[android tablet] Managing Android devices?

[Valyyn]

Our school are beginning to look at tablets, and the current popular choice is the Hudl 2.

 

I cannot for the life of me figure out how to manage these though, in terms of apps etc (if I even can!).

 

I found this page:

https://play.google.com/edu/landing

but when I sign in, it tells me "Your school doesn't have any Google-managed devices." and to "see the Help Center for more information on enabling access."

Clicking the Help Centre link tells me to "Go to Google Play for Education at play.google.com/edu.", which is the page I came from.

 

It does then say to change your Company Profile in the Admin console to Primary/Secondary Education if you have problems, but we're already set to that.

 

After more Googling, I found this page:

https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/edu/play/ which is specifically for the UK.

Here it tells me "You must have Chromebooks or Android tablets with a management license. The management license is your key to unlocking the Google Play for Education store." but no information on how to get a management license and my searching is failing me!

 

Finally, that page does say "Already have Chromebooks or Android tablets? Find out how to activate Google Play for Education for your school.", but that link just takes me back to the very first play.google.com/edu page!

 

I feel like I'm going in circles.

 

Have any other schools got managed Android tablets working that could offer any advice?

 

I did fill out the inquiries form a week and a bit ago, but heard nothing back yet.

 

Edit: I've tried installing the Android Device Enrollment app on a tablet too, but when I sign in with my Google Admin account, it tells me "The account you're using is not part of a registered Google EDU domain or is configured incorrectly in the Google Admin console. Visit play.google.com/edu for more infortmation"

Edited February 9, 2015 by Valyyn

[Roberto]

IIRC you need a "supported device" See https://support.google.com/edu/android/answer/3402682 and https://support.google.com/edu/android/answer/3434383?hl=en&ref_topic=3309012 - unclear if this is just for the management tablet or if all devices need to be supported. I suspect the latter.

 

Not sure about the licence - I get the impression that you need to purchase a "supported device" and can't just rock up with a random tablet you found down the back of Mr Tesco's cereal aisle but at no point does it actually say that plainly :-(... but this would also fit in with "supported devices only".

 

It might not be quite what you're looking for but I'm sure the tablets could be managed to some degree via solutions like Meraki?

Edited February 9, 2015 by Roberto

[Arthur]

but when I sign in with my Google Admin account, it tells me "The account you're using is not part of a registered Google EDU domain or is configured incorrectly in the Google Admin console.

Do you already have Google Apps for Education setup? If not, I would do that first.

Edited February 9, 2015 by Arthur

[Valyyn]

Roberto:

D'oh, looks like you're right about the supported devices. That's annoying.

Yeah, I guess plan B is going to be having a look at something like Meraki then! Thank you

 

Arthur:

Thank you. Yeah, we've been using Google drive/mail etc as a school for a few years, so we're set up on that. It does look like only the two supported tablets can sign up as an "EDU domain" though, which is a bit rubbish

Edited February 9, 2015 by Valyyn

[JOrdan01070]

Hi Valyn have a look at learnpads, they are very easy to use and manage.

[Valyyn]

Good shout @JOrdan01070 - I did see them at BETT actually, now you mention it. Might have a closer look

[biz]

I've found Meraki very limited when it comes to Android. Speak to Learnpad, they sent us a demo unit to trial and were generally very helpful. The devices have been very easy to manage and use in class (in a primary school).

[Valyyn]

Thank you guys, I'm now talking to someone at Learnpad after your recommendations

 

They do look a lot nicer and easier!

 

Edit: Ah that's a shame, they don't offer demo units any more apparently Will still see about arranging a demonstration.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Valyyn

[CommodoreS]

Another option for managing Android Devices is EduDroid: eduDroid - android in education

 

It allows you to lock apps from being used, and is also useful Education Software for the students to use.

[Arthur]

I get the impression that you need to purchase a "supported device" and can't just rock up with a random tablet you found down the back of Mr Tesco's cereal aisle but at no point does it actually say that plainly :-(... but this would also fit in with "supported devices only".

The article below says all you need is Google Apps management licenses. :confused:

 

Google Play for Education launches in the UK

 

To get access to Google Play for Education you just need an Android or Chrome OS device with a Google Apps management licence.

 

Google discontinued the Nexus 7 so I'm not sure why that is still listed as a supported device?

Edited February 12, 2015 by Arthur

[edublogger]

Hey guys,

 

Just to clarify, only the Nexus 7 -- you can still get them on Amazon -- and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 for education are supported.

 

I've updated the article with the details.

 

Google Play for Education launches in the UK - ClassThink.com

 

Karl

[Arthur]

only the Nexus 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 for education are supported.

Thanks for the clarification. Perhaps it's just me, but the UK launch of Google Play for Education seems very half-hearted. The range of supported tablets is especially poor.

 

Apparently Dell's Venue 10 will be supported by Google Play for Education, so I suppose it's worth waiting a bit longer to what other tablets come along within the next few months.

 

The Dell Venue 10, based on Android 5.0, is one of the first tablets to be certified with Google Play for Education. Equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC), teachers can instantly download content to students by simply bumping devices, making it even easier for every student to seamlessly access digital content. (Source)

 

... the Venue 10 and Venue 10 Pro are apparently identical other than the choice of OS; I say “apparently” as Dell didn’t provide a full spec sheet for the Venue 10, but Dell has informed us that both are using the same platform. The tablets will be using Bay Trail processor, Z3735F (quad-core up to 1.83GHz with dual-channel RAM), In short, with the Venue 10 Dell is bringing Android into the education system with Lollipop, while the Venue 10 Pro is Windows 8.1 with Windows 10 upgrade.

 

Both tablets includes a hinge-based keyboard option that the tablet locks into (which is an educational requirement in North America). It’s reversible, works in tent mode, and the tablet can be laid down on top of the keyboard if desired. Also included is a WACOM digitizer for inking, though the stylus is an optional accessory. The keyboard can be purchased separately as a $50 accessory, while the stylus is $32.95 with a loop to attach it to the tablet. (Source)

 

http://a.pomf.se/najsdh.jpg

[edutech4schools]

+1 for Learnpads I have them in a few schools. They can have different desktops and can all be controlled via a webpage or scanning bar codes.

[Meldrew]

+1 for LearnPads too. We have a class set of 32. Took a little setting up, opening ports, etc, but now working they're great.

 

Meldrew

[enjay]

We have Meraki, and we're struggling to manage Android devices. It works beautifully for the staff iPads, but results of testing with Android (ahead of a student BYOD launch) are much less favourable - app installation seems very slow (apparently needing to install them one at a time, whereas the iPads can say "here are 10 apps to install"), and more critically the devices don't auto-join the network and don't have the proxy details.

 

Meraki suggest it needs Android 4.2+, but I'm not convinced as one of my devices is 4.2 and that still doesn't work.

 

We will be running a true BYOD, so need a way of managing a multitude of devices and versions.

[Valyyn]

I've got LearnPad coming in on the 18th to give a demonstration, quite looking forward to it It's a shame they don't offer test units anymore though.

 

There's a Google for Education Seminar being hosted in two of the primary schools near here next week, where the UK head of Google Education will be answering questions about Play for Education etc.

 

It does sound really good, but it's just a shame they're limiting it to which android tablets you can use. If I can go, maybe I'll ask if there're any plans to open it up in future!

[enjay]

Do you use a proxy server? We have just learned from Meraki that they don't support applying proxy settings to Android devices, which means the students will have to enter these details themselves, which is going to be a logistical nightmare.

[edutech4schools]

Do you use a proxy server? We have just learned from Meraki that they don't support applying proxy settings to Android devices, which means the students will have to enter these details themselves, which is going to be a logistical nightmare.

 

Does not help your issue but with the learnpads. wifi + proxy can be setup by scanning a bar code.

[spadam]

Do you use a proxy server? We have just learned from Meraki that they don't support applying proxy settings to Android devices, which means the students will have to enter these details themselves, which is going to be a logistical nightmare.

 

This used to be a headache for us here but we use a transparent proxy now and life is much much better.

[enjay]

This used to be a headache for us here but we use a transparent proxy now and life is much much better.

 

We have problems with the Google apps on iPads and Android because they don't look for system proxies. Do those work through your transparent proxy too?

[spadam]

We don't use them much here to be honest, but I havn't discovered or had reported of any proxy related issues with any apps since we went transparent (6 months ago). As far as the device and apps are concerned the connection is direct. Any issues now are related to ports not being open.

[enjay]

We don't use them much here to be honest, but I havn't discovered or had reported of any proxy related issues with any apps since we went transparent (6 months ago). As far as the device and apps are concerned the connection is direct. Any issues now are related to ports not being open.

 

That's sounds heavenly!

[Valyyn]

So it was an interesting seminar last night. Long story short, the hardware requirements for the Play for Education are strict, which is why it's just the three tablets at the moments, although quite a few of the coming soon tablets will be supported too, apparently. With regards to the Hudl2, it's the lack of NFC that's holding it back, as PfE uses NFC to configure students devices from the teacher one.

 

The rumoured soon-to-be-announced Hudl3 might have NFC on it though, who knows?

 

We're considering looking at Chromebooks rather than Android now, based on what we saw, but time will tell!

[Arthur]

Just to clarify, only the Nexus 7

As of today, there are now six Android tablets supported by Google Play for Education. About time!

 

Google for Education: Even more affordable Chromebooks and Android tablets

 

So today we’re also adding to the set of Android tablets available through Google for Education, with four new devices from ASUS, Dell and HP available to schools in the US and UK. Running Android 5.0 – Lollipop, and supporting up to five student accounts per device, these four new tablets make it easy for teachers to personalize each student’s experience.

 

http://a.pomf.se/lyshmj.png

Edited April 1, 2015 by Arthur