Is the relative lack of teacher control over student iPad use a relief or a recipe for disaster?

[Sam Gliksman]

Monitoring software can be installed on laptops that enables teachers to view and control their use. Teachers don't have that same level of command over iPads. I have been contacted by several schools that are concerned about the inability to view, monitor and control iPad use in class. Depending on your individual educational outlook, you may see this as a relief or a recipe for disaster. What is your opinion?

[Marco Marchant]

It's good to see that your IT department is supporting you!

How did your IT department deal with the extra WiFi needs and security of the iPads?

Patrick Larkin said:

We are looking at using the Casper Suite to manage our iPads. Our IT Dept. is optimistic that it will be a good solution to monitoring iPad use by students.

[Judy Arzt]

Did we know what kind of notes students were scribbling on paper? Does it matter? Can we control every move students make? I once had the experience of finding out students were writing notes about me and leaving them on the desk after class. The teacher coming into the room next would fine them. Not sure if we are just being paranoid about knowing every move students make, but at least in the internet age, we have electronic records, and we could trace back if we wanted. Perhaps we just need to do a better job of teaching about civil behavior and trust.

[Christopher Casal]

My feeling is if you are an engaged teacher it shouldn't be an issue.

 

I have a computer lab with 30 systems. All running through Apple's Remote Desktop application. I have the ability to view and control, but since I spend most of my time walking around the room ARD doesn't do a lot of "classroom management" for me.

 

What I do miss with the iPad is the maintenance feature of ARD. Yes, I can sync all the iPads to a single account to clone them, but I love ARD's ability to push out software and files with a simple click.

 

I don't need the "classroom management" features (view, control, lock) but I certainly do miss the maintenance features (copy items, install packages, etc).

 

[Sam Gliksman]

Christopher, Have you looked at Casper Suite from jamf software?

Christopher Casal said:

My feeling is if you are an engaged teacher it shouldn't be an issue.

 

I have a computer lab with 30 systems. All running through Apple's Remote Desktop application. I have the ability to view and control, but since I spend most of my time walking around the room ARD doesn't do a lot of "classroom management" for me.

 

What I do miss with the iPad is the maintenance feature of ARD. Yes, I can sync all the iPads to a single account to clone them, but I love ARD's ability to push out software and files with a simple click.

 

I don't need the "classroom management" features (view, control, lock) but I certainly do miss the maintenance features (copy items, install packages, etc).

 

[Karen Barley]

Hi,

I am using Ipads in my classroom and we now have 20 in the school.  The app store and Itunes etc can be turned off in settings and there is also a parental control where you can only view certain age groups.  Also you can turn off the itunes store in Itunes, so I don't see this as being a problem.

I do not think this should be a barrier to using Ipads in classrooms.  I've been trialling them all year and they have absolutely revolutionised my classroom.  I have children who have disabilities and autism and for the first time these kids are learning, are engaged and enthusiastic about what they are doing.  Also the parents are excited because "their kids" who have been told they will never learn are evolving, learning and growing.  What's even better they are with some guidance directing their own learning  (I know that sounds like a bit of an oxymoron)....

The effects of the way this has been working has been so significant that the school has decided to purchase an Ipad for every student.

I would heartily suggest that no-one uses this issue as a barrier to a great piece of technology that makes learning so accessible to so many.

 

[Jim Knight]

Hi Karen Barley,

 

I would like to get in touch with you regarding your trialing iPad in your classroom this past year.  We are looking into doing the same thing next year at my Junior High.  Is there a way to get in touch with you? 

 

Thanks,

 

Jim Knight

Karen Barley said:

Hi,

I am using Ipads in my classroom and we now have 20 in the school.  The app store and Itunes etc can be turned off in settings and there is also a parental control where you can only view certain age groups.  Also you can turn off the itunes store in Itunes, so I don't see this as being a problem.

I do not think this should be a barrier to using Ipads in classrooms.  I've been trialling them all year and they have absolutely revolutionised my classroom.  I have children who have disabilities and autism and for the first time these kids are learning, are engaged and enthusiastic about what they are doing.  Also the parents are excited because "their kids" who have been told they will never learn are evolving, learning and growing.  What's even better they are with some guidance directing their own learning  (I know that sounds like a bit of an oxymoron)....

The effects of the way this has been working has been so significant that the school has decided to purchase an Ipad for every student.

I would heartily suggest that no-one uses this issue as a barrier to a great piece of technology that makes learning so accessible to so many.

 

[Karen Barley]

Hi Jim,

My email is [e-mail]

 

I don't know where you are, but I am in Australia...but I have skype.  Would love to chat.

 

Karen

[Jim Knight]

Hi Karen,

 

My skype contact info is:  jim.knight4

If I can have yours I'll add you to my contact

list and we can skype.

 

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area

 

Best.....Jim

Karen Barley said:

Hi Jim,

My email is [e-mail]

 

I don't know where you are, but I am in Australia...but I have skype.  Would love to chat.

 

Karen

[Karen Barley]

Hi Jim,

I've just sent you a request on skype.

 

will talk soon

Karina

 

 

[Jim Knight]

Thanks Karen,

 

My email is:  [e-mail]

 

Great connecting today with you on skype.  ;-)

 

Jim

Karen Barley said:

Hi Jim,

My email is [e-mail]

 

I don't know where you are, but I am in Australia...but I have skype.  Would love to chat.

 

Karen

[Jeremy Dorn]

Coming at this from a more IT support angle I'll add a few more things to what's been said. I very much miss the tools available to Macs through Apple Remote Desktop. I know a good server setup logs outgoing traffic but it has often been far easier to pull the local Apache logs off a Managed student account then digging through all the network traffic. Remote screen viewing would be nice but the lack of access to various logs not good. Having the full featured of a Managed account and the usage reports ARD can generate would be good. Another tool I'd really come to miss over time is scripting. Both Shell and Apple scripts.

There is another aspect to ARD that is missing. Remote Assist. Working at a 1:1 school, I've had students contact me by "message to administrator" for help. Often little things like formatting or a difficult (for them) search topic. It's an extra bit of support when the teacher is likely already dealing with two or three other students. Having the ability to convers and model for these students from my office, or wireless around the building, is invaluable. It's a way for them to get past a block and working again, instead of idly spinning their gears. I can't do that for an iPad, or even from an iPad. (Although I can with VNC back to my office ARD and then out to the student computers. A remote for the remote. :P)

[Kenneth Clapp]

It has the potential to be both. Of course you are opening up the opportunity for students to spend their time playing Angry Birds when you think they are taking notes, but at the same time not having to ability to monitor all the ipads removes that burden from the teacher. In my opinion, while the teacher carries the majority of the burden to inspire and instruct their students, the student also carries part of the obligation to try. If you try to set up any system that attempts to remove either of those obligations then it's bound to fail. So, giving students the opportunity to goof off may be the only way to help them embrace their own responsibilities, and removing to ability to constantly monitor students may free up teachers to focus more on their tasks of inspiring and instructing.