AppStream 2.0 and Chromebooks Bring Digital Equity to K12 Classrooms

With the availability of Wi-Fi and Chromebooks in the classroom, students are better positioned than ever before to take advantage of digital learning tools. However, Chromebooks don’t easily support demanding software, such as CAD/CAM and other tools needed for Science Technology Education and Math (STEM) classes. So while a classroom may have ubiquitous access to the internet, teachers who require more robust desktop applications and software still find themselves reserving time in school computer labs.

Enter Amazon AppStream 2.0.

AppStream 2.0 is a fully managed, secure application streaming service that enables you to stream desktop applications to any computer running a web browser. For school districts with 1:1 Chromebook implementations, this means students have equitable access to learning resources and applications not previously accessible.

Here is how one school district, Peninsula School District, is leveraging AppStream 2.0 to allow students to run desktop applications on any device, inside or outside of the classroom.

Peninsula School District

An example of one school district that relies on AppStream 2.0 so students can use the technology at home, granting unlimited exposure to industry standard tools, is the Peninsula School District.

The Peninsula School District, located in Gig Harbor, Washington, has a vision that every student will graduate from the district, capable and able to take advantage of any life opportunity that might come their way.

The district is utilizing AppStream 2.0 in a classroom for Adobe CC video and image editing using Chromebooks.

“AppStream 2.0 may very well be the final missing piece in education’s 1:1 Chromebook deployment model puzzle,” said Brandon Martin, Data Integration Analyst, Peninsula School District. “AppStream 2.0 is much quicker than moving an entire classroom to a lab, and performance from the service is on par or better than existing equipment in the labs. With the addition of SAML and integration with existing AWS infrastructure, AppStream 2.0 simply made sense.”

AppStream 2.0 recently reduced its Microsoft RDS SAL user fee 89% for qualified educational users to make it easier for you to bring AppStream 2.0 to your school district so students can use Macs, Chromebooks, and other computers to instantly access applications like Adobe Photoshop, MATLAB, CES EduPack, ANSYS FLUENT, and SOLIDWORKS from any location inside and outside of the classroom.