[ipad] Using iPads for multiple users in groups.

[Eric]

John,

 

You say, "etched." Do I gather that you did this without recourse to Apple (who are clearly hard to persuade to do engraving on educational sales.)

[Airwatcher]

Northwood schools in London have successfully deployed nearly 400 devices in this way.

 

 

I know the iPad is primerily designed as an personal device, but in their wisdom management here have stated they want groups of iPads availble to sudents akin to how we have groups of laptops in cabinets now.

 

So my questions are:

 

a) Are there any schools doing this already that can advise me on the best way of managing iPads in this situation.

b) Can I come and visit someone using iPads in this way (if anyone is doing so) preferably in the Kent area.

c) any other comments people might have.

 

Forget trying to talk management out of this decision, this is what they want so I've got to work with it as best I can. I can see it being a nitemate before we've even started, so I need to come up with a stategy of managing them and using them effectively.

 

regards,

 

Mike.

[SovietRussia]

Sorry to bump up this thread...

 

In answer to anyone exploring the possibilities of a multi-user iPad environment approach, then I may have the answer for you.

 

We are also deploying iPads, not on the scale of what is mentioned here but a small scale to begin with. We are using Meraki to manage the devices and turning on restrictions locally on the devices along with supervising them.

 

We are currently exploring the possibility of building an application that connects via SMB to the Windows Network. So far if your in an application, click Share and tap on the Network one and users are prompted to Login via AD and then the work is shared to their Home Areas on the Windows Network. Its far easier than installing Dropbox and other 3rd party solutions when you can build your own to interface with your own network, thus using your own services.

 

Its still in the developmental stages as I don't really know much Objective C (Still learning).

 

Just thought I would share what we are doing with others.

[eean]

Hi,

Have you looked at the Apple Configurator? I haven't used it myself, but I'm intrigued by this option in the manual:

Once you set up a supervised device, you can also Assign it to a designated user. When you check out the device to a particular user, Apple Configurator returns the device to the state it was in the last time that person used it. All the user’s settings and app data are restored.

When you check the device back in, Apple Configurator backs up the user’s settings and app data for the next time, including any new user-created data, and then erases any information that was left on the device by the previous user. By checking devices in and out, you can give each user the experience of a personal device, yet retain the ability to assign the same group of devices to many groups of users. Users can be added manually or imported from Open Directory or Active Directory and organized into custom groups.

 

What it appears to allow you to do is have a standard image that can be installed to the iPads, along with apps. Lock them down and set up wireless etc.. But also Copy all specific user data to the ipad ready for a lesson, then back it up at the end and clear it off at the end. It can't do this wirelessly, so you would have to have a Macbook on each trolley of ipads.

Problems I can see:

* You'd need to train staff or students how to check out and in ipads, although this appears to be quite easy.

* You need to buy an macbook for each trolley or have them returned to IT between each period for check in and then check out.

* Time taken to sync the profiles on and off the iPads. I don't know how long it takes. I imagine that you'd need to keep the bear minimum of work stored on the iPad in this way and export it permanently somewhere else after a project is finished.

* The profile is stored on the Macbook, so a teacher would have to keep booking the same trolley each time, limiting flexibility. Unless there is some way of syncing the Macbook to a central server – though this would probably require a hack – OR you have just one sync machine.

Of course, not every lesson requires students to save work. After a device has been checked in, student specific work is automatically removed and the iPad reverts to a generic device. If the iPads are assigned to departments, then you could get away with one sync Macbook for each department.

 

 

Here's a guide: http://images.apple.com/education/docs/ios_6_education_deployment_guide.pdf

Many apps sync to google drive so personal accounts for students could help, and/or School eLockers

[Driftingashore]

Honestly, I've been tempted to do the same, but I don't have the Obj-C programming chops, or enough time before we roll out to learn it and develop something. As it is, We'l be using Documents, and users will have to set up a WebDav connection in a third party app to save to their home folder - along with a "help" WebClip telling them how to do it, because people will forget..

 

Hardly ideal, but the best solution we have right now.

[eean]

Honestly, I've been tempted to do the same, but I don't have the Obj-C programming chops, or enough time before we roll out to learn it and develop something. As it is, We'l be using Documents, and users will have to set up a WebDav connection in a third party app to save to their home folder - along with a "help" WebClip telling them how to do it, because people will forget..

 

Hardly ideal, but the best solution we have right now.

 

I think School eLockers - Select Region might be what you're after.

[Driftingashore]

To be honest, that's a complete solution, and way more comprehensive and complex than we need. It does look interesting, but with a relatively small amount of iPads shared across the school, teachers couldn't have enough access to them to make investing their time learning how to use something this in-depth worthwhile.

 

What I really want is an App that treats a WebDav folder simply as a network share, where you can send files from the share to apps capable of editing those files, and if a file is sent back, it asks the user where to save it, and uploads it there. It seems pretty simple, but for some reason, it doesn't seem to exist.

[Sean-OC04]

To be honest, that's a complete solution, and way more comprehensive and complex than we need. It does look interesting, but with a relatively small amount of iPads shared across the school, teachers couldn't have enough access to them to make investing their time learning how to use something this in-depth worthwhile.

 

What I really want is an App that treats a WebDav folder simply as a network share, where you can send files from the share to apps capable of editing those files, and if a file is sent back, it asks the user where to save it, and uploads it there. It seems pretty simple, but for some reason, it doesn't seem to exist.

 

Sounds like you need this.....?

 

Foldr - Remote File Access From Any Device & Workflow Solution For iOS

 

 

DM me if you would like more info

[tantos82]

Showbie is what we use to get data off our iPads and its free!