Wednesday, February 21, 2007

McMurry to Provide Wireless Tablet PCs for Incoming Freshman

Visit the MOVE webpage

Mom and Dad can mark off one major headache for their McMurry-bound student next fall. Freshmen starting at McMurry University in August won’t have to bring a new computer for classes and homework. Instead, McMurry will provide them new wireless Tablet PCs under the University’s new Mobile On Line Visionary Education (MOVE) program.

Adding to the already installed campus wireless network, the new Tablet PCs will be a daily part of campus life for all students by the 2011 academic year.

“This is just one way that the University is redefining the educational experience at McMurry,” said Brad Poorman, Vice President for Information Services. “Creating an integrated environment where students have access to meaningful resources anytime and anywhere on campus dramatically enhances how our professors can organize and instruct their courses. We believe the tablet initiative will help McMurry attract and graduate more computer knowledgeable students regardless of their degree.”

After two years the student will trade the computer in for a new one. The University also will offer each upper-classman an option to participate in the Tablet PC program and will provide a Tablet PC for each full-time instructor that would like one, Poorman said.

“Putting a tablet computer in the hands of every student, in conjunction with our wireless campus network and access to increased digital library holdings and other resources will have a positive impact on the student learning experience at McMurry,” Poorman said. “This environment will enable more collaborative student projects and independent research. We have a very creative and innovative faculty and I am eager to see how they incorporate it into their curriculum.”