Pearson Publishing software / Tablet - anyone use it?

[david_1152]

Secondary - Pearson Publishing Ltd

 

 

My SLT have been shown a little android tablet which is totally locked down, and only holds pearson publishing uk's software. The students dont have access to anything else. They sell this fully loaded with all their curriculum software for £155 per year. Basically they are trying for the one device per student market.

 

The idea being, you issue them out to your year 11 and they in turn have a positive bounce on their exam results.

 

Thing is. Oh I dont know. I'm yet to actually see this device in operation, it might be fantastic.. But. I'm skeptical. If it's locked to only their software, and their software is crap - what's the point? Anyone out there have any experience of these things? Either their software or this hardware solution? I'd love to hear from you.

Edited November 17, 2016 by david_1152

[FN-GM]

On the plus side, you wouldn't have the manage the devices. The thought of managing hundreds of android tablets makes me shiver!

[david_1152]

yes indeed.. it's not high up on my wish list either way.

[3s-gtech]

That sounds:

 

A) Expensive

B) A minefield of ifs, with some barbed wire of Pearson (loss, damage, stolen, tech support, quality of hardware, software updates, wifi connection.....)

C) Like it needs far more evidence of being an effective tool before you are dragged into a contract

[david_1152]

That sounds:

 

A) Expensive

B) A minefield of ifs, with some barbed wire of Pearson (loss, damage, stolen, tech support, quality of hardware, software updates, wifi connection.....)

C) Like it needs far more evidence of being an effective tool before you are dragged into a contract

 

 

 

Yep, you see, that's my worries. BUT, what if I'm just jumping to conclusions. What if it's actually good? I understand it uses software called Nimbl - new one on me, but maybe somebody out there has see or used it.

 

I trying to be positive, even if my spider senses are telling me to run a mile.

 

Dave

[3s-gtech]

Of course - they're lines of enquiry and the formations for reasonable questions. It should never be just 'nope' of course, but it pays to go in to any large negotiation forearmed. Other enquiries:

 

Is this going to divert money from your IT budget (and does that matter)?

Will you be trained if you are expected to support them?

Will you have enough time in your contract to support these and any existing school IT?

Is one of the 'keen' governors a shareholder at Pearson?