Tablets in school. What do you use/recommend?

[TMBS]

Hi

 

Our Maths department want a class set of tablets. We trialed them 6 years ago and they ended up in a cupboard so I'm a bit reluctant but...

 

We currently use Chromebooks which work really well in school. I've suggested more Chromebooks but they're keen on tablets. Has anyone used the touchscreen 2 in 1 Chromebooks and how robust are they?

 

What does everyone else use/recommend? Do they work well in school? How do you manage them? One concern is how the filtering logs would work, we'd need them to 'log in' to authenticate.

 

Any advice as always greatly appreciated

[paulkerton]

Hi

 

Our Maths department want a class set of tablets. We trialed them 6 years ago and they ended up in a cupboard so I'm a bit reluctant but...

 

We currently use Chromebooks which work really well in school. I've suggested more Chromebooks but they're keen on tablets. Has anyone used the touchscreen 2 in 1 Chromebooks and how robust are they?

 

What does everyone else use/recommend? Do they work well in school? How do you manage them? One concern is how the filtering logs would work, we'd need them to 'log in' to authenticate.

 

Any advice as always greatly appreciated

 

https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/lenovo/student-chromebooks/Lenovo-10e-Chromebook-Tablet/p/22ED10E10E1

 

I'm still in love with my Lenovo Chromebook Duet, which is the domestic version. The 10e is the schools version.

Managed just like any other Chromebook, it's just in a tablet format.

[strawberry]

Interesting how the comparison seems to be between an OS and a form factor. If they insist on tablets and you are already using chromebooks then I would go with chrome tablets. The question is why do they want tablets? do they have expectations or lessons in mind?

[Chaniel]

I would always prefer a 2-in-1 design over just a tablet for Classroom devices, the majority of the time (maybe not so much in maths), department leads think they want tablets to be able to use certain apps but then the teachers mostly just use them for class research etc.

 

We bought about 40 Lenovo 300e's last year via the LGfL, they've been going strong and there are a couple of Android apps that we've allowed them to install for devices in their department.

 

If they specifically want tablets, there are Chrome OS tablets, you can also install Android apps on most Chromebooks now too.

[paulkerton]

If they specifically want tablets, there are Chrome OS tablets, you can also install Android apps on most Chromebooks now too.

Wherever possible, unless you have 1:1 devices, its recommended to use web based solutions for your Chromebooks over Android apps.

Your apps will have to install each time if you wipe profiles on logout, or if enough people login and you don't wipe profiles your Chromebooks will fill with Android apps pretty quickly!

 

So be cautious on what Android apps you allow and who you allow to install them

[TwistedHelixis]

I believe Google are working on this issue. Hopefully chromeos will be able share a single android app install location for many users.

[paulkerton]

I believe Google are working on this issue. Hopefully chromeos will be able share a single android app install location for many users.

I'm told they are, but its been a few years now!

Hopefully we'll hear something soon. Would be nice to be able to build an app repository on devices, and then whoever can access them gets to do so from that repository!

[TMBS]

Interesting how the comparison seems to be between an OS and a form factor. If they insist on tablets and you are already using chromebooks then I would go with chrome tablets. The question is why do they want tablets? do they have expectations or lessons in mind?

 

Their only reasoning was that they'd be able to share worksheets easier and cut down on printing! I've asked for a meeting so we can discuss and look at the best device. I hate it when they get dumped in a cupboard!

[dhicks]

I've suggested more Chromebooks but they're keen on tablets.

 

We've just purchased 45 Lenovo 500e Chromebooks - full-flip design so the keyboard just folds back to turn into a tablet, complete with world-facing camera in the keyboard for use in tablet mode, plus there's a stylus in the keyboard for handwriting. A bit lighter than other similar devices, too, so should be quite usable in tablet mode, although we find our pupil's rather like "tent mode" if using a tablet on a desk. They cost us £340 each, that's including VAT, add £30 for the Chromebook management license.

 

Edit: for your share-worksheets part of things, we are planning to use those new stylus-capable Chromebooks with Kami, allowing teachers to set PDF (or other print documents) as exercises in Google Classroom and for the pupils to hand-draw answers with a stylus (if they prefer, they can use the keyboard). The teachers can then mark work with a stylus as well.

Edited May 7, 2021 by dhicks

[TMBS]

We've just purchased 45 Lenovo 500e Chromebooks - full-flip design so the keyboard just folds back to turn into a tablet, complete with world-facing camera in the keyboard for use in tablet mode, plus there's a stylus in the keyboard for handwriting. A bit lighter than other similar devices, too, so should be quite usable in tablet mode, although we find our pupil's rather like "tent mode" if using a tablet on a desk. They cost us £340 each, that's including VAT, add £30 for the Chromebook management license.

 

Edit: for your share-worksheets part of things, we are planning to use those new stylus-capable Chromebooks with Kami, allowing teachers to set PDF (or other print documents) as exercises in Google Classroom and for the pupils to hand-draw answers with a stylus (if they prefer, they can use the keyboard). The teachers can then mark work with a stylus as well.

 

That sounds interesting! I'd not heard of Kami before, any idea how much per school licence? Have you used any Chromebooks with a stylus?

 

Thanks

[LeMarchand]

If you're all Google you should be fine, but back in Feb (may be fixed by now) we found Kami was breaking Drive on Windows machines. Syncing happened, but you could only get to Drive online and not via Explorer.

[TMBS]

What does everyone use to store their Chromebooks? We can't afford the charging trolleys so looking at cheaper alternatives but there are not many out there. The best so far is a wire dish stacker...

[TwistedHelixis]

One school I know uses wire magazine racks on the wall

[paulkerton]

One school I know uses wire magazine racks on the wall

I assume their insurers aren't aware then??!

Insecure from both a theft AND hazard standpoint that!

[DavR]

I'd hesitate to put Chromebooks out in anything other than a proper charging solution and storage solution tbh. For peace of mind on safety, and so that I can lock them away over the holidays. We use Lock N Charge cabinets.

 

Every now and then, one of our deputy heads suggests having a small batch of iPads in each classroom for running certain Maths apps..... apart from the fact this would be an expensive and inefficient use of resources, it would also necessitate a secure charging station in every classroom.

[Chaniel]

I wouldn't put them out in anything other than a lockable charging cabinet to be honest, our insurers wouldn't pay out for any stolen kit if it wasn't securely locked away. As well as the security, you've got to think about the movement between classes and the charging at the end of it. The trolley or charging station comes as part of the cost of the entire solution imo.

 

We use LockNCharge cabinets, they're pricy but built like tanks and the cable management is pretty decent. Zioxi trolleys are cheaper, cable management is a bit naff in my opinion but a 32 bay chromebook trolley works out at around £900~.

[dhicks]

I'd not heard of Kami before, any idea how much per school licence? Have you used any Chromebooks with a stylus?

 

If I remember correctly, Kami costs around £1,000 (per year) for the whole school, which is quite affordable compared with some similar solutions. We've not got the new Chromebooks in circulation quite yet - I've just got back from taking them over to our senior school section, where we'll have the same model for easch of our senior school pupils, so hopefully we'll get them up and running in the next few days and see how we get on.

 

For charging this set of Chromebooks, we have all the charging cabinets sat in one room which the pupils collect their devices from in the morning. We use Loxit charging cabinets there - lockable, solid, and again quite affordable when compared to some of the others on the market. We find they're probably the better option for children who will be taking their own devices out - the units with removeable buckets of devices work better in classrooms where the teacher or assistant will be getting them out and putting them on tables for children to collect.

[jmak]

I'm in the camp that thinks the charging solutions are outrageously overpriced. Out of all the rip-offs I've come across in education IT, I'd nominate them as being in contention for the biggest con.

 

I'd go with plastic storage boxes to be kept in a locked cupboard. Something similar to this:

https://www.diy.com/departments/really-useful-clear-35l-plastic-storage-box/5060456657482_BQ.prd

 

Then add some 6 way power strips (and before everyone says you shouldn't use them, we had a Zioxi 16 iPad cabinet which sells for about £700 and when I opened it up, it just had 4 x 4 way adapters screwed to the side). Chromebook chargers don't often draw more than 65W, so 16 will only draw 1kW, ie way less than a kettle and no problem for a single wall socket.

 

For tablets, I'd go with something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sabrent-Family-Sized-Charger-Technology-AX-TPCS/dp/B00OJ79UK6

 

For Chromebooks, you'll need to stick with the original chargers. Secure them in the cupboard where they're going to be stored overnight.

 

Obviously buy the right size for the number of devices - we used to keep ours in sets of 6 because that's how many kids were in a group, but I can easily manage to carry a box of 10, so that way you'd only need 3 boxes for a class set.

 

Want to move several boxes around? Buy one of these for £17.50 plus a handle for another £8 and you've got a mobile storage solution for about £50

 

https://www.diy.com/departments/diall-dolly-200kg-capacity/1530948_BQ.prd

 

I quite liked this idea:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cb/00/6d/cb006d7a18cc277489712dc0014f94b7.jpg

[LeMarchand]

Cheers! Looking for something to create "pods" of 6 devices.

[DavR]

I'm in the camp that thinks the charging solutions are outrageously overpriced. Out of all the rip-offs I've come across in education IT, I'd nominate them as being in contention for the biggest con.

 

I'd go with plastic storage boxes to be kept in a locked cupboard. Something similar to this:

https://www.diy.com/departments/really-useful-clear-35l-plastic-storage-box/5060456657482_BQ.prd

 

Then add some 6 way power strips (and before everyone says you shouldn't use them, we had a Zioxi 16 iPad cabinet which sells for about £700 and when I opened it up, it just had 4 x 4 way adapters screwed to the side). Chromebook chargers don't often draw more than 65W, so 16 will only draw 1kW, ie way less than a kettle and no problem for a single wall socket.

 

For tablets, I'd go with something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sabrent-Family-Sized-Charger-Technology-AX-TPCS/dp/B00OJ79UK6

 

For Chromebooks, you'll need to stick with the original chargers. Secure them in the cupboard where they're going to be stored overnight.

 

Obviously buy the right size for the number of devices - we used to keep ours in sets of 6 because that's how many kids were in a group, but I can easily manage to carry a box of 10, so that way you'd only need 3 boxes for a class set.

 

Want to move several boxes around? Buy one of these for £17.50 plus a handle for another £8 and you've got a mobile storage solution for about £50

 

https://www.diy.com/departments/diall-dolly-200kg-capacity/1530948_BQ.prd

 

I quite liked this idea:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cb/00/6d/cb006d7a18cc277489712dc0014f94b7.jpg

 

I'll give you that, we do have one iPad box here that I built out of a 'Really Useful' plastic box. Even after splashing out a few hundred on a Cambrionix charge and sync USB hub (to allow reimaging), it was less than half the price of anything else out there.

 

In retrospect though, I do wish I'd built it using something with wheels.

[jmak]

I'll give you that, we do have one iPad box here that I built out of a 'Really Useful' plastic box. Even after splashing out a few hundred on a Cambrionix charge and sync USB hub (to allow reimaging), it was less than half the price of anything else out there.

 

In retrospect though, I do wish I'd built it using something with wheels.

Stanley mobile tool chest?

 

https://www.stanleytools.co.uk/products/detail/Products/STORAGE/Tool+boxes/STANLEY%C2%AE+Pro+Mobile+Tool+Chest+with+Pocket+Organizer+_+Cups

 

£44 in Screwfix - less on Amazon. Bigger sizes available. You could even put the power strips in the tote tray...

[dhicks]

For Chromebooks, you'll need to stick with the original chargers. Secure them in the cupboard where they're going to be stored overnight.

 

Actually, most newer devices seem to have standardised on 45W USB-C cables which should, as far as I can tell, be interchangable between models. Those charge at 20V because, it turns out, the USB-C standard includes negotiable voltage levels. However, devices do seem to charge, if rather more slowly, from a standard 5V-only supply - if you have devices charging overnight you might be able to manage with a single decent USB hub per half dozen devices, which should cut down on the amount of cabling / chargers in the cabinet.

[Brimstone]

Edit: for your share-worksheets part of things, we are planning to use those new stylus-capable Chromebooks with Kami, allowing teachers to set PDF (or other print documents) as exercises in Google Classroom and for the pupils to hand-draw answers with a stylus (if they prefer, they can use the keyboard). The teachers can then mark work with a stylus as well.

 

Plenty of schools have been doing this for years with iPads and Showbie.....