What IS the best handheld for KS3 classroom use?

[speckytecky]

Certain members of our 'management' seem desperately keen to let our Emotionally and Behaviourally Disturbed KS3 boys have iPads for classroom use. Having seen how some teachers have managed to wreck iPads I'm not keen and ask for justification of the planned spend. Yet to thrash that one out. However, we are predominantly a MS domain with iPads for teachers (Airserver use in particular) and Macs for Art the latter running through a Mini Mac Server for AD integration.

 

If we do go the hand held route for the students I'm trying to get a 'feel' for what would really and offer best value.

[FN-GM]

What is it the students will be doing on these devices?

[iForgot]

How about a pen? SLT are always so quick to jump on the iDevice wagon, as if this is the answer to all their prayers.

 

We've recently been implementing these devices throughout our Academy, and rarely have I seen them put to any decent use.

The problem is, while SLT love the idea of them, quite often the teachers aren't ready to truly introduce them into their lesson plans.

This results in the devices being used predominately as a sedative for the somewhat more challenging students.

 

That being said, I've been tasked with purchasing another class set tomorrow...

 

 

iForgot

[flyinghaggis]

Just get them their iPads. Nobody ever got fired for following the herd and buying iPads

 

In these days of BYOD I've given up trying to influence staff as to which device they should be using as everybody has their own personal preference when it comes to tablets/phones/laptops/etc. I think the key thing is to provide, as far as possible, a system behind the scenes that allows whichever device someone is using to access all of the required school resources.

Edited February 23, 2014 by flyinghaggis

[speckytecky]

I wish I knew @FN -GM ! It all seems to be on a bit of a whim at present. Other schools have it so we must as well; I have asked if it can be justified but go date no answer to that one.

 

What is it the students will be doing on these devices?

[speckytecky]

Probably a good philosophy @flyinghaggis but I'm sticking out for the case to be justified - seen to many wild brained half cocked purchases in the past!

Just get them their iPads. Nobody ever got fired for following the herd and buying iPads

 

In these days of BYOD I've given up trying to influence staff as to which device they should be using as everybody has their own personal preference when it comes to tablets/phones/laptops/etc. I think the key thing is to provide, as far as possible, a system behind the scenes that allows whichever device someone is using to access all of the required school resources.

[Marshall_IT]

I think you're on the right track, but the question that should always be asked is not what is the best handheld device for ks3 but what do you want to achieve, and would a handheld device help this.

 

Once you know the precise goal, you can make sure you pick the right device.

[3s-gtech]

The iPad 2 is coming to the end of production - Apple iPad 2 to face chop after three years of availability - Tablets - News - HEXUS.net

 

If I had the choice - Bay Trail powered Windows 8.1 Pro tablets. Similar money to iPad (or cheaper, depending on the model) but with AD/GP/etc. Battery life isn't even close to iPad, but still impressive.

[MattGibson]

I was pretty impressed with LearnPads especially from a management side of things....

[boomish]

The iPad by far has the best content and experience for the students we have found, that after all is the important part.

[speckytecky]

I think that you unfortunately seem to have hit the nail on the head there @boomish Most of the minuses are on the side of managing the flipping things. Has anyone written a definitive paper on how to set up and manage iPads in schools I wonder; it would be hugely useful.

 

The iPad by far has the best content and experience for the students we have found, that after all is the important part.

[boomish]

Your wish might have been granted -

Apple clears hurdles for large-scale iOS device deployment with updated IT tools

 

Deployment: https://idmsa.apple.com/IDMSWebAuth/login.html?rv=2&disable2SV=true&appIdKey=09273cfd6b56a8ce5af52a0153d1d796d364e03a36c6e87ef21e92c77a83ef3f&path=/qforms/web/index/avs

 

Technical Ref: http://images.apple.com/iphone/business/docs/iOS_Deployment_Technical_Reference_EN_Feb14.pdf

[X-13]

Your wish might have been granted -

 

 

If you're US based and bought your iPads from Apple in the US.

[boomish]

lol did you expect anything else:) it's a start at least..devices are registered differently in the US.

[Koldov]

How fortunate!

 

I have just come out of an SLT meeting that has come down fairly heavily on the 'lets buy 30 iPad's as it's the only way we can deliver the new curriculum' side of things.... Oh yeah and did we mention they're shiny and every other school has them...

 

As I've never even used one apart from to put proxy settings and wi-fi passwords in for the few SLT ones we already have, I am eagerly awaiting the challenges that will present themselves when little Johnny wants to save his 'Word' document in his home drive.... and working out a way to push a multitude of different apps to them (silently).... and printing all their wonderful, colourful app pages... and keeping them locked down with proxy settings... and stopping them accessing any 'Settings'.... or deleting stuff from the desktop (no it's probably not called a desktop).... NOT!

 

Kol.

Edited March 6, 2014 by Koldov

[speckytecky]

There must be something in the water that certain members of SLTs are drinking currently I have explained to the SLT member here who is pushing this that being able to take photos, integrate it into a document in say the Pages app then Air Print and somehow store it isn't something that's going to happen easily. Then there's the wireless aspect and the fact that these devices are toward the breakable end of the spectrum. Bang for buck I don't think they are going to be worth it.

How fortunate!

 

I have just come out of an SLT meeting that has come down fairly heavily on the 'lets buy 30 iPad's as it's the only way we can deliver the new curriculum' side of things.... Oh yeah and did we mention they're shiny and every other school has them...

 

As I've never even used one apart from to put proxy settings and wi-fi passwords in for the few SLT ones we already have, I am eagerly awaiting the challenges that will present themselves when little Johnny wants to save his 'Word' document in his home drive.... and working out a way to push a multitude of different apps to them (silently).... and printing all their wonderful, colourful app pages... and keeping them locked down with proxy settings... and stopping them accessing any 'Settings'.... or deleting stuff from the desktop (no it's probably not called a desktop).... NOT!

 

Kol.