Microsoft has just announced some important product updates ahead of the BettFest virtual education conference starting tomorrow. On the hardware front, Microsoft’s partners including Acer, Asus, Dell, Lenovo, and HP are launching new Windows 10 PCs for the Education market starting at $189. Some of these new education devices such as the Acer TravelMate B3 ($239) also come with built-in LTE connectivity, and you can find the full list on this page.
Citing a recent study showing that student performance improved as much as 36 percent when using a pen interface compared to using a keyboard, Microsoft is also launching a new $19.99 Classroom Pen 2 for the Education market. Compared to the original Classroom Pen, which was priced at $40, the new accessory comes with a longer enclosure but still offers the same features as the original model.
Lastly, Microsoft is inviting educators using Teams in the classroom to check out Reflect, a new app that will let them interact with students in a more personal way and get their feedback about specific topics such as learning from home. “Starting this spring, Reflect will be updated to have its own app in Teams, and will integrate with Education Insights,” the company said today.
