a student sits down to do their homework and realizes the worksheet due tomorrow is still tucked inside their locker. With an eNote, the reading and the homework for all classes are saved on a single device, keeping materials in the hands of even the most disorganized students.
eNotes can even help with testing: tests would be released to each specified device, and then securely removed at the end of the period with students’ completed answers recorded with the teacher. This process is more secure than traditional testing, where paper copies of the test could make their way around to different classes who are taking the test at a later time.
Students Learn Sustainably
Schools are changing with the times. Over the years, chalk turned to whiteboards and whiteboards are turning to smart boards. But according to the American Federation of Teachers, the single largest source of waste in schools is paper, making up 40 percent of the typical school waste stream. Between assignments, reading materials, tests, presentations, calendars and more – paper is still very much a part of traditional school systems. For a district using schoolwide eNotes, all of those paper materials handed out to students could be handed out digitally on one device, removing the need for a large portion of that waste. And it’s not just in the name of sustainability – using paper materials daily adds up, costing schools thousands of dollars that could be used elsewhere. Not to mention that eNotes are very low power, requiring less time spent charging, and more spent learning.
Students are Healthier
Undoubtedly you’re now on board with digitizing learning. But wait! There are benefits to choosing an eNote device over one with a bright LCD screen. The digital paper found in eNotes is easy on the eyes just like paper. It won’t hurt students’ eyes as they read or work on it for hours, as opposed to bright, blue light-emitting LCDs.
Students’ backpacks would be much lighter, requiring just a single device for homework and reading rather than a heavy backpack filled with books and assignments. And for the parents concerned about another fragile, expensive device to worry about – E Ink’s digital paper displays are rugged, shatterproof and flexible, ready to endure use for years to come.
So what does it mean for a school to be futuristic? It means better education, delivered to students in a way that works for them and their teachers.
If you’d like to learn more about E Ink, eNotes and digital paper, check us out on Instagram at instagram.com/e_ink.
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