Lenovo Canada contract will enhance the teaching and learning experience

Toronto, ON, Sept. 11, 2006 - Lenovo Canada and Appleby College, the Oakville, Ontario-based school that is ranked among the world's top 20 independent schools, today announced that Appleby is providing Lenovo ThinkPad X41 Tablet computers to all its students and faculty as an innovative tool to enhance the educational experience.

The two-year, $2-million agreement to provide 880 ThinkPad X41 Tablet PCs to equip all of Appleby's students, faculty and administrators, is the largest rollout of ThinkPad Tablet PCs in Canada.

"We are really using the technology as a tool to supplement the excellent teaching that is already going on at Appleby," said Aron Solomon, Assistant Headmaster of IT at the 700-student university preparatory school. "We use the ThinkPad Tablets and other technology in the classroom as a platform on which we can enhance the curriculum.

Mr. Solomon cited innovative uses for the ThinkPad Tablets across all subjects.

• In mathematics, teachers and students can write equations on the Tablets much more easily than on a traditional laptop; they can work interactively with the students on equations and other assignments online after class more easily with the Tablets
• In English, teachers can mark up assignments much more easily and get them back to students more quickly using the Tablets
• In physical education and sports, teachers and coaches can diagram plays on the Tablets
• Material for all courses can be delivered online and the Tablets can be a repository as well as an easy conduit for students, parents and faculty to be continuously aware of the status of assignments
  

The ThinkPad Tablets may even become a replacement for some textbooks.

"E-textbooks is an area we are hoping to develop," said Mr. Solomon. "Reading on a Tablet is a lot easier than reading on a traditional laptop and it provides students with the opportunity to make notes in the textbook and save their notes. It's also easier for students to carry a ThinkPad Tablet than it is to carry a stack of textbooks."

By integrating the ThinkPad technology throughout the school, Appleby expects to extend the reach of its curriculum around the world. Already the school, which is the only school in Canada rated among the G20 group of 20 best independent schools in the world, has attracted students from dozens of countries.

"We have an internal team of experts developing online courses," said Mr. Solomon. "The potential for that is limitless, serving our own students and students around the world. We want to get to the point where Appleby's reach will really extend throughout the whole world."

About Appleby College Appleby College is an independent school in Oakville, Canada for 700 young men and women in Grades 7 to 12. Founded in 1911, Appleby offers a university preparatory education to both boarding and day students. The curriculum offers extensive academics, arts, athletics and community service programs.