Tablets advice for 1:1 scheme

[lafleur1977]

Hello,

 

I am starting to looking into tablets for our 1:1 scheme at my school. Currently we have a chromebook 1:1 scheme, but it has some problems with uptake and them being used effectively in classrooms. I won't go into the details, but our 1:1 scheme has been rushed and everything done back to front, and now my school want to offer tablets on the scheme.

 

I am just looking for a few starting points to look at really. A few questions that I need clarification on are - what we want to actually be able to do on the tablets, which type of tablet and how to manage it, and then which model of tablet to purchase.

 

I know iPads are manageable with things like apple configurator and other MDM's but presumably iPads are the most expensive option.

 

Android tablets are another option but not sure of how popular these are in schools and which models to consider. We have a google domain for our chromebooks so presuming android tablets can also be managed in this way and avoids additional MDM's?

 

Does anyone use windows tablets? I guessing there are less options for windows but I would think they would integrate well with our windows domain, although currently that is Windows 7 as we haven't had time to go to windows 10 yet.

 

Of course, the tablet needs to be dirt cheap. I believe SLT have been googling sub £100 tablets during their meeting!

 

Any advise would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

[Steve21]

I feel you're missing the point there really.

 

You have a 1to1 scheme that's failing due to basically poor planning and training of staff etc, then fix that part No need to change the devices else you'll end up with another 1to1 scheme that in a year is failed again.

 

The device won't really make a single bit of difference to if a scheme works or not (Assuming it's not something stupid like cheap tablets as you mentioned). If people can't/won't use them properly within lessons and make the capital invested work it's going to fail either way.

 

Steve

[TronXP]

Keep the Chromebooks and spend money on staff training and resources that help you use the Chromebooks effectively. We are transitioning from BYOD with mainly kids using tablets\phones to Chromebooks and its more than obvious that the kids like them and want to use them but it is the Staff holding them back.

[MkII]

Chromebook tablets ie Lenovo 300e?

 

+ aren't Google making android apps available on older chromebook devices in the news this week?

 

Buying sub £100 tablets is a sure fire recipe for pain imho

[maark]

linx 1020 are about £133 - they are pretty good though only been using locked down with translator app at the moment

[mjk]

Keeps the Chromebooks and get rid of the senior leaders would be good advice here.

[edmokeski]

Think the view needs to be rolled back, here. First question is "Why do we want 1:1? What are our objectives? Are we looking for education gains in the classroom? Administrative or time-saving gains for teachers?" I know it's slightly more controversial than it used to be, but I maintain the view that Chromebooks and (even more so) Surfaces are better for the latter, iPads for the former. The biggest win on Chromebooks is that you can do the same Office tasks you always did, but slightly faster and cheaper (and with easier collaboration). I think tablets free teachers to do more creative things with their classes, if they have the support and vision to do it (while still letting you run G Suite apps for office productivity, if desired). But I also think it's key for SLT to provide that support, and I mean not just the excellent technical support of your IT team, but pedagogical support and training. Staff will be far less likely to bother with a new device if they can't clearly see how it benefits students and learning.

 

One advantage of Apple over some of these others is the built-in support provided through Apple Solutions Experts and Apple Regional Training Centres. The former are resellers who can provide expert teacher training as part of the purchase (I think it's 1/2 day of free trainer time for every 25 iPads), and the latter are schools that offer free CPD on effectively using iPads in teaching and learning. I think the Apple education team that manage these programs really have their heads screwed on right, have hired some very sharp minds with excellent credentials in the teaching world, and totally get the need for a pedagogy-driven approach. That's not to say Google's not great - we use G Suite on our iPads - and there are some brilliant people working in that sphere as well, but I personally find the signal-to-noise rather worse on that side of the fence.

 

On the other hand, I'll grant you that some of the new Chromebooks that are meant to double as Android tablets have some potential to achieve a lot of the same things, trading off mass and fragility (can't imagine those extra moving parts don't translate into higher repair rates) in order to better accommodate prolonged typing. Some decent dedicated Android tablets are also well-placed for the same uses as iPads. But if you want an Android tablet or convertible Chromebook that delivers reasonable speed, longevity, and user experience, then I don't think you're going to find one for a whole lot cheaper than the newest line of iPads. Sub-100 tablets are just going to turn staff off (too slow, too fragile, no storage, too inflexible, I can only imagine) and ruin your chance of a successful program in future. Not to overstate, but my personal opion is that your SLT would get more out of setting the money on fire. At least it will help you heat the building and won't poison your staff against the potential of tech.

 

Anyhow, just my 2p. Obviously I have no strong feelings on the issue. ;-) Just seen too many schools flush money on poorly-planned, ill-conceived, and/or leaderless 1:1 programs, especially ones where so many compromises were made on cost (infrastructure, staffing, training, cheap kit) that they would seriously have been better off spending the money on something else (raises for the IT team! kegerator in the staff room!) and not doing 1:1. It's an ed tech classic that I can trace all the way back to my own time in school, when the tablets were made of slate.

 

(In Soviet Russia, pad eyes you!)

[PotNoodleTech]

If you think the uptake on chromebooks is bad due to poor planning and lack of training, then moving to tablets is going to be EVEN worse. Chromebooks are about as simple a device as you can get. Log in with your google account. BOOM.

 

Androids/Ipads are going to be a heck of a lot more training needed.

 

Agree with the other posts. Don't give up - fix your current rollout get an hour training on an inset day and then offer some voluntary evening training for staff who are really interested.

 

It also helps massively with a chromebook rollout if your pupils and teachers are already using google for their learning.

[Brimstone]

Think the view needs to be rolled back, here. First question is "Why do we want 1:1? What are our objectives? Are we looking for education gains in the classroom? Administrative or time-saving gains for teachers?" I know it's slightly more controversial than it used to be, but I maintain the view that Chromebooks and (even more so) Surfaces are better for the latter, iPads for the former. The biggest win on Chromebooks is that you can do the same Office tasks you always did, but slightly faster and cheaper (and with easier collaboration). I think tablets free teachers to do more creative things with their classes, if they have the support and vision to do it (while still letting you run G Suite apps for office productivity, if desired). But I also think it's key for SLT to provide that support, and I mean not just the excellent technical support of your IT team, but pedagogical support and training. Staff will be far less likely to bother with a new device if they can't clearly see how it benefits students and learning.

 

One advantage of Apple over some of these others is the built-in support provided through Apple Solutions Experts and Apple Regional Training Centres. The former are resellers who can provide expert teacher training as part of the purchase (I think it's 1/2 day of free trainer time for every 25 iPads), and the latter are schools that offer free CPD on effectively using iPads in teaching and learning. I think the Apple education team that manage these programs really have their heads screwed on right, have hired some very sharp minds with excellent credentials in the teaching world, and totally get the need for a pedagogy-driven approach. That's not to say Google's not great - we use G Suite on our iPads - and there are some brilliant people working in that sphere as well, but I personally find the signal-to-noise rather worse on that side of the fence.

 

On the other hand, I'll grant you that some of the new Chromebooks that are meant to double as Android tablets have some potential to achieve a lot of the same things, trading off mass and fragility (can't imagine those extra moving parts don't translate into higher repair rates) in order to better accommodate prolonged typing. Some decent dedicated Android tablets are also well-placed for the same uses as iPads. But if you want an Android tablet or convertible Chromebook that delivers reasonable speed, longevity, and user experience, then I don't think you're going to find one for a whole lot cheaper than the newest line of iPads. Sub-100 tablets are just going to turn staff off (too slow, too fragile, no storage, too inflexible, I can only imagine) and ruin your chance of a successful program in future. Not to overstate, but my personal opion is that your SLT would get more out of setting the money on fire. At least it will help you heat the building and won't poison your staff against the potential of tech.

 

Anyhow, just my 2p. Obviously I have no strong feelings on the issue. ;-) Just seen too many schools flush money on poorly-planned, ill-conceived, and/or leaderless 1:1 programs, especially ones where so many compromises were made on cost (infrastructure, staffing, training, cheap kit) that they would seriously have been better off spending the money on something else (raises for the IT team! kegerator in the staff room!) and not doing 1:1. It's an ed tech classic that I can trace all the way back to my own time in school, when the tablets were made of slate.

 

(In Soviet Russia, pad eyes you!)

 

One of the most reasoned posts on 1:1 programs on schools I have ever seen on here...

[maark]

As others have said chromebooks are the easiest to use. It would probably be better to spend money on getting some third party in to do proper training in on use of google apps especially google classroom. But it depends on the SLT.

[chazzy2501]

Windows tablets are just Laptops without Keyboards. Laptops are THE way to go. Most American schools that went the 1:1 ipad route failed hard (and expensively) A Windows laptop can be had for sub £200 now why not go full Windows 1:1.

 

Laptops have a built in stand, (the keyboard base) tablet wont, a keyboard (durr) a tablet wont. Don't really need a cover (as they close) A tablet as a stand alone device looks appealing but when you add the type cover stand and charger it's more of a hassle than a laptop.

 

and you can go supa cheap: £125 https://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/NC14V1002-Gemini-NC14-Ultra-Slim-Laptop_2176355.html

 

You could (if you have licensing) go to win10 education ed.

[lafleur1977]

I feel you're missing the point there really.

 

You have a 1to1 scheme that's failing due to basically poor planning and training of staff etc, then fix that part No need to change the devices else you'll end up with another 1to1 scheme that in a year is failed again.

 

The device won't really make a single bit of difference to if a scheme works or not (Assuming it's not something stupid like cheap tablets as you mentioned). If people can't/won't use them properly within lessons and make the capital invested work it's going to fail either way.

 

Steve

 

Thanks for your reply. I totally agree and have made that point, however my school think that if they increase the range of devices we offer then uptake may increase. One of the biggest problems we have is students not bringing their CB's or not having one. We have made many improvements to the scheme over the last year in other areas like training.

 

Unfortunately though I still need to look into tablet options...

[mjk]

Thanks for your reply. I totally agree and have made that point, however my school think that if they increase the range of devices we offer then uptake may increase. One of the biggest problems we have is students not bringing their CB's or not having one. We have made many improvements to the scheme over the last year in other areas like training.

 

 

What are the current sanctions if students don't bring in their Chromebooks/pens/uniform etc ? I can't see how increasing the range of devices would help here. Why is not having a chromebook any different than not wearing uniform or bringing in books?

Tablets is going to make your problem worse. You need a management team with some backbone.

[MkII]

You need a 1+1+1 scheme... one to leave at home [emoji16]

[dhicks]

A few questions that I need clarification on are - what we want to actually be able to do on the tablets, which type of tablet and how to manage it, and then which model of tablet to purchase.

 

We've rolled out around 250 Asus Chromebook Flip C100PA Chromebook / tablet devices - the screen bends all the way back against the keyboard to turn it into a tablet. Around £200 each when we bought them, and they've lasted okay - we get a broken screen every now and then, and have found it simpler and quicker to replace those ourselves in-house. Extra costs are the one-off ChromeOS management fee (currently about £18 I think) and installation of secure charging cabinets in each form classroom. That's the bit that's probably made them reasonably succesful - having the devices charging in the classroom, ready for children to pick up in the morning, definatly helps.

[lafleur1977]

What are the current sanctions if students don't bring in their Chromebooks/pens/uniform etc ? I can't see how increasing the range of devices would help here. Why is not having a chromebook any different than not wearing uniform or bringing in books?

Tablets is going to make your problem worse. You need a management team with some backbone.

 

We have recently implemented sanctions, such as demerits, for students not bringing in their chromebooks, although I am not sure how effectively this is done.

[lafleur1977]

We've rolled out around 250 Asus Chromebook Flip C100PA Chromebook / tablet devices - the screen bends all the way back against the keyboard to turn it into a tablet. Around £200 each when we bought them, and they've lasted okay - we get a broken screen every now and then, and have found it simpler and quicker to replace those ourselves in-house. Extra costs are the one-off ChromeOS management fee (currently about £18 I think) and installation of secure charging cabinets in each form classroom. That's the bit that's probably made them reasonably succesful - having the devices charging in the classroom, ready for children to pick up in the morning, definatly helps.

 

Thanks for your reply. That model looks really nice and at £200 not too bad, although I suspect too expensive for us. We recently been buying the Asus C202SA CB for around £180 and they've been quite good devices. They also include a 3 year onsite warranty. I like your idea about charging cabinets in form rooms although we actually don't have many kids bringing them in uncharged. The CB's are great for battery life but we have found alot of them stop charging and need replacing under warranty.

[AlanD]

Just like to my weight to the view that it’s not the choice of device, but the training, and support that Makes 1:1 work.

I’m not saying that some devices are not better than others and that there are no pros and cons....just that those things are some way down the pecking order. Simply shoving devices in front of students and teachers are not going to deliver anything useful....and it takes more than the odd training session...you need to identify teachers who can lead, and create suitable tasks, and it all needs repeatedly monitoring and updating.

 

Having said that there are some pretty awful devices around, really slow android devices with awful screen size and barely working touch screens. Old iPads which rarely have sufficient memory to hold a few apps and run classroom app on top. And laptops with poor wireless and painfully slow processors. Even with enthusiastic and competent teachers it’s going to hard to make these devices deliver anything useful in the classroom.

 

I like chrome books, and there are good numbers of schools in the UK and and a lot more in the USA which make good use of them. But you do need to manage expectations and training. They can be a bit of a shock for teachers who have never used anything but office on a pc.