Deploying iPad's in School - A Case Study

[somabc]

Fraser Speirs - Blog - The iPad Project: Day One

Fraser Speirs - Blog - The iPad Project: Day Two

Fraser Speirs - Blog - The iPad Project: Day Three - End of an Era, and DRM Hell

[dhicks]

Useful, thanks. Looks like Apple haven't quite figured out the corporate / schools market quite yet - a bunch of iPads looks a bit of a bother to manage. I can't help but think that 1024 X 768 screen resolution makes them just perfect as an IWB replacement - install a VNC app, control your desktop PC from the iPad. If you had the wireless infrastructure you might even be able to simply use a class'-worth as thin clients.

 

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David Hicks

[Arthur]

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/08/new-school-program-for-ios-apps-doesnt-address-all-it-needs.ars

[teejay]

Is it just me, but who would go and blow £40k plus on 115 of these before figuring out a way to actually deploy them properly! Didn't he thnk to get a sample unit and figure this stuff out first? I also love his claim that they have better IT than any other school, a half suite of Macs and some MacBooks which won't synch properly and lose files ain't that great ;-)

I do like the idea of having personal learning devices such as these, just not sure if the iPad is the right thing.

[Arthur]

I completely agree, TeeJay. You don't even have to get a sample unit to know that iPad's and their apps will be a pain to manage in any quantity greater than one. A few minutes on the Internet will tell anyone that.

 

Apple need to fix these deployment issues before other companies come up with alternatives e.g. cheap iPad-style devices running the enterprise edition of Google's ChromeOS perhaps?

[Mr.Ben]

Or even (SHOCK HORROR) one based on windows that deployment of existing applications will just 'work' on at a reasonable price.

 

I hate that thought of lock in, but it may well happen

[RabbieBurns]

Useful, thanks. Looks like Apple haven't quite figured out the corporate / schools market quite yet - a bunch of iPads looks a bit of a bother to manage. I can't help but think that 1024 X 768 screen resolution makes them just perfect as an IWB replacement - install a VNC app, control your desktop PC from the iPad. If you had the wireless infrastructure you might even be able to simply use a class'-worth as thin clients.

 

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David Hicks

 

I dont understand. The IWB is about 100" and can be seen from the back of the class. How are kids meant to see a teacher working from an Ipad?

[Tricky_Dicky]

I dont understand. The IWB is about 100" and can be seen from the back of the class. How are kids meant to see a teacher working from an Ipad?

 

Are you being sarcastic and I'm just not getting it?

[teejay]

I dont understand. The IWB is about 100" and can be seen from the back of the class. How are kids meant to see a teacher working from an Ipad?

 

Use the telescope app...

[RabbieBurns]

No im serious, its me that doesnt get it. How can an ipad replace a whole interactive white board..

[teejay]

No im serious, its me that doesnt get it. How can an ipad replace a whole interactive white board..

 

You just use a projector hooked up to it, rather than an IWB.

The other way if all students had personal learning devices is to do a live stream from the teacher device to the student devices.

[Butuz]

Fantastic. Buy 115 of them then try and work out how the hell to get them to work. I like his style!!

 

Also be interesting to see how the wireless copes moving from 12 macbooks to 115 ipads!

 

Butuz

[Tricky_Dicky]

No im serious, its me that doesnt get it. How can an ipad replace a whole interactive white board..

 

I think what was meant that you kept the IWB but the teacher could VNC on to the computer it was attached to and control it from the back of the classroom. It would make a much more engaging lesson rather than the teacher having to be stood in front of the board. It would also help keep an eye on the naughty kids who hide at the back of the class.

[somabc]

Fantastic. Buy 115 of them then try and work out how the hell to get them to work. I like his style!!

 

Also be interesting to see how the wireless copes moving from 12 macbooks to 115 ipads!

 

Butuz

 

I don't think he had the choice!

[DanRowley]

If anyone is interested in controlling the IOS software (Ipad, Iphone, touch) so that users can't download apps, delete stuff etc; apple has released a piece of software called 'iPhone Configuration Utility'. It also allows you to control multiple profiles for different users/classes and to control app deployment.

[dhicks]

I think what was meant that you kept the IWB but the teacher could VNC on to the computer it was attached to and control it from the back of the classroom.

 

No need for an IWB, just a projector (or other large display). You can, of course, pass a iPad around from pupil to pupil, which might or might not be a good idea depending on how rowdy the class is.

 

Am I right in thinking that the iPad comes with an HTML capable web browser? You could use web-based software, if so.

 

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David Hicks