Digital Skills Bus to bring technology to schools

HP has launched its HP Digital Skills Community Bus, a converted double decker bus kitted out with the latest education technology.
 
Supported by HP partners Adobe, Microsoft, Google and Intel, the vehicle will tour the UK across 2020 to showcase how technology can help the delivery of STEAM skills - as well as inspiring the next generation to pursue STEAM-related disciplines and careers.
 
Unveiled on the opening day of this year’s BETT Conference in London, education decision makers are invited to request a visit from the bus, which will be available to a broad range of relevant organisations and groups, from schools to colleges to community hubs.  
 
“This is a great example of how the tech industry can work innovatively to reach schools and make a real impact on how digital skills are being taught,” commented Neil Sawyer, Channel and Education Director, HP. “The HP Digital Skills Community Bus will bring market leading ed-tech to the people that need it most – showing educators how the latest devices and programs can enhance STEAM learning, while providing an experience for students that is fun, productive and inspirational.”
 
Technology on the bus will include a Virtual Reality experience area powered by HP’s VR-ready range of Z-PCs and Mixed Reality headsets, as well as HP’s portfolio of education edition PCs, equipped with software such as introductory coding classes.
 
In addition, the bus will feature an Adobe-powered Design Lab delivering Creative Cloud workshops, building content creation skills such as filming and editing. All bus experiences will be designed with collaboration in mind, including the ability for students to write notes and draw on the windows and walls, to encourage the sharing of ideas.  
 
Minister for Investment, Graham Stuart MP, said: “The HP Digital Skills Community Bus shows how leading tech firms can support the Government’s continued drive to enhance the way digital skills are taught – a process which will equip today’s students, and the UK’s workforce of tomorrow, with the education they need to thrive.”
 
The HP Digital Skills Bus will become the fourth pillar of the HP for Education programme – an industry-first set of initiatives to help institutions get maximum value from their ed-tech investments. Since its inception in 2016, HP for Education has invested over £8 million in schools through a combination of cash-back, credits, resources and competition prizes.

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