It’s probably not hyperbole to state that Fall 2021 will be the most unpredictable back-to-school season retailers have ever faced. As we lurch back to normal from a year of almost exclusive remote learning, most parents (and kids) are expecting to see students return to the classroom. But there is still some understandable hesitation to a full return, and how that will play out in terms of retail trends remains in question. Will families look for traditional back-to-school tech, or plan for more homeschooling?
A recent survey of parents in Massachusetts, for example, found that almost 70 percent want their children to go back to in-person schooling this fall — while about 28 percent still want a hybrid or fully remote learning option. Either way, analysts and tech companies say some of the technologies adopted during the pandemic are here to stay.
“Of course, the laptop is the centerpiece of coursework,” notes Ross Rubin, principal analyst at Reticle Research. So he believes that demand will remain high. Particularly popular for taking handwritten notes and scribbling diagrams and equations will likely be 2-in-1 Windows laptops and iPads with Magic Keyboards, which are light enough for a grade-schooler’s backpack and can last up to a full day on a single charge. Also likely to be popular this year are Chromebooks.
“Our Chromebook volume grew like a million percent” last year, said Jeff Witt, manager at Lenovo Communications, exaggerating to make a point. “A lot of school systems have standardized on Google, so it can be a requirement to use Chrome.”
Get detail info: Back to School Tech Trends For 2021
