Ipad / Mini in primary schools

[ictgoodpractice]

How are people using these in primary schools?

 

I mean for storage of work etc. Just as stand alone machines. Linked to Icloud or linked to servers and distribution systems to control apps etc. Not used them in bulk before.

 

Any help really appreciated.

[AlanD]

1:1 for teachers...or class sets (shared devices) for students....

 

We use them....but keep in mind that they were essentially designed for one person to use their own device. So as soon as you start sharing them...compromises might have to be made - as one user may not store his data in the cloud (despite requests/guidance) and so it might disappear the next time they use it - or they can't find the same device with their material on...or they leave themselves logged on - so the next person uses the previous person's account...etc et.

 

Yes there are addons like "shared ipad" and "classroom" which go someway to providing the kind of experience we take for granted with a PC logon, shared network storage and user profiles. But these take RAM...so make sure you have at least a 32GB of not 64GB device - otherwise you are going to run out of space very quickly if shared between lots of users.

 

I'd use the "free" apple configurator and/or profile manager (an MDM) to start with (you need something like an ipads mini or mac book to manage them) ....but if you want to manage a lot of ipads you probably need an online MDM that you pay for - per device per year. Definitely don't want to be managing them with individual itune accounts...Apple will usually help you set it all up - especially if buying a class set of devices...

[ictgoodpractice]

Thanks. It is only 10 ipads and they could just have 10 shared log ins. 5 to 7 year olds. But yes some MGM needed

[XiJ]

MDM will male a big difference. I was reading the pro version of mosyle has times profiles which could be useful.

 

We use Meraki systems manager and it’s a God send for pushing apps and settings. We tend to try and encourage cloud use (one drive, google) or apps that will sync to an smb drive (PhotoSync) etc.

[christhetech]

Probably the biggest issue with iPads is that every man and his dog wants one, but they don't really know exactly why or exactly what they want to use them for. They just want them.

In the last school that I worked at, they decided that they were going to buy some, but the staff weren't entirely certain what they were going to do with them. They were only buying 15 of them, and I decided from the start that they were not going to be something that was used once and then shoved in a cupboard because nobody knew how to use them to their full potential. So, I spoke to some other Primaries in the area and found a couple who were in a similar situation. What we did was worked together on purchasing the devices, so that collectively, we were purchasing a decent quantity of them, and then we asked Apple for some training, which I hosted at our school. If you are buying a decent number of Apple devices, rather than giving big discounts, Apple will offer free training instead. We got a full day of Apple training for a number of staff from ours and a few other local primaries, where somebody came out to site and demonstrated the product in full, and all of the different features that could be used to enhance the learning experience, such as SIMS integration, Smartboard interaction, some of the top education apps that could be installed to make the iPad a really powerful educational tool.

It made a massive difference to the teacher's perception of the devices, and they went from being nervously excited at gaining a new toy that they knew little about, to genuinely excited at receiving a powerful tool to assist them in delivering far more exciting and engaging lessons to the students.

Needless to say, when I left the school, the iPads were not shoved in a cupboard, but were being used regularly and effectively. Don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure that they will still be using them just as heavily now, as the teacher's confidence in using them just seemed to grow and grow, and they seemed to want to push the boundaries more and more as the year wore on.

[Brimstone]

Probably the biggest issue with iPads is that every man and his dog wants one, but they don't really know exactly why or exactly what they want to use them for. They just want them.

In the last school that I worked at, they decided that they were going to buy some, but the staff weren't entirely certain what they were going to do with them. They were only buying 15 of them, and I decided from the start that they were not going to be something that was used once and then shoved in a cupboard because nobody knew how to use them to their full potential. So, I spoke to some other Primaries in the area and found a couple who were in a similar situation. What we did was worked together on purchasing the devices, so that collectively, we were purchasing a decent quantity of them, and then we asked Apple for some training, which I hosted at our school. If you are buying a decent number of Apple devices, rather than giving big discounts, Apple will offer free training instead. We got a full day of Apple training for a number of staff from ours and a few other local primaries, where somebody came out to site and demonstrated the product in full, and all of the different features that could be used to enhance the learning experience, such as SIMS integration, Smartboard interaction, some of the top education apps that could be installed to make the iPad a really powerful educational tool.

It made a massive difference to the teacher's perception of the devices, and they went from being nervously excited at gaining a new toy that they knew little about, to genuinely excited at receiving a powerful tool to assist them in delivering far more exciting and engaging lessons to the students.

Needless to say, when I left the school, the iPads were not shoved in a cupboard, but were being used regularly and effectively. Don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure that they will still be using them just as heavily now, as the teacher's confidence in using them just seemed to grow and grow, and they seemed to want to push the boundaries more and more as the year wore on.

You could say the same about most tech bought in schools, that's why there is so much money wasted..

 

Planning/Vision/Leadership/Environment/CPD/Measurement of data are all fundamental to success no matter what tech it is

[christhetech]

You could say the same about most tech bought in schools, that's why there is so much money wasted..

 

Planning/Vision/Leadership/Environment/CPD/Measurement of data are all fundamental to success no matter what tech it is

 

That is absolutely spot on.

The number of projects that I've been railroaded into just because the SLT wanted a new toy is alarming.

 

We got Microsoft Surface Pro 3s because the SLT wanted them. Not because there was a specific need for them, but because someone had seen one, decided that they really liked it and wanted one, so brought them up in an SLT meeting. The next thing, we were ordering a dozen of the things. I did put up a bit of resistance, because I felt that there were far more pressing requirements than new toys for the SLT, but ultimately, they make the final decision so we were stuck with them. They were a pain in the backside to install the schools image to and completely unnecessary, but I'm just the pond life who is expected to just make them work.

 

Our wireless solution is something that I inherited from an absolute blert, who decided that it would be a really good idea to roll out Meraki across the school, at a huge cost. The way in which it was implemented initially was very much piecemeal and caused me no end of issues, trying to unpick it all and make the licensing model work for the school. It was all over the place, too bloody expensive and a complete waste. Personally, I would have rolled out something like Ubiquiti and used the money saved to beef up our servers a little, but SLT like the posh Meraki wireless solution, so it stays.

 

This is just a couple of examples of areas where the school have wasted precious budget on frivolities, whilst ignoring some of the more pressing needs, which would genuinely improve our ICT provision and enhance the quality of the education that we deliver to the most important part of the school - the students! Ultimately, that's what we are here for, to educate students, not to keep management in new toys or indulge somebody's latest vanity project.