A MacBook for teachers: What can DepEd’s new laptops actually do in the classroom?

MANILA – The Department of Education’s (DepEd) plan to distribute more than 172,000 MacBook Neo laptops to public school teachers could give educators access to tools for lesson preparation, classroom instruction and other work.

But getting a new laptop is only the first step. Teachers would also need to learn how to use its features and education-focused applications to make the most of the devices.

For technology entrepreneur and content creator Carlo Ople, the training that comes with the laptops could be just as important as the machines themselves.

“At the end of the day, it’s just a tool. ‘Yung tool mo, ‘yung success ng tool is determined on how you maximize it and how you use it,” Ople said in an interview.

He said MacBooks have historically been designed with creative work and education in mind, giving teachers access to applications and features that could support their work.

“Initially, if you take a look at the history of MacBook, they were really built for creatives and they were built for education,” he said. “‘Yan ‘yung history ng MacBook if you take a look at it. So, there are a lot of applications and features that you can use in the Mac OS that would allow for you to really become a better educator or creative.”

The MacBook Neo is powered by Apple’s A18 Pro chip and has a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, 8GB of unified memory and a battery rated for up to 16 hours of video streaming.

For teachers, the device can be used for everyday tasks such as preparing lesson plans, creating presentations, organizing class materials, checking student work and conducting online meetings.

Apple’s productivity applications, including Pages, Keynote and Numbers, can help educators prepare documents, presentations and spreadsheets. Its built-in Preview app also allows users to view and work with PDF files.

The device can also support creative work through applications such as GarageBand and iMovie, which teachers may use to produce audio and video materials for lessons.

But Ople pointed out that some of these tasks are not exclusive to Apple devices.

“I think, theoretically, any laptop can do that. If it’s just helping you prepare your lesson plans and helping you teach,” he said.

He said Apple’s advantage lies in its ecosystem and the education-focused software and programs it offers.

One of Apple’s tools for schools is the Classroom app, which allows teachers to guide students through activities on their devices, view their screens, open specific apps or websites and share learning resources.

The Apple Education Community, meanwhile, offers tutorials, lesson ideas and other resources for educators. Its programs include Apple Teacher, a free professional learning program that helps teachers develop skills in using Apple technology, and Apple Learning Coach, which provides training for educators who support the use of technology in teaching.

“‘Yung kagandahan sa Apple, may ginawa talaga silang suite of tools that are meant for teachers to be able to become better educators,” he said.

Ople said one challenge is that not all Filipino teachers are familiar with Mac computers, particularly those who have mostly relied on mobile devices.

“Definitely there needs to be training kasi not all teachers dito sa Pilipinas are used to using a Mac,” he said.

“I think most of them are probably using more mobile devices such as Android, more than even laptops. Kasi ‘yun ‘yung mundo ngayon, it’s mobile first. So, there needs to be that training so that they can maximize the machine,” he added.

He said teachers should be taught how to use the laptop and its applications so the devices would not end up being treated as ordinary computers.

“But at the end of the day, if walang training at hindi magtunuan ‘yung mga teachers to maximize it, it’s just another laptop,” Ople said.

DepEd and Apple are also working on GuroXL, a training framework intended to help teachers develop their skills in using Apple technology and pursue credentials such as Apple Teacher certification.

Ople said the program could help teachers navigate the certification process and understand how to use the tools available on their devices.

He also pointed to the potential value of the certification beyond the immediate use of the laptop, saying it could be included in a teacher’s curriculum vitae and professional accomplishments.

Despite its capabilities, Ople said teachers should also be aware of some of the laptop’s limitations, particularly when connecting it to equipment commonly used in classrooms.

The MacBook Neo has two USB-C ports but no built-in HDMI port. Teachers who need to connect it to projectors or displays may have to use an adapter, depending on the available connections.

“Siguro ‘yung nakikita ko lang is ports. Kasi technically ang ports ng MacBook Neo, dalawang USB-C if I remember correctly. So wala siyang HDMI,” Ople said.

“So unless kailangan sabihin natin ng way to connect on a projector sa school, tas wala silang HDMI or wala silang USB-C, they need to get some sort of converter para makapag-project ang tama sa screen.”

The device also has 8GB of unified memory, which Ople noted cannot be upgraded. While this may be enough for common teaching and productivity tasks, it may not be suited for more demanding workloads or advanced AI processing done directly on the device.

Still, he cautioned against interpreting the specifications as a sign that the MacBook Neo is an inferior machine.

“But again, I don’t want to give the impression that it’s a very inferior machine. Kasi ‘yung MacBook Neo is very capable,” he said.

He added that the laptop is designed to be usable without requiring users to upgrade its components.

“Yung kagandahan kasi talaga ng Mac devices is out of the box. Wala ka nang kailangan palitan,” he said.

Ople initially said he was concerned about the limited number of units compared with the more than 800,000 public school teachers he estimated would need laptops. But he said the rollout could also serve as an opportunity for the government to assess and improve the program before expanding it.

He also welcomed the choice to provide teachers with laptops from Apple, saying educators deserve access to better equipment.

“Our teachers deserve the best,” he said.

“It’s high time that we treat our teachers much better. And I think ‘yung innovation na ito na ginawa ni DepEd, ‘yung Contract with Apple, ‘yung GuroXL, all of those things are very applaudable. And definitely makes me excited on the future of education,” he added. 

Even with a new laptop, teachers may not be able to fully use online learning platforms and cloud-based applications if their schools lack reliable internet access.

Ople said the government should also prioritize connectivity, pointing to the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, or Republic Act No. 10929, which provides for free internet access in public places, including public basic education institutions.

“Hindi ko kasi alam what’s more important eh, good laptop or good internet. Pwede pa pareho na lang?” he said.

He argued that providing laptops alongside reliable school internet would make the investment more useful for teachers.

“Kasi ‘yung MacBook na ‘yan, kung talagang tinupad nila yung pag-implement ng free internet, tapos nasabayan pa ng pagbigay ng MacBook, ‘yun ‘yung perfect combination. Kasi may libre internet sa lahat ng eskuwelahan dapat,” he said.

Ople said the devices could make a difference for educators, particularly if they are given the support and resources to use them throughout their careers.

“If it’s good enough for me, an entrepreneur, a content creator, and a professional, I’m sure it’s good enough for educators,” he said.