Tablets for Staff
I have recently been told that our Governors have approved quite a bit of investment in our ICT infrastructure. Our network is being upgraded and the wireless is being improved. I am also looking to increase the technology available to teachers and students. My thoughts on this keep changing but my current plan is as follows:
- To equip staff (initially) with an Android based tablet such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2
- To provide a class set of Chromebooks
As we use Chrome as our default browser in the ICT room and on the laptops I think having some form of consistency among devices could be a good thing rather than introducing Apple into the mix.
I would really appreciate any thoughts on this.
August 16, 2012 at 11:24 am
I don’t know your staff obviously; you might have a very tech savvy group – but I can’t imagine the majority would use the tablet on a regular basis. Surely a better model would be to give it to the teachers with more advanced ICT skills and assess their usefulness from these teachers? It’s much like the IWB situation – and if teachers aren’t using those for more than touching a powerpoint slide then you’ve got no hope with them connecting via VNC to control the board or taking the register via the touch screen keyboard…
August 16, 2012 at 11:31 am
my plan is to be able to demonstrate the possibilities and then ask staff to ‘bid’ for one – i.e. get them to explain how they would use it in order to justify the purchase. SO i am not expecting to provide every member of staff with one but rather only those who would actually make use of it.
August 16, 2012 at 11:42 am
Ah. This is fine =)
I’d prefer a nexus 7 but I’m used to typing on small keyboards. I’ve got a HP Touchpad, an RM Slate (Win 8) and an Onda Vi40 Elite – and while the Touchpad’s my current one of choice I absolutely see the usefulness on Win8 on a tablet. Have you thought about waiting a couple of months and just getting staff these?
My use of Android tablet in ICT -> VNC to board, couple of useful ed apps, HDMI to show directly to board for apps creation etc, emails and register.
My use of Win8 tablet in ICT -> all android + FormatFactory, writing office docs, possible SIMS directly on tablet, other native apps we use in school….
August 16, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Initital thoughts…
What do you want them to be able to do with them?
How’s it going to improve / compliment their teaching and learning?
Can you get the tablet onto the screen? Apple’s airplay is a massive bonus here.
Worth holding out until next month I’d suggest to look at rumoured iPad mini and/or new Windows tablets.