Iain.Faulkner Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Morning all, I'm after some advice. We've been asked to look into providing our teaching staff with a mobile device of some description. Quite refreshingly, we're not having a particular device imposed on us, and it is for us to establish what is the best/correct device. Our Headteacher is in agreement with us that we need the same device for all staff (as it makes life a bit easier in terms of using them in different classrooms). This is not to provide them with a device that will replace their existing classroom PC....this is to go in alongside this to enhance their teaching and learning (I think the word revolutionise has been used). Has anyone been through this process before? How did you go about choosing what was the right device for your staff? We've been asked to put together a questionnaire to get teacher's views, to keep them involved and find out what their priorities would be if they were choosing a mobile device. Again, if anyone has done this, would you be able to tell me about the process you've been through? Thanks in advance Iain
X-13 Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 We've been asked to look into providing our teaching staff with a mobile device of some description. That really helps... /s Fine. Binatone Veva 1720 cordless phone. Quite refreshingly, we're not having a particular device imposed on us, and it is for us to establish what is the best/correct device. Except, you haven't been told what TYPE of device they're thinking of and... This is not to provide them with a device that will replace their existing classroom PC....this is to go in alongside this to enhance their teaching and learning (I think the word revolutionise has been used). Yeah... but to do what? Without knowing what they actually want to do, you can't make any specific suggestions... I'd go Windows for tablets if you've got a Windows network. Zero faffing aboot. [Maybe a bit of faff.] If you can set up wireless display on them [haven't looked into it in a while] it's useful for teachers wandering the class. They can still do things on the screen and can even get pupils to annotate [to show examples or answer questions] without having to stand up in front of everyone. If it has an inbuilt camera, you can use it for some quick and dirty evidence gathering [for pupil progress, not behaviour] or to show a pupil's work on the projector/screen. If you're thinking laptops, same deal. Windows OS if Windows network. Not really much use in a class though. 2
Iain.Faulkner Posted June 9, 2015 Author Posted June 9, 2015 That really helps... /s Fine. Binatone Veva 1720 cordless phone. [/color]Except, you haven't been told what TYPE of device they're thinking of and... Yeah... but to do what? Without knowing what they actually want to do, you can't make any specific suggestions... I'd go Windows for tablets if you've got a Windows network. Zero faffing aboot. [Maybe a bit of faff.] If you can set up wireless display on them [haven't looked into it in a while] it's useful for teachers wandering the class. They can still do things on the screen and can even get pupils to annotate [to show examples or answer questions] without having to stand up in front of everyone. If it has an inbuilt camera, you can use it for some quick and dirty evidence gathering [for pupil progress, not behaviour] or to show a pupil's work on the projector/screen. If you're thinking laptops, same deal. Windows OS if Windows network. Not really much use in a class though. Thanks, it has been like getting blood out of a stone trying to get information on what it is they want to achieve with this. This is why they want to questionnaire the staff, get them involved, find out what they would use them for if they had them. I do think that laptops have already been ruled out though as this project isn't to replace their desktop PC...it is to provide them with an additional device the works alongside it.
X-13 Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Thanks, it has been like getting blood out of a stone trying to get information on what it is they want to achieve with this. This is why they want to questionnaire the staff, get them involved, find out what they would use them for if they had them. Good luck with that... I sent out a questionnaire about what software is actually used a few years back [so I can get rid of unused stuff] and I'm still waiting for any responses. I do think that laptops have already been ruled out though as this project isn't to replace their desktop PC...it is to provide them with an additional device the works alongside it. Then you're looking at tablets. Intel WiDi + Miracast to display it [You need a HDMI connection for it as well]. Windows 8.1 because it's less faff than Android. Linx? Even though you said it isn't to replace the desktop, it may be worth looking at swapping the desktop with tablet/laptop and docking station. Saves having to deal with 2 devices. Possibly a Surface Pro 3, although that would be getting into the realm of a complete hardware refresh in every class. 1
hallb15 Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 After lots of research we've gone with iPads. For us this was driven by the need for a device which worked with Classroom Monitor AND 2Simple's 2Build a profile to which we already subscribe. You need to be perfectly clear what 'they' are expecting the mobile devices to do. Something as seemingly simple as printing a document can be a nightmare to implement, especially if you have any sort of print management system already installed. Here's a few other important points to consider - there will be lots more questions that are specific to your requirements of course How will you manage apps - who pays for them and who controls what can and can't be installed? How will they access their files on the school network when not in school? Do they need to project onto a smartboard or other IWB? Accidental Damage insurance What if they are lost, how do you protect sensitive data that may be on them? Buy or lease? Is your wireless infrastructure up to the job if you suddenly add a load of tablets into the mix? Do your research and present it well and you should end up with a suitable solution that works for the staff and for you. Get in touch with some suppliers and request demo units - its the best way to show what the devices can do and what their limitations may be when in your school environment. 2
Iain.Faulkner Posted June 9, 2015 Author Posted June 9, 2015 Even though you said it isn't to replace the desktop, it may be worth looking at swapping the desktop with tablet/laptop and docking station. Saves having to deal with 2 devices. Possibly a Surface Pro 3, although that would be getting into the realm of a complete hardware refresh in every class. I've had this in the past with previous schools. I personally find it much easier to deal with desktop PC's than with people roaming with laptops from classroom to classroom and being completely reliant on them....to the extent that in my previous school we removed the laptops completely and put desktop PC's in instead (thankfully our head seems to agree with this and is happy for people to have 2 devices).
Gibson335 Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Chromebooks, perhaps, with RDP into the networks. But as was pointed out before, people really need to start with the objective and work backwards, so identify what it is they want to achieve with these devices, then provide the most appropriate device. It's good to keep staff on board, but seeking their opinions as to type of device would be a dangerous way to go - simply find out what the goal is first. 1
Iain.Faulkner Posted June 9, 2015 Author Posted June 9, 2015 After lots of research we've gone with iPads. For us this was driven by the need for a device which worked with Classroom Monitor AND 2Simple's 2Build a profile to which we already subscribe. You need to be perfectly clear what 'they' are expecting the mobile devices to do. Something as seemingly simple as printing a document can be a nightmare to implement, especially if you have any sort of print management system already installed. Here's a few other important points to consider - there will be lots more questions that are specific to your requirements of course How will you manage apps - who pays for them and who controls what can and can't be installed? How will they access their files on the school network when not in school? Do they need to project onto a smartboard or other IWB? Accidental Damage insurance What if they are lost, how do you protect sensitive data that may be on them? Buy or lease? Is your wireless infrastructure up to the job if you suddenly add a load of tablets into the mix? Do your research and present it well and you should end up with a suitable solution that works for the staff and for you. Get in touch with some suppliers and request demo units - its the best way to show what the devices can do and what their limitations may be when in your school environment. Thanks for that @hallb15 I think we've covered the majority of this already (for example we have already looked into accidental damage, leasing options, accessing files, management of apps and security). The wireless infrastructure we don't have currently, it is a project that is being done over the Summer, partly for BYOD but also to support staff mobile devices. Can I ask what steps you went through in your research? What purpose have you bought the iPads to do....ie what are you expecting teachers to use them for?
Iain.Faulkner Posted June 9, 2015 Author Posted June 9, 2015 Chromebooks, perhaps, with RDP into the networks. But as was pointed out before, people really need to start with the objective and work backwards, so identify what it is they want to achieve with these devices, then provide the most appropriate device. It's good to keep staff on board, but seeking their opinions as to type of device would be a dangerous way to go - simply find out what the goal is first. Apologies, possibly I didn't make myself clear. I'm not intending to ask staff "do you want an iPad or a Windows Tablet" my intention is to put together a questionnaire of 20 functions that different tablets can provide and get people to choose their top 5/10 for example. Based on the responses of what people would use them for, we could then progress to looking at a solution. If we have to offer out an incentive for this in order to get a higher response, then so be it. But I agree completely, this project needs to be driven by what the school is wanting to achieve by giving out a device.
Gibson335 Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Apologies, possibly I didn't make myself clear. I'm not intending to ask staff "do you want an iPad or a Windows Tablet" my intention is to put together a questionnaire of 20 functions that different tablets can provide and get people to choose their top 5/10 for example. Based on the responses of what people would use them for, we could then progress to looking at a solution. If we have to offer out an incentive for this in order to get a higher response, then so be it. But I agree completely, this project needs to be driven by what the school is wanting to achieve by giving out a device. No, I think I understood you - I just know (as we all do) that others have a habit of getting involved, and may want to inject something along those lines into any questioning. It happened here when a member of staff got involved. If the questioning will be entirely down to you then that's the best way to go, of course. 1
X-13 Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) No, I think I understood you - I just know (as we all do) that others have a habit of getting involved, and may want to inject something along those lines into any questioning. It happened here when a member of staff got involved. If the questioning will be entirely down to you then that's the best way to go, of course. Related: BOFH: Oh DO tell us what you think. *CLICK* • The Register Edited June 9, 2015 by X-13 2
LeMarchand Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Without knowing what they actually want to do, you can't make any specific suggestions... Step 1: Get device. Step 2: ??? Step 3: Revolutionise teaching!!! 1
Gibson335 Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Step 1: Get device. Step 2: ??? Step 3: Revolutionise teaching!!! That would be funnier still if it weren't so close to the truth
hallb15 Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Thanks for that @hallb15 I think we've covered the majority of this already (for example we have already looked into accidental damage, leasing options, accessing files, management of apps and security). The wireless infrastructure we don't have currently, it is a project that is being done over the Summer, partly for BYOD but also to support staff mobile devices. Can I ask what steps you went through in your research? What purpose have you bought the iPads to do....ie what are you expecting teachers to use them for? One of the main drivers behind this push on tablets was assessment without levels and recording evidence. We'd had a trial of 2Build a profile in Early Years with staff using iPods and it proved very successful. We trialled a Windows tablet and a couple of androids as well as iPads but the iPad won largely due to compatibility with 2Build a Profile AND classroom monitor. The concerns about not being able to access files on the school network, lack of flash support, printing, projecting onto smartboard were either ruled out or addressed whilst we had the trial tablets in school so we knew what we were up against. These are additional devices, not intended to replace the desktop PC in the classroom. We're going with AirServer on the classroom desktop PC for those staff that do want to mirror their iPad on the projector. We're an Office365 school so will be using that for collaborating on documents, shared calendars etc... In time, we expect staff to discover more uses for the iPads, but initially this is all they are expected to use them for. I should point out that we haven't actually received the iPads yet but the order has been placed and the leasing agreement is being drawn up. 2
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