Education continues to be an important element to Apple, which usually relies on the company working with educational bodies in some way or another.
Like, for instance, today’s announcement from the University of Nevada, Reno. The university says it is teaming up with Apple to provide the incoming freshman class with new iPad models. The goal, according to the announcement, is to develop a “common learning platform” for all students, providing equal access to technology. The university is calling it the “Digital Wolf Pack initiative.”
The effort will see the university handing out iPad Air units to the incoming freshmen class of 2021. Those are the students coming in this fall. In addition to the iPad Air, the students will also be receiving a Smart Keyboard Folio for their device, and an Apple Pencil. Basically, the suite of products that should help students in their daily tasks.
And students will be getting more, too, including access to apps and more. Per today’s announcement:
The program, known as the Digital Wolf Pack Initiative, includes deployment of iPad Air as well as focused training for students and faculty to improve digital literacy and fluency with apps that support productivity, creativity and communication. Each incoming freshman student will receive iPad Air, Apple Smart Keyboard Folio, Apple Pencil, and a suite of productivity and creativity apps, including Keynote, Pages, Numbers, Swift Playgrounds, GarageBand and more. Combined with custom apps designed to support students’ experience on and off campus, the goal of the program is to integrate the technology into students’ academic careers.
Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Developer Relations and Education Susan Prescott weighed in on today’s big announcement:
At Apple, we believe education is the great equalizer, and that access to technology is key to learning and workforce opportunities today,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations and Education. “We are proud that Apple products and curriculum have been selected by the University of Nevada, Reno for all incoming freshmen. Together, we aim to ensure these students have the opportunity to learn, code, create, and grow in new ways.
The new initiative is ultimately under the NevadaFIT program.