iPad FAQ Why iPads? There are plenty of other

iPad FAQ
Why iPads? There are plenty of other cheaper devices around?
iPads are the number one tablet, whether it is in trade magazines like PC Pro, Trade Websites, such
as TechRadar and PCMag along with consumer magazines/newspapers like Which and The
Telegraph.
Other devices have closed the gap, but mainly from a consumer led experience, not an education
one.
Samsung Tablets are the exception to this and there is now a strong education drive supporting the
Samsung Tablets. The top performing Samsung Tablets are in the same price bracket.
However the iPad has a very clever workflow interface that allows you to open a piece of work, a
photo, video in a number of different apps and to save them in many different formats and apps.
Other devices do not always allow for this workflow. The students will show you examples of this.
Because it has this workflow function, the apps that are developed for iPad operating system, IoS,
are moving away from consumer experiences like games and shopping, to educational apps.
Because of the iPad lead in the market, Microsoft has made available to the iPad versions of its work
tools and on an iPad you are now able to save documents as a word or excel document.
Because of their education focus, Apple has developed two resources iBooks and iTunes U where
students can access educational resources and courses from all over the world. Increasingly
interactive textbooks are being developed by publishers.
What is the Cost?
Stormfront iPad Bundle:
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iPad Air 32GB Wi-Fi Only
STM Dux Case (required for insurance purposes)
3yrs Warranty *
3yrs Compucover Education Insurance for Damage & Theft.* * 5 day turnaround on
replacement iPad - we do not repair, we replace only)
Total: £460.60
Paying via direct debit.
Over 3yrs - £13.92 per month, which I believe works out to 46p per day.
Over 2yrs - £19.96 per month, which I believe works out to 66p per day.
Headteacher Mr John Winter • Weydon School (Academy), Weydon Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8UG
Tel: 01252 725052 Fax: 01252 717213 Web: www.weydon.com Email: [email protected]
Registered Office: Weydon School, Weydon Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8UG Registered in England and Wales No: 07552535
For Price Comparison
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iPad Air 32GB from John Lewis - £359
STM Dux Case from Apple Store - £39.99
3yr warranty from John Lewis- free
You CANNOT use John Lewis Insurance, as this is for domestic use only.
3yrs Compucover Insurance for Damage & Theft - £75.39 - 2-3 week turnaround
Total: £474.38
The comparative Android Device in terms of build quality, performance, reviews and screen size is a
Samsung Galaxy Tab S. This tablet tends to come second most of the time in the reviews.
At John Lewis it costs £399, and to buy a memory card to expand it to 32GB would be at least £40
plus the insurance and case.
Why Year 8?
Firstly as a year group, the leadership of the school is very impressed with their flexible approach to
learning and their ability to rise to new challenges, the Hunger Games week being a good example
from last year.
Secondly research from iPad deployment in other schools shows that teachers were more willing to
experiment with new teaching approaches in KS3. This research was conducted by NAACE.
Aren’t tablets are just used for games & watching movies?
Tablets certainly started out that way, but mobile phones started off as just as a way of making a
phone call and look at the power of these tools now. If you look at how the Year 10s used them in
just one week, you can see the power of the tool.
Will this mean the end of books and pens?
Absolutely not. In fact there is some research that actually makes the case for muscle memory. The
art of forming the letters actually stimulates a physical memory. Traditional skills such as
handwriting will continue to be a valuable skill. There will be times where the iPad is not the correct
tool. However there are times where the power of the iPad makes it the preferred option.
Who will control the safety of the devices and the purchases of the apps?
The students will be logging onto the school network via the wireless. Just like the desktop
computers we have in school, filters, tools and policies are in place to protect students from
Headteacher Mr John Winter • Weydon School (Academy), Weydon Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8UG
Tel: 01252 725052 Fax: 01252 717213 Web: www.weydon.com Email: [email protected]
Registered Office: Weydon School, Weydon Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8UG Registered in England and Wales No: 07552535
inappropriate content whilst connected to the school network. Additionally, the school’s Acceptable
Use Policy informs the correct use of mobile devices.
As a school we will use a Volume Purchasing Scheme to bulk buy and pay for any apps as well as
install any free apps. These will all be checked for suitability prior to purchase. This will be password
protected. Over time, students and staff will work together to identify new materials and content
that will be beneficial. However to begin with, we will assume a safety first approach for the security
of our network and students.
Will the charge last?
By not having many games or films downloaded to the device will save the battery life. Students will
bring the iPads home every evening and charge them when necessary. They are a learning tool. We
do not expect to see students sitting around at break time/lunchtime with their iPads, draining the
battery. We expect to see them dining in the restaurant, taking part in clubs and Interform and
playing outside. In addition, the iPads will not be used in every lesson, all the time.
What if we cannot afford it?
The school works hard to support financially disadvantaged families in many different ways. This will
be another way in which it does so.
My child has just bought an iPad why can't they use that one? Or another tablet?
The school will be volume purchasing the educational apps it wishes to use for teaching and
learning. Some of this may have a cost to them, which the school will pay for.
We will be purchasing iPad Air 32GB Wi-Fi. The memory size of this tablet has been identified as
been ideal for our planned use in school. Likewise the Wi-Fi means that the tablet will sit on the
school network and not use unsecured 3G/4G network.
Sometimes iPads are often bought for a family and have private family information or data held on
it.
The iPad may not always be available for that student if it is ‘family’ ipad.
Having a whole range of different tablets in the classroom with different operating systems,
performances and memory sizes could mean that the teacher would spend more time acting in a
technical support way than actually teaching.
What about theft?
Headteacher Mr John Winter • Weydon School (Academy), Weydon Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8UG
Tel: 01252 725052 Fax: 01252 717213 Web: www.weydon.com Email: [email protected]
Registered Office: Weydon School, Weydon Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8UG Registered in England and Wales No: 07552535
We have spoken to other schools about this issue and have been reassured that because the school
community knows that the iPad will be immediately locked and blocked, it has no value.
We will encourage the students to label the inside of the case and set the homepage as a photo of
them.
What about damage and breakage?
As part of the financial package, a three year warranty and insurance policy are included.
What if I have a sibling elsewhere in the school, can I buy them one as well?
Yes. All the staff in the school are undergoing a training programme and two of the school’s research
projects this year are linked to iPads. We would love to share the benefits for this with as many
students as possible.
Can I buy a device for lower school siblings or younger siblings who are not at Weydon?
Yes. You can buy these devices via our school portal at a discounted rate if you wanted to. You can
actually buy most Apple products at a discounted rate from our portal if you so wish.
Would games be able to be loaded onto these devices if they are not going to be used in the
classroom?
If these tablets are just for your personal usage, then that decision is entirely yours.
What if I don’t purchase the iPad, my child is going to be disadvantaged
Weydon is an Outstanding School. Its teaching and Learning is Outstanding. The Progress Students
make is Outstanding. But as an Outstanding School, we are always looking to improve ourselves
further.
Today’s outstanding is tomorrow’s satisfactory in the world of education. In order to ensure that our
students remain at the top of the tree, we need remain at the forefront of progress.
We believe that iPads with Google Classroom will facilitate that. But students who do not have an
iPad will still receive an Outstanding education. We are only in the trial stage of Google sites and
later maybe Google classroom.
Headteacher Mr John Winter • Weydon School (Academy), Weydon Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8UG
Tel: 01252 725052 Fax: 01252 717213 Web: www.weydon.com Email: [email protected]
Registered Office: Weydon School, Weydon Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8UG Registered in England and Wales No: 07552535

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