This past school year, my district purchased Chromebooks and iPads for students to take the PARCC, Partnership for Assessment Readiness for College and Careers. The PARCC is a computer-based assessment in English Language arts/literacy and mathematics that gives information about whether students are prepared for learning after high school. The teachers at the high school wanted to purchase iPads for the students while the teachers and principal at the middle school wanted to purchase Chromebooks. As a member of the middle school staff, I was leaning more towards getting iPads because like Apple products. Because our district purchased a great deal of devices, teacher were able to use them in their classrooms throughout the school year. My district purchased enough devices for one grade level to be taking the test at a time. So, we roughly have 120 Chromebooks at the middle school and 120 iPads at the high school. Our district nor any of our schools are implementing a 1:1 classrooms, but we would like to catch up with the rest of the education world.
With that being said, I have read that many schools are implementing a 1:1 classroom. Some schools are using a 1:1 iPad classroom and others are using a 1:1 Chromebook classroom. Which device would work best when implementing a 1:1 classroom? Why?
Obviously it depends on what you want to do with it. With that being said, iPads are a superior machine with a much broader selection of apps. They cannot, however, match the versatility of a chrome book. iPads are fine for general web surfing, but they cannot run many of the interactive websites you may want your students to explore. The iPad does off web browser apps that can be purchased that allow flash, however these apps also allow the iPad to bi-pass the filters that your school may have in place, giving students access to less than desirable websites. unless you have very specific uses for the iPad, I would recommend the versatility of chrome books. With google docs, laptops are barely part of the equation any more. Besides, at half the price you can buy two chrome books for every iPad.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the feedback. I have found that Chromebooks are the way to go especially because of the price. I definitely do not want students to be accessing material that they should not be accessing.
DeleteDanielle, I've had this discussion with many folks in the K-12 environment. I always tell them that unless the touchability of the device is key, given the cost and breakability of the iPad in comparison to Chromebooks or netbooks, it just isn't worth the additional funds.
ReplyDeleteI have found that you can purchase Chromebooks at a reasonable price and they often go on sale where as the iPad rarely ever goes on sale. I have also found that if there is a need for a touch screen, you can purchase a Chromebook with a touch screen.
DeleteA great post. We are in a similar position. Trying to move forward and make decisions. Budget is important but function and use and learning are key too. I think I will read what folks post and soak it up. We don’t and wont have google docs we will have one drive for each child which makes it even harder. Chromebooks without drive seems silly. Good idea for a post. Andrew
ReplyDeleteWe just got Google Accounts for teachers and students this past school year in our district and I love Google! Why did your school/district decide to go with One Drive rather than Google Drive? Chromebooks without Google accounts does sound a bit odd to me but maybe your school/district has a reason. I am curious to hear about it, if you find out. As far as funding, have you heard of Donorschoose,org? If not, you need to go check it out!
DeleteThe school I am currently at has chrome books and the school I taught at in Arizona had iPads. I personally prefer the iPads. I thought I could do a lot more with them and my students. But they are more costly than chromebooks.
ReplyDeleteWhen you used the iPads, how did you work around the flash issue? Could you share some of the ways you used your iPads in Arizona and ways you use the Chromebooks now?
DeleteI've yet to find the one-size-fits-all technology that meets all classroom needs. As a high school science teacher, I use a lot of web based virtual labs and interactive simulations with my students and find that neither ipads nor chromebooks are all that useful for these -- I need the functionality of full laptops to run the many java and flash applications pervasive in science.
ReplyDeleteI understand your pain. I co-teach in the Science classroom and my co-teacher would struggle with the same issues. It is difficult to find great interactive sites and then when you do and the technology doesn't work then it becomes frustrating.
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