[plug] iPads in WA schools

[Craig Foster]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: plug [mailto:plug-bounces at plug.org.au] On Behalf Of Andrew Cooks
> Sent: Monday, 8 April 2013 11:18 PM
> To: plug at plug.org.au
> Subject: Re: [plug] iPads in WA schools
> 
> On Mon, Apr 8, 2013 at 8:36 PM, Craig Foster <Craig at fostware.net> wrote:
> >
> >
<snip>
> >
> > I'm playing Devil's advocate here, but I work with the multi-OS servers than
> mange them...
> >
<snip>
> > iPad pointy-end time...
> >
> > Until volume licensing, schools could buy one app and have it install on 5
> machines under the one teachers control. Grey area, but valid in the eyes of
> struggling schools.
> > NO MALWARE.
> > Easy backup and restore.
> > Lasts for ages on battery.
> > You know what software is on there and you can't add software without
> knowing the AppStore password.
> > Even a 4 year old can adequately operate an iPad.
> > No moving parts, not even hinges or removable batteries.
> > It brings in well-to-do parents when you see that many shiny MacBook Pros or
> even MacBooks.
> >
> > It's not complete, it's not balanced, but it's what educators and ILT support
> sees...
> >
> > Craig F.
> 
> Craig, it looks to me like you have solid technical experience in supporting the
> Apple infrastructure. Are you making the case that iPads provide the best
> practical solution compared to other tablets based on Android, Windows and
> Ubuntu? The iPad was probably more mature when the feasibility studies were
> done (assuming things were decided on merit), but is that still the case today?
> 
> There seems to be some tension between a device that is generally useful
> outside the classroom environment and one that can be adequately managed
> by the IT support staff, but how is this problem different from typical corporate
> support of mobile users?
> 
> a.
> _______________________________________________

I work in an environment where there are trained IT at the schools beck and call, so managing a fleet is fairly easy for us.

Other school IT departments I've dealt with have been the Computing Teacher or (quite a few actually) the Maths Teacher. iPads with their non-technical nature, are simpler to use than their competitors, for both students and non-technical staff. The ability to lock it down means the monitoring of class behaviour is limited to web browsing since no unexpected software can be installed and it doesn't play flash games. Lastly, educational programmers seem to work more on IOS than Android, and it shows in app stability and range. I regularly get woken up by the TabTales programs coming to the foreground and waking my Android tablet. Other than normal notifications, I never hear a peep out of backgrounded apps on my iphone.

While I agree my Android tablet is technically more suitable for me (iVMControl and SlickUSB FTW), I do go to the iPhone for quite a lot of programs that just don't exist on Android, and my 4 yr old seems to agree. 

My opinion is once the students are have written skills started, then they can start typing on notebooks or netbooks. Until then, the focus should be on the apps themselves and the education they provide, and I dare say it's the same viewpoint as most educators.

Craig F.