chromebook vs ipads: what's best for your school or classroom needs?

Chromebooks vs iPads: What’s Best for Your School or Classroom Needs? Simple K12.com webinar - 8/19/14

Chris Casal Technology Coordinator/Teacher P. S. 10 Brooklyn (15K010) chris@mrcasal.com Twitter: @mr_casal

Chromebooks vs iPads

It’s a great problem to have, the need to choose between two revolutionary technology devices…

!

Read this article:

https://www.edsurge.com/n/2014-06-18-opinion-why-we-are-misunderstanding-the-chromebook-ipad-debate

So, which one?

I don’t know

You need to figure that out

Forget the devices for a minute

what are you trying to accomplish?

what are your goals?

what is your existing infrastructure?

Where we areGoogle Apps school

all staff on GAFE

students in grades 3-5 on GAFE

iPads for teachers

longstanding program (5th year)

portability & accessibility

1:1

Chromebooks for students

easier to implement & share

Caveats

I love Apple

I love Google

I manage my GAFE domain from my iMac and iPad…

How I see itChromebooks

Google

quicker setup

easier to manage

better in shared setting

research, writing, presenting, creating…

iPads

Apple/iTunes

multi-step setup

less manageable

individual in mind

video, music, animation plus GAFE capable…

ChromebooksGAFE domain is crucial

Easy setup

Virtually no training needed

Access the power of GAFE

Manage the device within the GAFE Admin console

Chromebooks - prosEasily shared with multiple students

no need to set local accounts, device pulls from Google sign-in

Familiar platform

no different than using Chrome on a Mac or PC

Inexpensive

$300 or less per device

Chromebooks - conIt’s a laptop

some people prefer the mobility of the tablet design

Limited app selection

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/apps

Traditional input

Less tactile

Limited off-line functionality

not unusable without wifi, but very limited

iPadsIntended to be a personal device

excels in a 1:1 setting

Requires an iCloud/iTunes account

Volume Pricing available for apps

1.2 million apps available

iPads - proPortable

Multi-input

fingers, stylus, keyboard, peripherals

1,200,000 apps

animation, video editing, photo editing…

Not reliant on single platform

Not reliant on wifi connectivity

Sean Junkins -http://sjunkins.wordpress.com/2014/06/16/the-periodic-table-of-ipad-apps/

iPads - conExpensive

$299 16 GB mini is the cheapest

$799 128 GB Air is most expensive

Best management apps are 3rd party

Meraki, AirWatch

Not easily or securely shared among multiple users

I’m ignoring the “no real keyboard” iPad argument…

Not entirely ignoring it

I don’t view it as a con

No physical keyboard is what makes the iPad excel

“digital clipboard” I can handwrite on is the point, for me

For me…Chromebooks

in a GAFE environment

shared devices

standard tech goals: research, writing, publishing, etc

iPads

no set computing environment

1:1 setting

media creation: animation, music, video + standard tech goals

For you…

I don’t know…

Can you do a pilot?

Can you experiment with one or two devices?

What are your goals?

What is your setting like?

Summary

Chromebooks and iPads are both amazing devices providing unprecedented access & opportunity for students

Which will work best for you is up to you

Build your infrastructure then choose the device, that way you can always change devices without having to change infrastructure…

ContactChristopher M. Casal

Technology Teacher/Coordinator P. S. 10 (15K010)

Email: chris@mrcasal.com Twitter: @mr_casal

Diigo: mrcasal www.mrcasal.com

thecasalos.blogspot.com ps10ipads.wikispaces.com