Ipad vs Galaxy Tab in Education

[captainbirdseye86]

Hey all,

 

We are currently looking into the options between buying iPads or Galaxy Tabs for our school.

 

What are the educational pros and cons of each in your opinion? we find the iPads to be unflexible, for example the inability to plug in memory sticks into it. We also prefer the screen dimensions of the galaxy tab. However we need to have a balanced view of what would be best for students and staff. We will be extensively using Ericom AccessNow so that we can pull down a Windows 7 desktop onto the tablets (eventually Windows 8), as well as using them as tablets in their own right. We appreciate that the android market is not as developed as the iPad, would this be our own drawback over the iPad?

 

Thanks!

[Paid_Peanuts]

My view having tested both is WAIT until windows 8 is managable on a tablet device using GPOs!

[enjay]

I have a Galaxy but am inclined to agree with the above, without the ability to lock them down I think it is a straight no, plus the Markets (either Android or Apple) are a long way off the range of applications available for Windows. Tablets are recreational gaming devices, not educational resources. At present, anyway.

[dickiedickie2]

We are interested in exploring this further too, what about the asus eepad? Does anyone have any experience there?

[enjay]

what about the asus eepad? Does anyone have any experience there?

Was very tempted by those when I was looking at tablets, but decided not to wait an unknown amount of time for the Transformer Prime, so got a Samsung Galaxy instead. They come with a keyboard add-on as standard, don't know if you view that as a selling point or an unnecessary expense...

[Little-Miss]

My view having tested both is WAIT until windows 8 is managable on a tablet device using GPOs!

 

This is what i told SLT the other night!

[psydii]

Been looking at this too. Unless you go 1:1, the management of tablets is a bit MRO circa 1980's.

If you go 1:1 then they are ready - management of them is not the schools problem.

 

Beyond just keeping tabs on pedagogical technology developments, if there isn't a clear benefit to having them, with a clear strategy for ensuring this value is realised in your school then it is not so much that the tools aren't ready - it's that your school isn't ready.

 

Mine isn't right now. (shame)

[m25man]

This topic has been bashed to death elsewhere, my own conclusion is that my iPad is now my primary tool throughout the working day and the laptop relegated to accounts work and reports.

 

As a BYOD for Web, Mail & Research they are unbeatable but without granular management and flexible deployment options they have real problems in schools.

 

I agree, love M$ Corp or not, Windows 8 on a tab at present looks to be an attractive option, however BYOD is becoming incredibly popular and I suspect that if it continues at the current adoption rate implementation of a controlled through policy platform is likely to be much harder to implement retrospectively.

[Michael]

I agree with the above, but it's not all about manageability. Controlling devices via GPO is important, but application compatibility is also important.

 

There are some nice apps on the iPad, but to be honest, most of the time you can find generic web versions of the same thing which are then compatible with any device. The iPad is still locked out of a good chunk of websites for the simple fact it doesn't support Flash. It's clear in my opinion Apple never intended the iPad for enterprise or educational use. It isn't really 'multi-user' ready, but just one user ready.

 

Compatibility with a projector/whiteboard is also limited, whereas with a PC you can either use a hardware splitter or use Windows' own screen management which will clone everything.

 

In the long-term, you also have to look at compatibility. With a PC, laptop or netbook, you can run various Operating Systems from XP, Vista, Windows 7 and in future Windows 8, but you can also easily upgrade various components, or plug in new components via USB which are any make/model. Being locked in to one brand is anti-competitive and ends up being costly.

[SimpleSi]

Tablets are recreational gaming devices, not educational resources. At present, anyway.

 

Is the way it is at the moment.

 

If they ran a lot of the present Windows/Web based educational content then they could be useful - but they don't

 

As specialised video/music tools, the IPads are very good but its a niche that doesn't justify the expense in most cases.

 

Si

[CyberNerd]

google apps allows admins to remote wipe android devices.

[enjay]

google apps allows admins to remote wipe android devices.

That is true (although I only found that out today when I got an email saying that delegates admins can now do this as well!). On related topic, I think schools should be encouraging staff to put a remote lock/wipe app on their phones too (or at the absolute minimum a password/code on it - if a staff member has their phone configured to access school email and then has their phone nicked, you have yourself a nasty data protection issue.

 

If they ran a lot of the present Windows/Web based educational content then they could be useful - but they don't

Very true. It isn't even as simple as saying "stick everything in the cloud and then access it from the tablets", as I've found a number of web sites which don't play ball with my tablet. This is sometimes because the layout isn't touch-friendly, but I've also found that sites with plug-ins like Java or Flash don't respond quick enough to use (irritating for me, this includes Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook, which I have to play from PC!).

[kennysarmy]

Interesting discussion.....have been asked to investigate a trial tablet as head of art is 'interested'...of course no wireless coverage in his block so really can't see the point IMO.....

[enjay]

no wireless coverage in his block so really can't see the point IMO.....

So long as he could put the files on somehow, either cable or wireless elsewhere, he could easily work locally.

[IrritableTech]

Interesting discussion.....have been asked to investigate a trial tablet as head of art is 'interested'...of course no wireless coverage in his block so really can't see the point IMO.....

 

Someone has been reading the news about David Hockney then...

 

With regard to few devices to many students, I have heard many fantastic uses of iOS devices within a school. I went to a conference before Christmas where a head talked about all the different ways he was using them in the classroom. A primary classroom. I think that makes the difference for me. Primary school kids will generally do what they are told, and feel guilt if they delete the program which everyone wanted to use. Many secondary kids will delete things for fun.

 

That's the downfall of unmanaged devices.

 

However, lots of people will argue that if you show the secondary kids some trust, they will usually reward you. I think schools that are using tablets in the classroom have had to rethink the way they allow kids to access technology.

 

I bought myself a galaxy tablet last month. It's fantastic, however I haven't managed to find the same quality of educational apps that I have on the iPad. It's much better for me though, because I want geeky apps that allow me to use my galaxy as a shared wireless network drive as well as other things.

 

I think schools have two choices at this moment. Either wait for windows 8, which is a solution most people in my (our) job would prefer, because we prefer to be in control and predict maintenance. Or alternatively allow kids to access technology and trust them to use it for good, not evil.

[enjay]

Excellent post, @IrritableTech. I think you're right, that it is a case of finding a compromise between the problems associated with (largely) unmanaged devices versus the educational benefits of using them now rather than waiting for Win8.

 

For my own purposes, I am glad I have a Galaxy not an iPad as I have a PC not a Mac and have an Android phone, saving on doubling up on some app purchases (DoubleTwist with AirSync is an awesome app for keeping my music synced across all 3 devices), however if buying for educational use, I would likely head towards iPad or Win8, as the range of applications is much broader.

[kennysarmy]

Someone has been reading the news about David Hockney then...

 

 

How did you guess......

[psydii]

Last time the world waited for Microsoft to catch up it took them 8 years and still was missing most of the features promised (Ciaro). Many competitors killed themselves trying to match features that never arrived.

 

I would be very suprised if they managed to pull off ipad beating functionality and developer eco system while also providing enterprise managability in what would essentially be a v1.0product. (Ok so the core is the solid NT kernel/Win32, but the new, shiney selling points would all be v1.0)

 

 

However, lots of people will argue that if you show the secondary kids some trust, they will usually reward you. I think schools that are using tablets in the classroom have had to rethink the way they allow kids to access technology.

 

This is key. The IT world is changing - a complete and radical re-think is required given where tablets are going to take us in the next few years. Computers Suites - even latpop suites buing built today are really the last hurrah for the old way.

 

In education chrome os is the competitor to IOS (instant on - and multi user) but it lacks the developers and the apps.

[edutech4schools]

schools should be encouraging staff to put a remote lock/wipe app on their phones too (or at the absolute minimum a password/code on it

 

If you have Google Apps for Ed you can force the users to use passwords, enforce sync, encrypt the data on the device, Enable application auditing, enable device policy, send device alerts to email address and remote wipe.

 

VMware are creating a secure android vm in response to company concerns over security which will mean it will be allowed on MOD sites and other secure places of work.

[mobisallen]

In my opinion Galaxy Tab is a better option as compared to iPad, the reason being very obvious the OS

For the android you have a lottttt of applications free of cost for your students. You should better check the android market for the applications available there. For the iPad you will not find as much application and specially the free ones

I have downloaded a lot of free applications for my kids and most of them are very interesting.