Print in the Channel - issue 22

EPSON EDUCATION REPORT

something to invest in too. “For teachers to have that resource so they can quickly print off that worksheet would be important. In addition, they can adapt a worksheet and reprint quickly. Maybe one child needs it in a slightly different format or perhaps printing on different colour paper if they have dyslexia or dyscalculia, they might need to have a different colour background paper so they can absorb the information from the page more easily. “You've got flexible options when you've got a printer there, because it might just change the dynamic of how that teacher relates to the children in the classroom as they can make it more unique, more pupil-focused, rather than a generic approach.” But sometimes it is worries about costs – initial investment and how much to run them – that hold educational establishments back from investing in such printers, Alice adds. “Epson’s EcoTank solution means that you have an initial purchase price, but then the total cost of ownership is tiny in comparison to some of the more traditional inkjet models that use cartridges,” she says. “Epson’s EcoTank printers use bottles of ink instead of cartridges, so the volume is much bigger in them. That means potentially you've got a great solution for environments like that where you're not having to pay a lot of money for cartridges because you've already got a lot of ink included. Also, replacement bottles are a fraction of the price of traditional cartridges. You've got reduced waste as well.”

Sustainable solutions The sustainability aspect is also important. “Being able to reduce energy costs and the amount of plastic waste and be more sustainable is something that a lot of public sector organisations are looking at, but in particular schools,” says Alice. “Schools are looking to consult with resellers and see how sustainable their offer is in the round. So not just the printer, it might be the printer, the PCs and the projectors or whatever it is they're looking at for their estate. They want to understand if the shipping is sustainable? Are the ongoing running costs sustainable? They're looking at that whole piece far more carefully now than ever before because it is such an important part of what they do.” Again, Epson has a solution with its inkjet printer range. “Laser printers use an awful lot of energy, but inkjet uses a lot less as there isn’t the energy needed to warm components up, for instance.” Striking a balance With various print options available, it means schools can strike a balance between online and physical learning methods. In Epson’s research, 62% of parents and 67% of teachers said they want to see a more balanced use of technology in schools, where it’s used to enhance teaching and learning rather than for the sake of it. “We use digital screens for lots of different things, but print has its place in how we absorb information effectively,” says Alice. “There are different ways our brains process information than just having everything coming at you from a screen or a smartphone. “With print, you're more in control because you can choose what you want to print, whether you need that whole article or just one page. You can choose how you want to interact with that article.”

Alice Ramsden de Gomes product manager

epson.co.uk

Being able to reduce energy costs and the amount of plastic waste and be more sustainable is something that a lot of public sector organisations are looking at, but in particular schools.

printinthechannel.co.uk

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