VERNON HILLS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) selected CDW-G, a leading provider of technology solutions to education and government, to deliver the state’s vision of the modern classroom to schools across the state, CDW-G announced today.
Starting this fall, Rhode Island schools will be able to select a comprehensive technology package for students and teachers that includes Lenovo laptops, software from Microsoft and Dyknow, wireless access and professional development. Schools will be able to select additional classroom technology tools from CDW-G’s full catalog. They will also benefit from a comprehensive financing package. The goal of the program is to promote educational equity and improve classroom engagement by giving students and educators ready access to technology and resources, regardless of grade level or subject area.
Rhode Island’s classroom technology initiative mirrors technology integration efforts across the country. According to a recent report, Learn Now, Lecture Later, students and teachers are using more technology – including laptops, digital content and even smartphones – to teach and learn today than they were two years ago, and both students and teachers are asking to use technology even more often in class.
“As we continue to explore opportunities to transform education in Rhode Island through the use of technology, we are committed to providing students and teachers with the tools and resources they need to use technology effectively in the classroom,” said David V. Abbott, deputy commissioner of elementary and secondary education, State of Rhode Island. “We are pleased to have signed an agreement with CDW-G, which will provide Rhode Island schools with an all-inclusive technology package at a competitive price. We look forward to helping innovation through technology take shape in schools and classrooms across the state.”
“Rhode Island’s administrators and educators understand that technology integration is not just about using a device – it means curriculum and professional development are focused on using the device to teach problem-solving techniques and improve critical thinking and collaboration skills, across subject areas and grade levels,” said Julie Smith, vice president of K-12 education, CDW-G. “CDW-G recommends that districts focus on technology integration because it can help teachers and students at every level. Rhode Island’s initiative is significant because it has the potential to reach more than 140,000 students at 327 schools.”
To fully integrate the technology into Rhode Island classrooms, the technology package includes extensive professional development from Educational Collaborators, Intel Teach, KeyStone Learning, Edmodo and Microsoft Professional Development. This extensive package of both online and face-to-face “just-in-time” professional development will focus on peer-to-peer mentoring, technology exploration and practice in integrating technology into the curriculum and classroom experience.
The initiative also addresses a key concern for many districts – supporting new classroom technology without adding IT staff. CDW-G and Avnet Integrated will offer districts a single source for help desk, asset management, onsite deployment and maintenance for up to four years. Together, the companies will help districts deploy the technology package, while helping to minimize districts’ IT ongoing support and maintenance costs.
For more information about RIDE and the technology initiative, please click here.
About CDW-G
A wholly owned subsidiary of CDW LLC, ranked No. 32 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies, CDW Government LLC (CDW-G) is a leading provider of technology solutions to government, education and healthcare customers. The company features dedicated account managers who help customers choose the right technology products and services to meet their needs. The company’s solutions architects and engineers offer expertise in designing customized solutions, while its advanced technology engineers assist customers with the implementation and long-term management of those solutions. Areas of focus include notebooks, desktops, printers, servers and storage, unified communications, security, wireless, power and cooling, networking, software licensing and mobility solutions.
For more information about CDW-G product offerings, procurement options, service and solutions, call 1.800.808.4239, email cdwgsales@cdwg.com or visit the CDW-G Web site at www.CDWG.com.