Just attended an interesting meeting with 2 presentors - one who has implemented a 1:1 rollout of android based tablets, and 1 from Apple talking about the iPad. Both have the same limitations as far as school use goes - not able to authenticate to existing networks, management of installs and apps, etc...However, I could not discern any advantage of the iPad over an Android 3.2 platform. They operate similarly, have comparable if not identical applications, and have the same visual and intuitive features. However the iPad costs much more and the apps are fee-based!
The speaker discussing the Android based rollout in her district had some very useful points and tips: They are summed up here:
- plan more for breakage than seems reasonable (they are averaging 20%)
- provide charging stations because kids forget to charge and having a dead tablet inhibits learning
- provide a common collaboration platform that everyone can access (they have a Moodle)
- go all digital with textbooks - theirs are all open source or they got permission to scan purchased textbooks they already owned.
- eBooks can enhance the school library and can be counted as part of the collection
- provide an insurance plan that covers replacement if a tablet is broken - ONCE. Second breakage is on the students family.
- make sure school content can be cached (as with the Moodle) or downloaded (textbooks) so kids without internet can continue learning
- have clear behavior protocol in place in addition to a current AUP
- get the experts in for teacher PD
- plan for obsolescence - tablets will need to be replaced/upgraded yearly