[ipad] Sharing files from iPad to Windows.

[Koldov]

Hi All,

 

We are looking at using iPads heavily in next years curriculum.

 

The main stumbling block seems to be how to evidence the children's work.

 

We use a class set of 30 iPads per year group and have 4 year groups (120 iPads in total).

 

There are various apps that we willl need to transfer files from but I don't know of a simple, reliable way to do this.

 

We have a Mac Mini on site (running server) if that helps?

 

There are also various VLAN issues in that the student iPads do not connect to the same Wi-Fi VLAN as the teacher's Windows laptops and these are on a different VLAN to the server (as I know some apps like Airserver have trouble discovering devices on a different VLAN).

Edited July 12, 2017 by Koldov

[Rob_D]

In my last place we used dropbox with a "school" account to allow files (mostly photos) to sync with a specific folder in our windows shared area. This worked well for us, but it was a much smaller installation (30 ipads total).

 

The other thing to look as is "smart charging" that will allow you to connect the ipads to a management computer (probably your mac mini) while they are charging.

[Brimstone]

When you say "evidence" of student work would this be using an app which teachers could also use to set assignments and collaborate, comment on student work, rather than just upload work into a folder on a server?

 

There are a couple of very powerful evidence gathering, lesson assignment and collaborate apps being used by schools on iPads, these are Showbie and Seesaw. Seesaw works best in a iPad environment where iPads are shared between students as you only require a QR code to enroll in a class, students just need to sign out at the end of class, Seesaw is free as well. Showbie works best in a 1:1 senario but isn't free, some of the largest 1:1 iPad schools use this, Essa Academy, De ferrers Academy, Stephen Purse.

 

if you just want students to upload content to a server so teachers can then mark work, then Foldr will allow you to upload to your Windows server so an on premise cloud solution.

[jmak]

Or Google Suite

[Koldov]

...if you just want students to upload content to a server so teachers can then mark work, then Foldr will allow you to upload to your Windows server so an on premise cloud solution.

 

Yes, as the iPads are shared between the whole year group. I don't think I'm looking for anything as full on as collaborative/assignment. I don't want to have to manage them as the lack of storage capacity means the iPads would need to be wiped fairly regularly.

 

So, aanyway an upload to the server solution like Foldr sounds ideal.

 

However, I'm clueless as to how the iPads store their files and if Foldr has access to them all (does it integrate with apps)?

 

Also, having looked at the app (which is free) it seems to suggest we need a server app that is not...

[Brimstone]

Foldr is not free, you will need the Server appliance running on a VM. Foldr is essentially an AD bridge, students sign into the app which connects the iPad to their own existing AD home dir, then they can upload/ download any content from this share.

 

Foldr will integrate with any app that can connect to a share e.g. Has the share sheet icon but iPads require iCloud turned on, which is possible using either your MDM or managed Apple ID's on iPads. There are various different licences available from whole school site ( which also allows you to connect from any device and gives remote SSL access) or specific or iPad only licences.

 

I'd suggest calling or emailing them for a trial.

[howartp]

Another vote for FoldR.

 

Not the cheapest solution, particularly if site license, but we've used it for 4-5 years now and won't be leaving any time soon.

 

Web browser access from home PCs or any device that doesn't have the app installed is another benefit.

[Parm79]

If it will be only pictures and videos then look at photosync app works well at our school.