Chromebooks are an affordable device option within the classroom compared to other laptop models, and are therefore favoured across New Zealand schools.
These devices come equipped with virus protection, operate at a low processing power, are lightweight, and are built on web-based storage with a user-friendly interface to minimise data loss.
Looking to upgrade your school’s devices? Why not invest in our range of Chromebooks and bundle each device with a Te Reo Māori keyboard for no extra cost?
Te Reo Māori Keyboard functions
The Te Reo Māori keyboard configuration makes it possible to type in Te Reo on any Chromebook model, providing physical keys for tohutō, or macrons, which require a combination of keys on a standard QWERTY keyboard.
The Te Reo Māori Keyboard includes single keys for frequently used Māori terms and Te Reo naming of keys, such as enter (tōmo).
The keyboards also come bundled with an integrated spell checker, making it easy to seamlessly toggle between the traditional QWERTY keyboard and the Te Reo Māori keyboard.
Here are some of the reasons why schools will benefit from bundling Te Reo Māori Keyboards onto their Chromebooks.
Smooth activation and sustainable device roll-out
Whether you are buying devices outright or are on one of our leasing plans, it has never been easier or quicker to install Te Reo keyboards on your device fleet.
It takes our team a day to install and deploy the Te Reo keyboards to schools, ready for them to use their Chromebooks straight away.
“We have the most common units in stock and ready to go. We can put this [Te Reo Keyboard] onto any other device. It takes only a day or two, depending on the quantity of Chromebooks requested,” says PB Tech Head of Education Stan Fosenbauer.
Laptops can also be customised with a school’s logo to add a unique touch to their devices.
Devices are also repackaged into bulk boxes prior to drop off, reducing the amount of cardboard waste in the process. This measure aligns with PB Tech’s sustainability initiatives to reduce physical and e-waste.
Normalisation of Te Reo Māori through digital inclusion
These keyboards represent the duality and blend of Te Reo Māori and English as 2 of the official languages used in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Integrating the Te Reo Māori Keyboard into schools embodies the idea of normalising and empowering New Zealanders to actively use Te Reo in a digital context.
“New Zealand has two official languages. We believe that should be represented in our everyday devices, for our students,” says PB Tech Head of Education Stan Fosenbauer.
Fosenbauer added that “the response that schools have shared regarding the keyboards has been really positive, but only time will tell what the real uptake will be, as some schools use the keyboards more than others.”
Wide-scale adoption across New Zealand
“Over 300 schools across the country now have Chromebooks with the Te Reo Māori Keyboard,” says Fosenbauer.
Our largest recurring order of Te Reo Māori-enabled Chromebooks is from Tauranga Intermediate, which has purchased 350 devices each year.
Since launching the Te Reo Keyboard in partnership with the Te Reo Māori Language Commission on September 15, 2023, we have rolled out over 27,000 Chromebooks equipped with Te Reo Māori keyboards across the country.
Interested in our range of Te Reo keyboard-enabled Chromebooks? Contact our education specialists today.
