LearnPads have been deployed

[edutech4schools]

Well I have been trying to get my primary to purchase some LearnPads for almost 2 years and finally 6 arrived before the Easter Break. They have only been in the classroom for a few days and the schools want more.

 

I spent a few hours designing a desktop with a nice background picture and added some curriculum folders and apps and then sent that desktop out to all the LeanPads without any fuss.

 

I am finding the QRcode very handy, so have created codes for wifi, proxy, and the desktop I created.

 

Not had a chance to go any deeper but they seem very stable and must have fixed the wifi issues some had mentioned in other posts.

[Bananas]

They're great aren't they? Had some on trial and never got any further (dont ask) the QR codes thing is brilliant, you can do all kinds of clever stuff with them from logins to quiz round the school with them sticking the codes up in various places.

 

Great fun

[edutech4schools]

Had some on trial and never got any further (dont ask)

 

Sounds like me. I demoed the software on my tablet a long long time ago and all the staff + head said how amazing they are. Apparently they never had the money to buy any, but now they have tried them in a class for real, money seems to have appeared for more. lol.

Edited April 29, 2014 by edutech4schools

[abillybob]

They look better tools than the iPads but at the end of the day the sad truth is what looks better when advertising your school the fact you use Apple iPads or Learnpads, parents will choose accordingly!

[Jamoire]

Have had a few trials of it over the last couple of years and it really is a fantastic tool, head and shoulders above any other MDM type system I have seen for a school.

[edutech4schools]

They look better tools than the iPads but at the end of the day the sad truth is what looks better when advertising your school the fact you use Apple iPads or Learnpads, parents will choose accordingly!

 

Really. You would send your child to a school because they use I-Pads over other devices. When choosing a school I looked at Ofsted reports, SATS results etc but never thought about who made the devices the school use.

[abillybob]

Really. You would send your child to a school because they use I-Pads over other devices. When choosing a school I looked at Ofsted reports, SATS results etc but never thought about who made the devices the school use.

 

Nope not me particularly although if you have two schools which where both as good as each other. One had Apple iPads and the other used learnpads what do you think the parents would do? Unfortunately that is the sad truth, it sounds stupid I know but when parents come and view the school the first thing they comment about is out MBP, iMacs and iPad intergration and a lot of the parents say "Wow" it's because they are pretty, but pretty things attract customers, that is the sad truth.

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

Nope not me particularly although if you have two schools which where both as good as each other. One had Apple iPads and the other used learnpads what do you think the parents would do? Unfortunately that is the sad truth, it sounds stupid I know but when parents come and view the school the first thing they comment about is out MBP, iMacs and iPad intergration and a lot of the parents say "Wow" it's because they are pretty, but pretty things attract customers, that is the sad truth.

 

Exactly! With no thought for the poor Network Managers who have to move mountains to make these devices work in a way that will improve learning, and or / help staff work smarter.

[Bananas]

That's why you do the smart thing and say tablets etc without mentioning names

[dhicks]

Well I have been trying to get my primary to purchase some LearnPads for almost 2 years and finally 6 arrived before the Easter Break.

 

I've been thinking of getting an Android tablet for development work (it turns out no iOS web browser supports the GetUserMedia API for getting video and audio from tablet devices yet), and one of those LearnPads looks rather tempting. Does anyone know what version of Android they run? Do they come with a web browser installed, or can we simply install whatever further apps we like?

[edutech4schools]

Surely you choose what's best to manage, best to teach with and best for the pupils to learn with. If the parents don't get the fact that the school probably knows the best way to teach and the best way to do the teaching, then you might as well let the parents do the teaching and go home.

 

Also lots of parents I know say iphone this and ipad that when they are generally talking about tablets and phones. My mum is always asking me to help her with her ipad, she has an Android, lol.

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

I've been thinking of getting an Android tablet for development work (it turns out no iOS web browser supports the GetUserMedia API for getting video and audio from tablet devices yet), and one of those LearnPads looks rather tempting. Does anyone know what version of Android they run? Do they come with a web browser installed, or can we simply install whatever further apps we like?

 

How about one of our 7" Classmate Android Tablets @dhicks? Jelly Bean 4.2.2, Intel on Intel device fully loaded with Intel Education Software and Classroom management support and a 3 year NBD replacement warranty. Plus it comes in a brilliant origami case that acts as a smart cover and a stand. £84 + VAT + CARRIAGE

[edutech4schools]

I've been thinking of getting an Android tablet for development work (it turns out no iOS web browser supports the GetUserMedia API for getting video and audio from tablet devices yet), and one of those LearnPads looks rather tempting. Does anyone know what version of Android they run? Do they come with a web browser installed, or can we simply install whatever further apps we like?

 

I can check the version and browser app on Thursday for you.

 

If its for development work and adults will be the only users, you might as well get a normal android tablet. Something like,

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8 inch as this is a perfect size, not to big but big enough to watch a film on.

 

or you could get a Nexus tablet from Google.

[abillybob]

How about one of our 7" Classmate Android Tablets @dhicks? Jelly Bean 4.2.2, Intel on Intel device fully loaded with Intel Education Software and Classroom management support and a 3 year NBD replacement warranty. Plus it comes in a brilliant origami case that acts as a smart cover and a stand. £84 + VAT + CARRIAGE

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Very nice though I do have to say I prefer the look of your Windows tablets with full Windows 8.1 Pro on

[dhicks]

I can check the version and browser app on Thursday for you. If its for development work and adults will be the only users, you might as well get a normal android tablet. Something like, Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8 inch as this is a perfect size, not to big but big enough to watch a film on.

 

Thanks. I've got to admit, I didn't realise Android tablets had gotten quite so cheap - those Classmates look very good very for money, as do the Galaxy Tab 3s. This is for classroom use by children (small ones, year 1), using the camera and microphone to take pictures and record sound, so something a bit robust (and with half decent camera and mic) would probably be best.

Edited April 29, 2014 by dhicks

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

Awesome! You'd love the classmate. They're drop proof, shock proof, water proof, ruggedized, the lot! They're the right weight for youngsters too. You can get a thermometer and magnifying glass pack for a few quid too to use with the onboard Intel apps.

[dhicks]

I didn't realise Android tablets had gotten quite so cheap

 

Amazon have the Nexus 7 (Android 4.3) for £160 and the Galaxy Tab (Android 4.1) for £120. Does anyone know if I can install the latest versions of Chrome or Firefox for Android on either of those? Can they both be upgraded to Android 4.4?

 

Will Chrome / Firefox install on the Intel Classmate? How does that work, anyway - isn't its processor a completly different architecture to most Android tablets?

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

Chrome and Firefox for android no probs on the classmate. Intel hardware platfo rm very impressive. Designed to keep pace with software updates for longer and with more application threads you get greater performance and efficiency and longer battery life. The inclusive education suite of school software apps is pretty cool and the classroom management software for teachers is a brill bonus.

[witch]

The HT had a demo learnpad and he loved it EXCEPT he wasn't happy about the descriptions available for paid-for apps. They don't really explain what the particular app does very well and he was loth to allow staff to spend money just to find out. I did see his point but it was a shame because I think they are really good

[edutech4schools]

The apps are mostly standard Android apps so why not look at them in the Google Play store. You can also find an app in the Play store and get it installed on the Learn Pads.

 

https://play.google.com/store

[Bananas]

How do they get the apk for deployment now? When I had them if you wanted to deploy an app from play store you had to manually grab the apk from a device. I asked how that was supposed to work but never got an answer, wasn't really a problem I installed it on my phone and grabbed the apk that way just wondering if it's more streamlined now?

[witch]

The apps are mostly standard Android apps so why not look at them in the Google Play store. You can also find an app in the Play store and get it installed on the Learn Pads.

 

https://play.google.com/store

But not the very educational ones he wanted -allegedly

[Tesla]

*sigh* if only the other staff here weren't already completely sold on the idea that the iPad is perfect in every way shape or form....

[edutech4schools]

How do they get the apk for deployment now? When I had them if you wanted to deploy an app from play store you had to manually grab the apk from a device. I asked how that was supposed to work but never got an answer, wasn't really a problem I installed it on my phone and grabbed the apk that way just wondering if it's more streamlined now?

 

Quote from another edugeek forum

We just ask Learnpad to put the apps on for us and invoice us. they do all the leg work with the author and licensing.

 

Although I have not done this.

 

I do know they actively want Android apps to be suggested by schools for adding to the LearnPad library.

[edutech4schools]

*sigh* if only the other staff here weren't already completely sold on the idea that the iPad is perfect in every way shape or form....

 

Get a really cheap Android tablet, download and install the test version of LearnPad, Demo LearnPad to Staff. After the staff see you can switch from a tablet themed on Greeks to SEN based tablet in seconds they will get it.