IPad - any good for a junior school?

[witch]

I have searched the forums and can find a lot of argument and chat about the ipad but very little info as regards the usage of ipads in schools like ours.

We are a junior school about to get a lovely new Ruckus network and the boss is very keen to get something 'new' to hang off it. We were looking at netbooks but now that the ipad has come out - he is practically salivating!(he has an ipod touch)

What I need is some genuine pros and cons of the kit.

The price is obviously an issue (the biggest one, in my eyes, but hey, I don't set the budgets). I also know about the Flash issues

Would I be able to put it on my network so that they children can save to their area on the server? (sorry, probably stupid question, but I know NOTHING about macs and mac-type issues)

If it couldn't be put on the network, and was used as a standalone device, what use could primary school children make of it? Obviously they could surf the net and make notes etc - but can they save stuff?

Originally I thought we were going for something that would enable the children to use computers around the school, but now perhaps he just wants a device for information

Serious answers please - there are enough arguments re 'apple is carp' already!!

Edited June 23, 2010 by witch

[witch]

So come on, no facts anyone can help me with?

[featured_spectre]

until it has been tested for atleast a month, nobody can say anything really as it would all be conjecture.

[witch]

Well, yes, but what i am wondering is what people are intending to use them for - my boss doesnt really know what he could do with them

[featured_spectre]

ohhhh...just to look shiney and pretty, my boss wants them too, however I am awaiting on my trial unit to arrive, I will do a full on survey report for you if you like!

[JHeaton]

Would I be able to put it on my network so that they children can save to their area on the server? (sorry, probably stupid question, but I know NOTHING about macs and mac-type issues)

 

I don't think so. If I remember correctly, the operating system on the iPad is very similar to, if not the same as, the one on the iPod Touch which has no way of mounting network shares as far as I'm aware. As another person who doesn't really know much about Apple gear, though, I can't say for sure so please don't take my word for it

 

One thing to be aware of is that there is/was (I don't know whether or not it's been rectified yet) an issue with iPads not releasing addresses handed out by DHCP after their lease was up, so that's certainly something to keep an eye out for. There's a quick bit of information about it here. It may or may not cause a problem for you on your network. TidBITS Networking: Princeton University Identifies iPad DHCP Flaw

 

As for what to use it for, I'm not entirely sure. I didn't really see them as being of major benefit to educational institutions!

 

Unfortunately, I can see there being a scenario where I might have to support one or two. If I was working in a junior school and had one or two of these in with no real use, I'd probably have a look at developing some applications to run on one that would be beneficial to a school. Something like a client/server quiz application or whatever that you can set up to help with revision for tests or whatever. I'm sure I could find a use for them, but I don't think I could think of one that would warrant making the purchase, unfortunately.

 

Can you identify any areas within the school where staff and/or students might benefit from a device with a touch-screen interface?

 

At the very least, you can use it as an electronic replacement for those drywipe boards (if you use those)

 

I'm just waiting for someone to find a way of running Linux on one. Then I'd be able to see some real uses for them >.>

[RabbieBurns]

Our demo unit arrived this week. And after just 3 days the consensus from all 4 in our IT office is that they have no use as an educational tool whatsoever.

[enjay]

Something like a client/server quiz application or whatever that you can set up to help with revision for tests or whatever.

 

Or you could buy a class set of Quizdom or similar for the price of about 3 iPads...

[witch]

I can't get hold of a demo unit - can anyone point me in the right direction?

[RabbieBurns]

We got ours direct from Apple..

[witch]

Can anyone give me a contact phone no and name? Apple websites blocked here!

All my usual suppliers cannot get hold of an iPad ATM 'due to demand'

[pagelad]

Can anyone give me a contact phone no and name? Apple websites blocked here!

All my usual suppliers cannot get hold of an iPad ATM 'due to demand'

 

Have you got an account with your Local PC world?

 

They sent some for our LA to have a play with.

[JHeaton]

Or you could buy a class set of Quizdom or similar for the price of about 3 iPads...

 

Looks like an interesting product, although it isn't exactly what I had in mind when I came up with the idea.

[Guest theeldergeek]

Apple websites blocked here!

 

Bad omen? Avoid the iPad maybe? You'll have a lot less grief with cheap and cheerful net/notebooks.

 

I just Googled "ipad on network" and got this http://helpdesk.princeton.edu/outages/view.plx?ID=3095 which might be a problem?

Edited June 24, 2010 by theeldergeek

[witch]

Bad omen? Avoid the iPad maybe? You'll have a lot less grief with cheap and cheerful net/notebooks.

 

I just Googled "ipad on network" and got this KnowledgeBase - Office of Information Technology which might be a problem?

 

I probably would avoid it at least for a while longer but the decision will not be up to me. I am quite happy to use new tech as long as a) it is going to work and b) I can see a use for it.

* We don't have an account with PC world

[featured_spectre]

I have had mine for all of an hour, and I am majorly disappointed. It is failing connection when going through a proxy, but if i turn the proxy off, it goes through fine (but unfiltered). I have been on the phone to Apple already, and its a known issue that sometimes it wont work with proxies, but not high on the list to fix as most people have a direct connection out apparently...

 

Not a good start to the weeks trial!

[witch]

Hmmm..instant problem - wouldnt want to use unfiltered - even if I had one, which I don't. Most schools I know use proxies, and they certainly wouldnt want unfiltered access, I am surprised that it is not a bigger issue

[Guest theeldergeek]

I probably would avoid it at least for a while longer but the decision will not be up to me. I am quite happy to use new tech as long as a) it is going to work and b) I can see a use for it.

 

But surely those who tug the purse strings look to you to advise on what equipment will or won't work? If you can (and already have) identified issues with iPad's on your school network, then I know what I'd be telling the boss.

 

As for the argument of giving kids new and different technologies to use, I wonder how many households with kids of junior school age actually have iPad's? Far better for them to learn on 'conventional' and common place equipment in their early years, and then move onto specialist OS and equipment later in their education. It doesn't take long to become proficient in a new OS - a few weeks at most. No need to shove new technology in the kids faces at a young age, IMHO.

 

Just my 2p...

[plexer]

My nearly 6 year old daughter exclaimed last night that she wanted an ipad jsut as the advert came on.

 

She said that she wanted to use it for her school writing so that she could just show the teacher it on there.

 

Aw bless.

 

Ben

[Guest theeldergeek]

My nearly 6 year old daughter exclaimed last night that she wanted an ipad jsut as the advert came on.

 

She said that she wanted to use it for her school writing so that she could just show the teacher it on there

 

Cute, but what's wrong with pen, crayons and paper at 6 years old? Maybe I'm too old fashioned.... ?

[plexer]

Indeed there is nothing wrong with those I was suprised by her comments to be honest, she loves writing and drawing.

 

Ben

[Teth]

It's a bigscreen iphone so basically you have a web browser, ipod music and video player and whatever apps you get on the store.

 

The OS is well hardened so lockdown isn't an issue however it is also simplistic and there seem to be allot of problems with DHCP, DNS and proxy servers when used on any network more complicated than a ADSL / Cable modem + wireless router setup. So from a technical standpoint they are on shakey ground in schools.

 

From an educational standpoint all they have going for them is a web browser with no storage or printing facilities so of limited use for research. Unless some educational software is approved by apple and released on the istore I don't see them having any practical use in schools. If such software existed it would also need to be bought once for every ipad + the cost of a class set of ipads makes me find it hard to believe any such app wouldn't have a much cheaper alternative.

 

I think netbooks or a linux or windows based Slates are a much better investment. HP and acer have interesting Slate devices coming if you are looking for something with an alternative interface which is more tactile for youngsters.

[featured_spectre]

Right well, the ipad is going back, until proxy and DNS issues are fixed, we wont be buying it. No need to carry on for the rest of the week trial as it would prove futile!

[witch]

It's a bigscreen iphone so basically you have a web browser, ipod music and video player and whatever apps you get on the store.

 

The OS is well hardened so lockdown isn't an issue however it is also simplistic and there seem to be allot of problems with DHCP, DNS and proxy servers when used on any network more complicated than a ADSL / Cable modem + wireless router setup. So from a technical standpoint they are on shakey ground in schools.

 

From an educational standpoint all they have going for them is a web browser with no storage or printing facilities so of limited use for research. Unless some educational software is approved by apple and released on the istore I don't see them having any practical use in schools. If such software existed it would also need to be bought once for every ipad + the cost of a class set of ipads makes me find it hard to believe any such app wouldn't have a much cheaper alternative.

 

I think netbooks or a linux or windows based Slates are a much better investment. HP and acer have interesting Slate devices coming if you are looking for something with an alternative interface which is more tactile for youngsters.

 

Thank you, this, and nephilims proxy issues, are exactly the sort of thing that I am looking for. Presumably there is an app with word/excel/etc-type applications - can you save stuff created in these? Or print them?

 

But surely those who tug the purse strings look to you to advise on what equipment will or won't work? If you can (and already have) identified issues with iPad's on your school network, then I know what I'd be telling the boss...

Yes, he will listen to me if I can give him very good reasons why buying ipads is not the best way forward for the school - hence this thread

[enjay]

No need to carry on for the rest of the week trial as it would prove futile!

 

Is it not worth carrying on so you can find other pitfalls/problems/benefits, then deliver a report saying "iPads could be useful for x and y, but not until a and b have been sorted"?