Where do you see IT going in education in the next 5 years?

[PotNoodleTech]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]48193[/ATTACH]

 

Nowhere fast unless our funding issues are resolved!

 

Let us know when you start having funding issues.

[mthomas08]

Hi All,

 

Many schools have already migrated to Office 365 or G Suite while some have not. Some are using Microsoft or Google Classroom . iPads still seem to be the main tablet of choice in education.

 

Where do you think we will be in the next 3 - 5 years? Do you think iPads will still be in the classroom? Will all projectors and boards be replaced with touch screens? Will we all be using Azure more extensively.

 

Interested in your thoughts.

 

We have pulled back on BYOD/Mobile devices in education and a few SBMs I've spoken to seem to be taking this approach. I think it really depends, if you have the funds to install new technology like having large screens instead of projectors etc.

 

I've gone down the route of going for simple, cost effective and PCs in classrooms without mobile devices galore. I also see more schools returning to this route (already know of 3 others). Mobile devices are fine if the school is prepared to do it properly with the support, time and money. Simply sticking in devices that are easily damaged, expensive to repair and require more support depending on your school. We are not a grammar and with that we do have quite a portion of students requiring extra time/care.

 

We have Office 365, G Suite and Moodle. It allows staff to choose what's best for their departments and it depends.

 

Our future is always considering moving completely to 'cloud' but that does require extra broadband and reliance on our external links. The good news is, our broadband reliability really seems to be 99.99% but considering how much work students/staff are saving internally.. there is a hesitancy to switch completely. IF we do switch, it will be perhaps one year at a time to see how it progresses. When you look at the money schools have spent going 1/10GB internal networking.. just simply switching to a broadband of 100MB (or worse less) could be problematic. I think email would be the first thing we switched and most likely students.

 

With budget cuts etc, I'd stick to A) reliability, B) cost effective, C) doesn't require any more support reliance.

 

So in summary, I don't see education being any different in 5 years. I'd like to think schools would be in a better condition but with cuts/layoffs I see the same circle. That circle being: cut backs/layoffs > failing > more money/staff > working > return to start. Similar to the NHS mess regarding the cyber attack.

[Onellyjp]

Microsoft used to rule the world in corporate AND education. They essentially put Novell out of business with their developments in Networking software and directory systems, but they were too bull-headed to adjust when consumers demanded a change. Enter Apple. They had the device that people wanted for education, but didn't know how to manage, or didn't care. The philosophy of a "personal device" was pushed hard into the veins of organizations as users started to demand Apple products. Expenses skyrocketed. Enter Google. The "search"Engine that could. They offer their Google Suite to schools for free in a time when schools are needing to cut costs. Dump Exchange???? YES PLEASE!!! People were dumping Microsoft now in not only the device department, but in the Networking department. Enter Chromebook. This little, inexpensive, device wins the hearts of consumers because its INEXPENSIVE. Bonus for management is that the software is free for education! Google is now the powerhouse. Quietly in the background is this company that was once the king, like a boxer dethroned from the championship and quietly working hard to attempt another bout for the title they have been redefining their hardware products, their movement to web-based solutions, and their overall company philosophy towards education... Microsoft I believe will make another run at both the classroom hardware and back-end software title with the things they have going on. Azure is amazing and truly allows you to eliminate a LOT of your on-site Domain presence. Office 365 had come a LONG way. They still have refining to do, but they have achieved a good contender for the "simple" solution that Google Apps has been providing but with all of the advanced features that you would expect from MS Office. And then there is Intune to tie all of your devices together and manage them. Still in a relative infant state, but with so much potential to be a monster in the education environment and beyond. The Surface Pro m class at $600 US is an amazing price for an outstanding product. This device in a classroom can eliminate the need for a document camera, a smartboard, projector cabling, and several other traditional IT expenses that justify the expense over a Chromebook. Add a Microsoft Wireless Adapter and you have an educational oasis like none other.

 

I have been an Apple user for the past 10 years and am in the process of converting back to a Windows product because they have now produced a better device then what Apple has available. Period. Apple's reluctance to merge their mobile and desktop OS, along with their reluctance to have a MacBook with a detachable "iPad" screen has allowed Microsoft to capitalize on a market that is finally, after about 10 years of tablet technology, ripe for them to take. .....As long as they don't screw it up.

[TwistedHelixis]

All the primary schools I look after will hopefully be 100% cloud based (Google) within the next year. We can only buy 1 server every 5 years and when it goes down Google File Stream has allowed the teachers to continue working, just wish Sims / FMS would hurry up and go online.

 

As for devices, I see Windows devices hanging round for a good while, but just like the community college down the road, we will be 100% Chromebook at some point.

 

I only wish apple and Windows devices were as simple to manage as Chromebooks are.

 

EDIT: we already have lots of interactive TV's in primary schools.

Edited May 17, 2018 by TwistedHelixis

[SHimmer45]

struggling with the line

"no money"

school here will stagnate as IT isnt seen as a priority (scaling back on existing resources)

so likely we will be looking to streamline what we have and mend and make do.

[pooley]

Unless teachers evolve into people who enjoy/like/can use technology I don't see anything really changing over the next 5 years. Laptops and chromebooks will still be used for wordprocessing and death by powerpoint and iPads/tablets will still be a reward/toy for browsing the www.

[SHimmer45]

some might also say that the role of the IT Tech / NM will be devolved in schools?

[Katy]

some might also say that the role of the IT Tech / NM will be devolved in schools?

Although they've been saying this for years - and we only ever seem to have more to do, not less! Suppose it totally depends on the individual school - how easy the tech is to use, how new/reliable it is, how good the teachers are with it and the basic troubleshooting ("is it plugged in").

[Brimstone]

Unless teachers evolve into people who enjoy/like/can use technology I don't see anything really changing over the next 5 years. Laptops and chromebooks will still be used for wordprocessing and death by powerpoint and iPads/tablets will still be a reward/toy for browsing the www.

Totally agree with this...

[maark]

Sorry but can't agree with the verdict on Microsoft - as a network manager of 15 years I find them worse than ever - so much of the software is hard to use and not tailored for a corporate or education environment at all - windows 10 is a pain. A lot of stuff such as UEV is poorly documented. Licensing changes daily - even Microsoft experts find it hard to fathom.

Google are much simpler,reliable and straightforward with better support. Chromebooks are so easy to use compared to Windows machines.

Also had a lot of problems with surfaces in school compared to standard laptops so won't be buying any more.

[mavhc]

Office 365 bills you for 0 multiple times, and all that weird some bits of azure AD are free? Google doesn't over complicate things, mostly, the whole chrome os management part is a bit annoying, and their support for chromebooks is rather short. That's before you get to the mess than is managing android

[FN-GM]

and their support for chromebooks is rather short.

 

I wouldn't consider 6.5 years short.