I read an article titled: MFPs: A Bundle of Possibilities.This article was about an upcoming software program with powerful hardware that will allow educators many options when using printers and/or copy machines. A lot of schools and businesses are trying to become “paperless” industries, but that might be a little too far fetched for most people to do. This article talks about how people like to have paper to read directly from, doodle on, and feel in their hands. It is important to try to use both paper and electronic documents hand and hand. Lexmark is a company that develops technological tools such as printers, scanners, and copy machines. They have developed a new tool that is directed K-12 with a unique combination of hardware and software. The LEXMARK X646DTE is a machine that is designed to help educators of all ages to improve their document management processes. This machine combines many features such as: printing, copying, scanning, and fax capabilities. One important feature it has is that it comes with a large color touch-screen interface called eTask. The software bundle also comes with two programs called: Lexmark’s Scan to Classroom and Forms on Demand applications. These two programs are designed to give teachers the ability to manage their own documents and reduce the time they spend on paperwork.

The Scan to Classroom program allows teachers to personalize preinstalled documents that they may want to use for a parent teacher conference. Office personnel can use the same program to scan and send tardy forms, doctors notes, and permission slips right to the teachers. The Forms on Demand program gives teachers the ability to access and print files stored on the network directly from Education Station.

One of my favorite features of the LEXMARK X646DTE is that it allows teachers to take exam results and analyze the progress of individual students. Also, it will allow teachers to print 15, 20, or 60 question tests based on bubble sheet templates. I think this would especially be helpful for high school teachers who may be correcting 100 of the same test. This would be easy to read and same time for teachers. In addition, using the bubble sheets would help prepare students at all levels for the achievement or PSSA test, and college classes that may require students to use bubble sheets. Not only can teachers create the bubble sheet tests, but they can also scan the completed tests into the machine and the software scores the tests. After the software scores the test it will print out a summary sheet for each test with the score, the answer key, and the student’s grade. Teachers can also write comments on the sheet with the lines provided from the machine.

This machine shows how technology has progressed over time. From running dittos with the purple ink years ago to creating tests and copying papers at record speed today. Not only is this machine have so many interesting features, it also will save time for many people.