[ipad] Pro's and Con's

[fairm010]

A similar thread may exist already but my search-fu is failing me today.

 

We are looking to jump on the tablet (iPad) bandwagon and I need a list of pro's and con's of the things. I am very apprehensive about buying them after reading some of the threads on here but am open to using them providing they can do the right things.

 

My main things are:

 

Can I silently push apps to them?

Can I prevent a child:

 

Setting funny/rude wallpapers?

Setting lockcodes to prevent the next user using them?

Turning off Wifi?

 

Amongst others..

 

Please can people share their their pros and cons of these infernal things that I can produce for SLT?

 

Thankyou

 

Perhaps @abillybob can help?

[3s-gtech]

1) Yes, using Profile Manager you can push apps.

2) I don't believe you can lock the wallpaper, only set it back when changed

3) You can't stop them setting lock codes

4) I don't think you can stop them from turning off the wifi

 

Fun isn't it? In my opinion, the bandwagon has lost some steam. It's certainly worth exploring the alternatives now - there are some awesome Windows and Chrome OS devices out now which rival the iPad in education. It's difficult to justify just going down the iPad route without researching the alternatives, as rivals may do everything you need at lower price point and with fewer issues.

[habashee]

1) You can use Apple Configurator to manage them but you need a Mac Book or you can use Meraki MDM which is free or you can use both.

2) You cant lock the home screen but you can refresh the device using the Mac Book which will restore it to the state you originally set it to no matter what the kids do it. This is a common problem in schools.

3) You cant stop them setting locks but you can hide the settings in folder some where and set restrictions, but refresh of the device will resolve the problem.

4) You cant stop them from turning off the wireless.

5) The good thing if the kids do anything, you can refresh the device and it go back to its original state you set it up to using Apple Configurator.

6) Updating the Apps. You can use Apple Configurator to update the Apps which takes a while per case or use Meraki MDM which does it over the wireless, you can push.

7) Flash does not work on the ipads. Workarounds some companies tell you to use Puffin Academy, it works sometimes and sometimes its slow or has problem loading. I think its due to the Puffin Browser using their own proxies which at sometimes of the day can get overloaded.

[Joanne]

I like them, the kids like them, even the teachers like them. They are a pain to set up, but I've started a thread on setting them up if you do end up getting some. Basically I've just done trial and error setting up!

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/how-do-you-do/143645-ipad-setup-idiots-guide-can-we-sticky-please.html

[fairm010]

Thanks all, keep it coming!

[Joanne]

are you primary or secondary?

[fairm010]

Middle. Deemed as Secondary by Ofsted. Years 5 - 8

[Joanne]

Oooh unusual.

 

I imagine that the younger end will be fine not setting dodgy wallpapers or passcodes. The older kids however... not so clever.

 

You will definitely need a mac so you can configure them all. It will be easy to wipe them when stuff does go wrong (like passcodes) by using Apple Configurator.

[fairm010]

It's quite unique having a primary setting but also having to be secondary orientated. Thanks, this is all stuff I can throw towards SLT