iPad for school

gasman · 30th September 2010, 5:38 PM

We've just received notification from my children's school that from next year iPad's (to be supplied by the family) will be compulsory from year 5 up.

Now I'm a strident PC kind of guy, so I'll admit to bias straight up, but from what I've read the current incarnation of the iPad sems less than ideal (I note today however there are rumours of an iPad 2 being released in a few months.)

What does everyone think? What are the specific features that make the iPad suitable or unsuitable for mainstream education use?

TIA, Ian.

Jazper · 30th September 2010, 5:46 PM

It is likely that books will be delivered on ipads rather than purchased, though I think that giving a primary school kid an ipad is just asking for trouble..

Goobers · 30th September 2010, 5:46 PM

from year 5...r u srs, I didn't even know how to use the computer back then, and im sure most others my age didn't either, (yes im aware some of you did, no i dont care) but I would hardly think ipads are appropriate for school use, especially when they have to be pad for by the family, if anything is to be compulsory with a price tag on it that high, it should be heavily subsidized by the education department, do they just assume everyone has a spare 500-1000$$$ lying around.

HUMMER · 30th September 2010, 5:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goobers

from year 5...r u srs, I didn't even know how to use the computer back then, and im sure most others my age didn't either, (yes im aware some of you did, no i dont care) but I would hardly think ipads are appropriate for school use, especially when they have to be pad for by the family, if anything is to be compulsory with a price tag on it that high, it should be heavily subsidized by the education department, do they just assume everyone has a spare 500-1000$$$ lying around.

this. i mean do schools actually think that all parents that have school age kids have money coming out of their proverbial? seriously? year 5 students needing ipads? WTF???

what is wrong with school these days? are they places for fads now to? its bad enough the kids themselves want to keep up with the jones' but worst when you get the schools preaching the wrong things.

Dicky · 30th September 2010, 5:59 PM

Private school or public?

I doubt if a second gen iPad will be released before May 2011.

Maybe a case like http://www.otterbox.com/ipad-cases/i...r-series-case/could be a good idea.

gasman · 30th September 2010, 6:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dicky

Private school or public?

Private (needless to say...)

The headmaster brought an iPad back from the states when they were first released, and has been obsessed beyond reason ever since.

There will be be no subsidies, and no discounts through bulk purchases due to Apple's thin margins. The school won't organise purchase, and have provided the name of a suggested retailer.

RyoSaeba · 30th September 2010, 6:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gasman

but from what I've read the current incarnation of the iPad sems less than ideal

What makes you say that?

Deadshot_80 · 30th September 2010, 6:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gasman

Private (needless to say...)

There are many pubic schools that are implementing ipads.

gasman · 30th September 2010, 6:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyoSaeba

What makes you say that?

Primarily from a management point of view, e.g. access control, filtering, updates, antivirus, backups, etc. The sort of tools you'd need to manage 1,000 or so computers in a corporate environment.

But also from a practical point of view, for example, no flash support. Every week my kids have to do homework on something called Mathletics that requires flash to run.

ewok85 · 30th September 2010, 6:20 PM

Disable access to the iTunes store and voila - its not a bad device for school

I read all my technical stuff on the iPad and its outstanding for that. There are so many excellent educational apps as well which are cheap - iScience is a great reference for all your formula needs, and there is plenty of other great physics and chemistry apps on there. Probably more than a few scientific calculators too.

Its great for language studies - any of the good book readers allow you to look up definitions of words or run foreign words through dictionaries. You can put 'flash card' apps on to cram study stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gasman

Primarily from a management point of view, e.g. access control, filtering, updates, antivirus, backups, etc. The sort of tools you'd need to manage 1,000 or so computers in a corporate environment.

Most of that is already there - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4213

Quote:

You can choose to restrict access to the following applications and features on the device:

Safari
YouTube
iTunes
App installation
Camera
FaceTime
Location

Block all but Safari and you're on a winner.

Antivirus is not required if you are blocking App installation.

Quote:

But also from a practical point of view, for example, no flash support. Every week my kids have to do homework on something called Mathletics that requires flash to run.

Sounds stupid, if they want to compete they'll upgrade. The site is slow as all hell anyway.

gasman · 30th September 2010, 6:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewok85

Disable access to the iTunes store and voila - its not a bad device for school

Can the IT manager at the school do this for everyone remotely? Can it be re-enabled by the user? How do you install educational apps without access to iTunes store?

HUMMER · 30th September 2010, 6:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gasman

Can the IT manager at the school do this for everyone remotely? Can it be re-enabled by the user? How do you install educational apps without access to iTunes store?

jailbreak it

ewok85 · 30th September 2010, 6:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gasman

Can the IT manager at the school do this for everyone remotely? Can it be re-enabled by the user? How do you install educational apps without access to iTunes store?

Access is restricted by a password ("passcode"). To be able to install software you need to put in the password.

But I do agree with you that forcing people to have their own personal iPad is stupid - parents are not going to manage the devices and teachers are not going to be able to monitor everything the kids do on the device all the time. An iPad works best if its on, in your hands, all the time, but it is completely useless if they are just playing games on it.

The thing is that if the school bought and managed the iPads this sort of thing is easy - Apple has a semi-working solution for businesses that allow them to manage applications and restrictions.

Maybe they want you to buy it, but they'll manage it? Personally I wouldn't be happy with having something I have purchased locked down like that.

gasman · 30th September 2010, 6:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUMMER

jailbreak it

Now we're getting somewhere!

ewok85 · 30th September 2010, 6:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gasman

Can the IT manager at the school do this for everyone remotely? Can it be re-enabled by the user? How do you install educational apps without access to iTunes store?

You create a list of applications that are allowed, and they are only able to install those specific apps.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/business/integration/

30th September 2010, 5:38 PM	#1
gasman Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: GC Q OZ Posts: 56	iPad for school We've just received notification from my children's school that from next year iPad's (to be supplied by the family) will be compulsory from year 5 up. Now I'm a strident PC kind of guy, so I'll admit to bias straight up, but from what I've read the current incarnation of the iPad sems less than ideal (I note today however there are rumours of an iPad 2 being released in a few months.) What does everyone think? What are the specific features that make the iPad suitable or unsuitable for mainstream education use? TIA, Ian.

30th September 2010, 5:46 PM	#3
Goobers Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Sutherland Shire, NSW Posts: 3,397	from year 5...r u srs, I didn't even know how to use the computer back then, and im sure most others my age didn't either, (yes im aware some of you did, no i dont care) but I would hardly think ipads are appropriate for school use, especially when they have to be pad for by the family, if anything is to be compulsory with a price tag on it that high, it should be heavily subsidized by the education department, do they just assume everyone has a spare 500-1000$$$ lying around. __________________ You cant fool all of the people all of the time, but if you fool the right people, the rest will follow. -There is no sense crying over every mistake, you just keep on trying till you run out of cake. [Trades= 5, Total = $4630]

30th September 2010, 5:46 PM	#2
Jazper Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 1,763	It is likely that books will be delivered on ipads rather than purchased, though I think that giving a primary school kid an ipad is just asking for trouble..

30th September 2010, 5:59 PM	#5
Dicky (Taking a Break) Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 702	Private school or public? I doubt if a second gen iPad will be released before May 2011. Maybe a case like http://www.otterbox.com/ipad-cases/i...r-series-case/could be a good idea.