Boston Globe to launch digital pilot program involving iPads, digital subscriptions in Boston & Stoneham schools

The Boston Globe announced this afternoon that it will be launching a digital pilot program that will put 75 iPads and digital subscriptions to BostonGlobe.com into public school classrooms in Boston and Stoneham, Mass.

The program runs through the spring semester at both school districts and is being paid for by $65,000 of vacation donation funds from Globe subscribers. 50 iPads, along with projectors, will go to Boston schools, 25 to Stoneham High School.

“We believe that digital kids turn into digital adults, to put it simply," said Robert Saurer, the Globe’s director of customer experience and innovation. "We want to provide easy, portable access not only to our content, but to the greater world of content on the web – deployed in the classroom daily, streamed live, as the kids are learning."

"In the past, we have had to rely on the limited number of desktops or laptops available in schools. Computers are often not available for social sciences classes, or for other work where students would benefit by being able to do their own online research," Saurer said.