Here’s an interesting and informative Edutopia blog post on 1:1 planning for iPads in the classroom. It’s a must read for schools wanting to go 1:1 with iPads. From our experiences in the classroom and working with schools on 1:1 initiatives, it captures a great deal of what is needed to implement to maximum learning successfully. And iPads are supercool!
Infrastructure is an item that we would add to the list. Some of the infrastructure that needs to be in place are IP Addresses, VLANs, Wireless Access Points (WAPs), bandwidth internal to the district, and bandwidth outside of the district to the internet. See what you have, collect data, and plan accordingly. There are scores of free tools that can help. Students’ ability to get to Google is only as good as the weakest link in the chain above.
This, too, is not just important for iPad apps and browsing sessions but for when technologies such as VMware View 4.5 is planned. Virtual Desktops are chock-full of benefits on lots of levels. But they’ll not be fully realized or used if it’s slow or if it’s hit-or-miss with working. Ubiquity is the key.
Our second (and last) item to add to Andrew’s list is to pilot iPads using a class or two. This works out any instructional, learning, or technology kinks, possible showstoppers, and allows course corrections if deemed necessary. Once technology proves to be successful, it can then be moved into whole school use.
