Apple vs. Lenovo: Tablets in Thai schools

Round #1, a one year project aimed at educational content for Thai students. Major computer companies bid to provide tablets & content.

Tablet computers in the one year pilot project to range from basic 2,500 to 20,000 baht for schools with lots of money.

Read previous Bangkok Post articles about the tablet in schools program: #1, #2, #3 and #4.

Click button to listen to Tablet Computers for Thai Children to download

Children's tablets to come in 4 grades; Apple will bid by Suchit Leesa-nguansuk

A major promise of the Yingluck Shinawatra administration - one tablet per child - is moving forward with the establishment by the Education Ministry of a product specification committee to outline guidelines for bidders, with bidding expected next June.

The 1.2-billion-baht project will entail four grades of tablets ranging from 2,500 to 20,000 baht to match individual schools' demand and budgets, Chinnapat Bhumirat, secretary-general of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) under the ministry, said recently.

He said Obec had invited representatives from the Education, ICT and Science and Technology ministries as committee members.

The committee will define minimum product specifications for the four grades, valued at 20,000 baht, 7,000 baht, 4,000 baht and 2,500 baht.

"We've set an average price of 3,100 baht per tablet, but a financing scheme will be available for schools wanting higher-quality devices for their students. Schools under Obec will be allowed to choose which product suits their financial capabilities," said Dr Chinnapat.

The 1.2-billion-baht budget will provide tablets to 500,000 Prathom 1 students out of 800,000 under Obec. 

Dr Chinnapat said public hearings are expected next month with bidding expected in June. 

Apple Inc, the world's No.1 tablet maker, has confirmed it will next week submit its proposal featuring content specifically aimed at secondary school students. 

In the first round of discussions last month, Apple said it could offer comprehensive educational content, including training apps and data backup.

Dr Chinnapat said the company's App Store could serve as an application source for students.

"Apple has to prove the efficiency of its content, as we'll need to show a proven record in order to seek budget approval for fiscal 2013 if we want to equip these secondary school students with Apple devices," he said.

Lenovo, the China-based computer maker, has agreed to provide 600 tablets for free preliminary testing.

The devices will be distributed to five pilot schools - Rachawinit School and Srinakharinwirot University's Prasarnmit Demonstration School, both in Bangkok; Anuban Lampang School in Lampang; Anuban Phangnga School in Phangnga; and Sanambin School in Khon Kaen - this month. 

The one-year pilot project gauges the impact of tablets on children and evaluate the devices' effectiveness, with Obec and Srinakharinwirot University in charge of the assessment.

(Source: Bangkok Post, Children's tablets to come in 4 grades; Apple will bid, 7/12/2011, Suchit Leesa-nguansuk, link) 

Tablets in schools vocabulary 

tablet computer - a small light computer that larger than a mobile phone but the same size as a book controlled with a touch screen (See Wikipedia)

Apple - a US computer company that became famous for its innovative iPod, IPhone and iPad products (See Wikipedia)
iPad - the first successful and most famous tablet computer made by Apple (See Wikipedia)

Lenovo - a Chinese multinational personal technology company and the world's second largest PC maker, markets the ThinkPad line of notebook PCs and ThinkCentre line of desktops, brands became part of Lenovo's offerings after its 2005 acquisition of IBM's personal computer business. Lenovo also sells the IdeaPad line of notebook computers, develops, manufactures and markets desktop and notebook computers, tablets, workstations, servers, storage drives, IT management software, and other related products and services (See Wikipedia)

Obec - Office of the Basic Education Commission, government agency (See Wikipedia)

bid - an offer to buy something at a specific price (or here: to provide some product or service at a given price) ยื่นเสนอราคา
Apple will bid  

bidding - making an offer in an auction (here trying to offer to do project for lowest cost and thus win contract)
expected - believe will happen คาดว่า (จะเกิดขึ้น)
bidding expected next June

guidelines - rules to help guide action แนวทาง นโยบาย
outline guidelines for bidders

specifications - detailed information about how something is made (includeds requirements, design, details, features)
product specification - the details about what the details and features of a product (how it is designed and how it works)

minimum - the smallest possible (smallest amount or smallest set)
minimum product specifications - the smallest set of product features possible
define product specifications 
define minimum product specifications

administration - one government that a country has for a period of time
the Yingluck Shinawatra administration

entails - involves
X entails Y - project X involves Y 

grade - level of quality
grade of tablets - a level of quality of tablet computer

the 1.2-billion-baht project will entail four grades of tablets ranging from 2,500 to 20,000 baht

demand - the need and desire to buy goods and services by households and businesses
budget - the amounts of money that an organisation has available to spend on different things during a period งบประมาณ (See Wikipedia)
individual - relating to or involving a single, separate person or thing แต่ละบุคคล
match X with Y - find the right X to put with or use with Y 

four grades of tablets ranging from 2,500 to 20,000 baht to match individual schools' demand and budgets

ministry - a government department dealing with an area of activity กระทรวง

financing - a way to pay for something (borrowing money or getting someone to give you money (= a grant))
scheme - a plan that is developed by a government or large organisation in order to provide a particular service for people แผนการ โครงการ
financing scheme - a plan to get money to pay for something
a financing scheme will be available for schools wanting higher-quality devices for their students

capabilities - tasks or activities that someone is able to do
financial capabilities - ability to pay money or raise money (to buy something or run a project)
schools under Obec will be allowed to choose which product suits their financial capabilities

provide - to give someone something that they want or need
the 1.2-billion-baht budget will provide tablets to 500,000 Prathom 1 students out of 800,000 under Obec. 

hearings - an official meeting to collect facts about a situation or problem
public hearings - official meetings open to people from outside (who can watch and comment)

confirmed - say that something is definitely true or definitely exists 

submit - to formally give something to someone so that they can make a decision about it ยื่น เสนอ (เอกสาร) ให้พิจารณา  ยื่นเอกสาร
proposal - a plan or suggestion for a group to consider ข้อเสนอ
content - the stories and pictures inside a newspaper, website or other form of media; the subject, ideas, or story that a piece of writing or a radio or television programme deals with เนื้อหา,สาระ
specifically - in an exact and detailed way

Apple confirmed it will next week submit its proposal featuring content specifically aimed at secondary school students. 

round - one doing of an activity for a period of time (in a series of activities)
the first round of discussions

comprehensive educational content
comprehensive - complete, includes everything needed ที่ครอบคลุม

training - to teach people how to do an activity or job การฝึกฝน
app - a computer program that runs on a mobile phone or a tablet computer
training apps

data - facts or information used for making calculations or decisions ข้อมูล
data backup - when an extra copy of the data is kept on a second hard disk drive (to use in case the first drive fails and the data is lost)

source - the place or person something comes from or starts at, or the cause of something ต้นกำเนิด, แหล่งกำเนิด
application source - a place on the internet to get computer programs from
application - a computer program (same as "app")
app store - the name of Apple's online store for buying "apps" for the iPad and iPhone
the company's App Store could serve as an application source for students.

efficiency - waste little time, energy and resources in doing a task (minimize time, energy and resources in performing a task) (See glossary) การทำงานอย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ คุ้มค่าเวลาและใช้พลังงานหรือต้นทุนในการผลิตน้อย เพื่อให้ได้ผลผลิตมาก

record - the best or most ever achieved สถิติ

prove the efficiency of its content
show a proven record - show that they have experience in this area (success in the past)

approval - official permission การอนุมัต

fiscal - connected with the government budget and spending, i.e., public money เกี่ยวกับงบประมาณ
fiscal 2013 - the calendar year for government spending
seek budget approval for fiscal 2013

equip - provide people with the tools, machines, devices they need to do a certain task or activity
equip with Apple devices

secondary school students - high school students (matayom students, teenagers)

Apple has to prove the efficiency of its content, as we'll need to show a proven record in order to seek budget approval for fiscal 2013 if we want to equip these secondary school students with Apple devices

preliminary - not final, temporary
Lenovo, the China-based computer maker, has agreed to provide 600 tablets for free preliminary testing.

distributed - 1. give to many people; 2. made available to customers through stores and middlemen
the devices will be distributed to five pilot schools

pilot project - a small test of a new idea or product or idea before introducing it everywhere

impact - an effect or influence ผลกระทบ
gauges - measures
gauges the impact - measures the effect

effectiveness - working well and producing the results intended
evaluates effectiveness -

the one-year pilot project gauges the impact of tablets on children and evaluate the devices' effectiveness

assessment - the process of making a judgment or forming an opinion, after considering something or someone carefully การประเมิณสถานการณ์
 in charge of the assessment - will lead the project looking at and evaluating tablet computers in schools