Ed-Tech Policy

‘Pen Top’ Computer Propels LeapFrog

By Laura Greifner — February 28, 2006 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

LeapFrog Enterprises Inc., an Emeryville, Calif.-based maker of electronic learning products, reported a quarterly profit last month, reversing a loss from a year earlier.

The company attributed the turnaround in part to its new Fly “pen top” computer, an educational toy being piloted in schools. LeapFrog also makes book-based LeapPad learning products and the screen-based Leapster line.

“We’ve been very focused on diversifying our offerings in homes and in schools, and last year we were very successful in doing that,” said Cherie Stewart, a company spokeswoman. The company reported fourth-quarter earnings in 2005 of $14.4 million, or 23 cents a share. In the fourth quarter of 2004, the company reported a loss of $7.5 million, or 12 cents a share.

LeapFrog also announced that Jerome J. Perez was resigning as president, and that his duties and title would be added to those of Chief Executive Officer Thomas J. Kalinske, who has served as CEO for two years.

During a Feb. 16 conference call with analysts, Mr. Kalinske chalked up the company’s gains to staffing cutbacks, product diversification, and greater investments in research, development, and marketing, as well as the Fly. “The Fly Pentop computer was LeapFrog’s most successful product-line launch ever in terms of revenue shipped in and sold through,” he said, according to a transcript of the call.

The battery-powered Fly computer, released in October, recently won the Toy Industry Association’s Toy of the Year Award. The device works through character-recognition software and other technologies, including a tiny camera embedded near its ballpoint tip that reads what it writes on specially coded paper. It can help students with math, spelling, and Spanish, as well as play music and games. (“‘Pen Top’ Computer Promoted as Tool for Learning,” Oct. 26, 2005.)

An interactive Web site, www.flypentop.com, which demonstrates the different functions of the Fly, is a finalist for the “People’s Choice” award at the South by Southwest Interactive Festival later this month.

A version of this article appeared in the March 01, 2006 edition of Education Week

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Mathematics Webinar
Engaging Every Learner: Strategies to Boost Math Motivation
Math Motivation Boost! Research & real tips to engage learners.
Content provided by Prodigy Education
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
The Ripple Effect: Mental Health & Student Outcomes
Learn how student mental health impacts outcomes—and how to use that data to support your school’s IEP funding strategy.
Content provided by Huddle Up
Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Ed-Tech Policy Download Four Ways to Supercharge Your School's Cellphone Policy (Downloadable)
The first step is creating a cellphone policy. But it takes these four ingredients to make the policy work.
2 min read
Cell phones sit in a cell phone locker at Boys’ Latin School of Maryland in Baltimore on Oct. 24, 2024.
Cell phones sit in a cell phone locker at Boys’ Latin School of Maryland in Baltimore on Oct. 24, 2024.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week
Ed-Tech Policy Opinion If You're Going to Ban Cellphones, Do It Right
An educator offers school and district leaders a cooperative, restorative approach to restricting cellphone use in schools.
Nicholas Bradford
5 min read
School cellphone ban policies to restrict cell phones in schools to reduce distractions and help avoid social media addiction resulting in academic problems and mental health issues in a classrooom.
Wildpixel/iStock
Ed-Tech Policy More States Are Moving to Ban Cellphones at School. Should They?
While cellphone bans are popular with many educators, some researchers say there's not much evidence yet that these policies work.
A student uses their cell phone after unlocking the pouch that secures it from use during the school day at Bayside Academy on Aug. 16, 2024, in San Mateo, Calif.
A student uses a cellphone after unlocking the pouch that secures it from use during the school day at Bayside Academy in San Mateo, Calif., on Aug. 16, 2024.
Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Ed-Tech Policy What Schools Look Like Without the Cellphone Distraction
Student behavior has improved and disciplinary referrals have gone down, administrators say.
7 min read
School kids placing putting phones away during class
Dobrila Vignjevic/E+