iPads or an alternative

[Fraznie]

Hi, I'm in need of some advice. We have iPads at school that are given to staff, but they are becoming outdated, some are as old as 6-7 years. I would like to gradually replace these over the next few years as our budget will allow, but am unsure whether to stick with iPads or phase in a new type of device. Other considerations are that we currently have apple TV in a lot of our classrooms and use Firefly as our VLE for which there is a teacher app available for iOS, but not android.

 

I would welcome any thoughts on this and any suggestions as to which devices might be good to investigate. Thanks.

[paulkerton]

Do you use Microsoft 365 or G Suite for Education? If you use either of those than I'd look at Surface (or other manufacturer's equivalents) or Chromebook Tablets/2 in 1 devices as an alternative.

If you're not, then I'd possibly stick with iPad. The newest Education models also work with the 1st gen Apple Pencil (I assume 2nd Gen support will come as they update them)

[Brimstone]

Do you use Microsoft 365 or G Suite for Education?

 

Both work with iPad as well.

[paulkerton]

Both work with iPad as well.

 

They do, but if you're looking at alternatives to iPad that should inform the decision about the alternatives that you're going to use.

Though ultimately, if people are happy and comfortable with iPad, then I wouldn't necessarily rock the boat for the sake of it.

[Norphy]

Questions:

 

1) What do you use them for?

2) How are you managing them?

3) Do you have many apps? If so, would you need to re-purchase those apps if you changed the device type?

4) How likely are you to be strung up from the nearest lamppostHow attached are your users to iPads? How much would they protest if you decided to get another kind of device? How much training would be involved? We all know how much people like to complain about not having training.

 

I'm not saying keep or ditch but the answers to those questions would have to factor in your decision to move away or not.

[paulkerton]

4) How likely are you to be strung up from the nearest lamppost

 

Hahaha! 😂😂😂

[Fraznie]

Thanks for the advice. We are using O365. I will look in to the Surface and Chromebooks as you suggest. Do you have experience of using them?

[VeryPC]

Thanks for the advice. We are using O365. I will look in to the Surface and Chromebooks as you suggest. Do you have experience of using them?

 

Good Afternoon @Fraznie! We've got experience of both using them and selling them! We've sold a lot of both Surfaces and Chromebooks to education, including a lot of fellow EduGeekers!

 

We've got a dedicated Tier 1 section on our website and whilst you check that out, I'm going to get our very own Colin to drop you a PM and I'm sure he'll be able to help you out further!

 

- Ryan

[Fraznie]

Great questions @Norphy! We are using Microsoft 365. The way in which teachers use them varies. The most avid users keep them as planners, markbooks, for emails and using our VLE app. We will also be switching to Bromcom so access to this from a device would be really important. They are also cameras and some use specialist subject apps, especially the language dept. Our SEND dept also use them with students to help with accessibility. We use Meraki and Lightspeed to manage them and push out apps to the devices. Each teacher is responsible for their own iPad and the number of apps will vary. I probably have 40-50 apps, some paid for. I don't think I would be strung up . The number of staff who really use them is probably less than 15, and I wouldn't take them away, but I wonder how other staff would feel if they were given a different device?

[Norphy]

I think the best advice would be to not do this unilaterally and consult closely with your staff. Bring them into some meetings, say "Our iPads are getting old, it's time to replace them, I'd like to look at alternatives, could you please help me evaluate and give me some feedback?"

 

Running different device types in parallel can be a pain but if you have a half decent MDM, it's more than possible.

 

What is your role in the organisation? Are you in IT or are you part of the teaching staff or management?

[paulkerton]

I think the best advice would be to not do this unilaterally and consult closely with your staff. Bring them into some meetings, say "Our iPads are getting old, it's time to replace them, I'd like to look at alternatives, could you please help me evaluate and give me some feedback?"

This. A million times this. Give them some ownership of the process and see what they want and are interested in. It will help if you have some demonstration devices for them to use though.

[Roberto]

Agree with what’s been said. If the problem is “what devices should staff use” then staff (a representative sample would be fine I guess) need to be part of the solution. Do things with and for your customers, not to them.

[Brimstone]

Great questions @Norphy! We are using Microsoft 365. The way in which teachers use them varies. The most avid users keep them as planners, markbooks, for emails and using our VLE app. We will also be switching to Bromcom so access to this from a device would be really important. They are also cameras and some use specialist subject apps, especially the language dept. Our SEND dept also use them with students to help with accessibility. We use Meraki and Lightspeed to manage them and push out apps to the devices. Each teacher is responsible for their own iPad and the number of apps will vary. I probably have 40-50 apps, some paid for. I don't think I would be strung up . The number of staff who really use them is probably less than 15, and I wouldn't take them away, but I wonder how other staff would feel if they were given a different device?

 

Apart from maybe your SEND students they sound like they were used as just a glorified web browser, so therefore any device with a camera and a web browser would suit...what a waste of money that was.

Edited July 16, 2020 by Brimstone

[Fraznie]

I can understand your point, but in my initial post I also mention that we use apple TV and that our VLE app only has a teacher version compatible with iOS. I should be clearer perhaps about this; teachers project their iPads on to the screen, rather than using a computer in some classrooms, especially members of staff who teach in multiple rooms. Our VLE is central to everything we do at school, so it is incredibly useful to be able to run this app on a compatible device. I am sure that a lot of the apps we use are available on android devices too, but not this one. Dictation and voice recording has also been used increasingly by staff at the moment, especially when all feedback is being given digitally. I will certainly look in to more low cost options, I just want to make sure I am not taking away any functionality that our staff have become accustomed to using. The idea of involving staff in the decision is essential I think, so I think this will be my next step. Thanks!