Hewlett-Packard Company introduces solution designed to boost classroom instruction and learning opportunities

Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HWP) intkaged by HP partner Wireless Information Networks.

“HP has a long history of commitment to education from both a philanthropic as well as a business perspective,” said Cathy Martin, national education manager, HP Public Sector Organization. “As performance goals for schools increase, HP is working on innovative ways to make learning more accessible and effective for students and teachers and partnering with application and content providers to provide comprehensive education solutions for schools and communities.”

To increase the use of information technology (IT) as a learning tool during teacher training, HP is providing technology collaboration grants to 10 university schools of education and their respective partner K-12 schools that serve low-income, ethnically diverse student populations(1). The grants give practicing and student teachers training and hands-on experience in the effective use of technology in the classroom using mobile, one-to-one computing tools. The grants include the HP Wireless Mobile Classroom solution, related services and research funding.

HP also is expanding its presence in eight community colleges by providing HP Wireless Mobile Classrooms to be used in pre-engineering programs that help minority students prepare for engineering and computer science degrees(2). Additionally, HP announced it will award 10 universities with mobility grants that incorporate HP wireless solutions and e-services. Another 30 universities will receive cash and HP equipment to support special programs for minority students(3).

“HP remains committed to investing in the education and skills of tomorrow’s workforce and broadening access to the social and economic opportunities of the digital economy, particularly for students in underserved communities,” said Bess Stephens, director, HP Philanthropy and Education.

Together with NetSchools, HP also unveiled one-to-one e-learning projects to provide HP Omnibook notebook PCs for every student and teacher along with other HP hardware, training and NetSchools software to two schools: Belle Haven Elementary in Menlo Park, Calif., and Valley High in Wetzel County, W.Va., both in underserved communities.

HP also teamed with NetSchools to announce joint sponsorship of a portion of the Education Commission of the States (ECS) Web site (www.ecs.org) to help educators and policymakers address the complex issues associated with holding schools accountable for meeting education goals.

At NECC, HP is showcasing its vision for the future of learning featuring HP Cooltown technology in development. Cooltown@school demonstrates how pervasive computing will help assure access for all students and enable personalized learning anywhere, anytime.

About HP

Hewlett-Packard Company — a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services — is focused on making technology and its benefits accessible to all. HP had total revenue from continuing operations of $48.8 billion in its 2000 fiscal year. Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

(1) School of Education/K-12 Technology Collaboration Grant recipients include: Adams State College/Centauri Middle School, La Jara, Colo.; UCLA/Hawthorne High School, Hawthorne, Calif.; Howard University/ RH Terrell Junior High School, Washington, D.C.; University of Illinois — Urbana-Champaign/Columbia Center, Champaign, Ill.; University of New Mexico/Bernalillo High School, Bernalillo, N.M.; New Mexico State University/Lynn Middle School, Las Cruces, N.M.; North Carolina A&T University/James B. Dudley Senior High School, Greensboro, N.C.; Stanford University/East Palo Alto High School/Aspire Public Schools, East Palo Alto, Calif.; University of Texas — Austin/Porter Middle School, Austin, Texas; University of Wisconsin — Madison/Cherokee Middle School, Madison, Wis.

(2) Baltimore City Community College, Md.; Canada College, Calif.; College of Southern Idaho; East Los Angeles Community College, Calif.; Gavilan College, Calif.; MESA, Calif.; Northern New Mexico Community College; Sacramento City College, Calif.; Santa Ana College, Calif.

(3) Baltimore City Community College, Md.; Canada College, Calif.; College of Southern Idaho; East Los Angeles Community College, Calif.; Gavilan College, Calif.; MESA, Calif.; Northern New Mexico Community College; Sacramento City College, Calif.; Santa Ana College, Calif.