Transition to iPads

Over the next several years, SAD #44 will transition students and teachers from laptops to iPads. Recently teachers share their questions with us.

FAQ:

What is the reason for making the switch? What are some benefits?

The primary reason is budget. The change is part of a plan to refresh student and teacher technology every four years, and to do so with fiscal responsibility. Unfortunately, under current budgetary conditions, laptops are just too expensive. We cannot maintain our commitment to 1-to-1 technology when laptops are twice as expensive as iPads. Also, the laptops are having more and more damage which is expensive to fix (and which iPads are much less likely to have).

Additional reasons/benefits include the following:

  • iPads are more rugged than laptops

  • The rear-facing camera makes taking pictures and video for class work and projects much easier

  • Screens are larger than they used to be (about same size as last generation student devices)

  • Mac and iPad capabilities and function are converging - iPads are much more capable than they used to be, even a few years ago.

Are we the only district doing this or are other schools doing it, too?

More and more Maine schools are switching from laptops to iPads. These include: Mt. Blue High School, Winthrop, Oak Hill High School, Lewiston Middle School, Harrison Middle School, Auburn, Kittery, RSU 15 - Gray New Gloucester, Five Town CSD, RSU 13 - Rockland, RSU 6 - Buxton, Traip Academy, Thornton Academy, South Portland High School, and Gorham High School

Colleges and universities are making the switch, as well: Ohio State University, Duke University, Stanford University, University of California, Irvine, Texas A&M University, Bowdoin College

What device will teachers be getting? Would it be prohibitively expensive for teachers to get both a laptop and an iPad?

Teachers will get the same device the students are getting.

There is no plan to currently replace laptops. Unfortunately, in current budget conditions, laptops are becoming prohibitively expensive, certainly as a second device.

Will teachers be able to keep their current laptops? Will teachers be able to buy it?

For the time being, teachers will be able to keep their current laptops after their grade level converts to iPad. We haven’t decided yet for how long, or if people can buy their laptop, or if they will be eventually collected so we can sell them to a reseller. But at least for a while, teachers will not have to go without the laptop they now have.

What’s the timeline for the transition?

Each transition will be made by grade band, starting with K-2 next year (SY25), and then a new grade band each year after that: 3-5 in SY26, 6-8 in SY27, and 9-12 in SY28.

There might be a change to this schedule if we are awarded the USDA RUS grant we applied for. Given that most of our damage is happening in the middle school, we focused on 6-8 in that grant. Grant awards should be announced in Sept or Oct 2024. But the administration and tech team would think through transition timing - whether we would refresh 6-8 right away (mid year) or wait for end of year. In either case, it means we would be able to refresh 3-5 and 6-8 in the same school year, and would be able to move up refreshing 9-12 to SY27.

How will teachers be supported? Will there be training?

We have three approaches we plan on using to support teachers:

  1. Teachers will receive iPads a year ahead of their students, so they have the opportunity to become familiar with them in advance.

  2. We are partnering with Apple and MDOE MLTI Ambassadors to provide initial and ongoing iPad professional learning to our teachers.

  3. There are identified optional, self-paced iPad professional learning opportunities for staff.

The district is exploring possible incentives for completing one or more of the option professional learning certificates, including (possibly) an external monitor, a second student-configured iPad, or a 13” iPad Air. (Professional learning and incentive programs are yet to be finalized.)

How will these devices be managed? Will we have to use our own Apple IDs?

District iPads will be managed by the district. Teachers and Students will not have to use their personal AppleIDs. They will be provided a district managed Apple ID. This provides the district a lot more control over the devices, as well as, each user will have 200GB of iCloud storage space, which is much larger than personal accounts receive.

What apps will be on the iPads? Will I have access to the apps I’m used to?

We will continue to use the apps we are used to, including the following: Chrome and Safari, iReady, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides; Pages, Numbers, and Keynote; GarageBand. Remember, too, that many of our “apps” are web based.

What if the teacher needs or the student needs special software? (Such as the IEP software or the Eye Tracking software for one of our students)

We will make sure that teachers and students have the software they require. If the software is web-based (and is developed according to industry standards), it will also work on iPad. If there are worries about the screen size or aspect ratio, we will make sure it is functional and practical, or identify a solution that is. If a current required piece of software does not work on iPad, we will start by trying to identify one that is functionally equivalent, otherwise, we will pursue a different solution.

Will teachers be able to add apps to the iPads? Will students?

Teachers and students will not be able to add apps to their iPads directly. Any apps desired will have to be installed by the district. Teachers can request the Tech Team to add apps, but apps with a cost must be purchased with classroom or school budget funds.

Will teachers be able to monitor student devices? Will we be able to block apps or websites?

Teacher can use Apple Classroom to monitor what their students are doing on their iPads. (It also allows teachers to push out an app or web clip to all students and lock them into that activity.)

Students will be unable to add apps to their iPads, so in effect everything except district apps is blocked for them.

Websites will be filtered by NetworkMaine’s Umbrella filter we currently use. It would function similarly to how it has with our laptops. Requests to modify the filter can be made to administration.

Will middle school students be allowed to take their iPads home?

That’s a decision for the middle school leadership team.

What about charging iPads?

Our iPads will charge via USB-C cables, similar to our current laptops. The battery lasts much longer than the laptops, and if students bring the device to school fully charged, then the battery should last the day. If teachers are wondering about charging devices overnight in their class, a couple dish strainers and power strips make a good charging station.

Some teachers have asked about the chargers that simply have 10 or so USB-C ports (instead of outlets). Although they save space, they are expensive and are very low wattage, so take a very long time to charge the connected devices. Schools that have tried them, do not recommend them.

Will we be able to print?

Yes, there are ways to manage printing with an iPad.

But also note that there is a hope that we will begin to use less paper with iPads by focusing more on sharing electronic documents and using PDFs, etc., as opposed to distributing or turning in paper documents.

Will we be able to use headphones.

Bluetooth headphones work well with iPads. The iPad 10 does not have a built-in 3.5mm headphone jack. If we wish to use conventional wired-headphones, we will require Apple (or equivalent) USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapters, which the district can order.

Are keyboards detachable for things like outdoor or science learning activities?

The keyboard is not detachable, but it can fold flat behind the iPad (in such a way as not to block the rear facing camera).

Will everyone be getting Apple Pencils?

We will probably be giving classroom sets of a compatible “pencil” devices - ones that don’t require to be paired with a single specific device - to some classes, such as secondary Math, or Art, that would need them regularly. The teachers can distribute them when needed and then collect them at the end of class. (Other teachers can request a classroom set - requests will be granted based on need or as the budget allows.)

Will we be able to connect our iPads to our TVs and screen share?

Yes. The iPads work with the interactive TVs exactly as the laptops did - via AirPlay, Collage, or dongle and HDMI cable.

Will our iPads work well with PowerSchool? Will there be problems with small boxes or fonts?

PowerSchool works great on iPad.

Will we be able to connect to wifi away from school?

Yes.

Will teachers still be able to view browser history?

Yes.

What are the AI implications?

Any AI implications a school faces are totally independent of which platform/device they are using. They are exactly the same for smart phones, iPads, and laptops.

Hopes

Fears

That iPads have better battery life

That we have sufficient chargers

That I can keep my laptop

That this will help us save money

That we will be able to monitor what students are doing with their device

That the district will provide sufficient professional learning

That there will be less damage than with the laptops

That the iPads do all we need them to

That there is a smooth transition to iPads

That we can use the iPads for outdoor and active learning

That we can remove some of the distractions to students during class

That students bring a charged device to class

That students will be able to write math equations

That attendance can be done quickly

That I can still use a document camera

That we can use more interactive apps

That the iPad is very responsive to a stylus

That our resources transfer over from laptop to iPad

That we can continue to use our Smart TVs with iPads

That we can print easily

That iPads have many of the same features as Macs

That students can type easily

That students can do real time note taking while outside

That the iPads will be easy to use

That we can take and show video for learning purposes

That we will lose all the chargers

That iPads will be used for SnapChat and social media

That the iPad version of GarageBand will not be as good as the Mac version

That students will not be able to carry the iPads safely (no sleeve, no handle)

That teachers would lose the data currently on their laptops

That there won’t be sufficient teacher professional learning

That teachers won’t feel that they have enough iPad skill when working with students

That Apple Pencils will be in demand

That Apple Pencils will be lost

That middle school teachers will not get the devices in advance of students if we get the RUS grant

That there will not be enough professional learning time provided

That the keyboard and screen size will not be sufficient for teachers

That there will be resistance from some teachers

That we won’t be able to do the projects on the iPads that we have been doing on the laptops

That the new iPads won’t be all set up and ready to go before school starts and students arrive, and that a transition will have to happen mid-year

That the iPads won’t work for specialized apps, such as IEP writing or for accessing specialized educational sites.

That the iPad file storage might not be easy

That we might not be able to connect a document camera

That there will be problems playing video or sound through the ClearTouch TVs

That students won’t be careful and will break the iPads

That iPads are not easy to use

That students will download inappropriate apps

That iPads won’t work with programs teachers use (PowerPoint, Canva, IXL, NearPod, EdPuzzle, etc.)

That I will lose quick access to my tabs

That I won’t be able to help students troubleshoot

That there will be issues using older science probes and sensors

That iPads won’t work well with a library checkout system

That it will be hard to print

That it will be hard to use Teachers Pay Teachers

That it will be hard to do report cards

That students won’t be able to use wired headphones or that we’ll have to buy Bluetooth headphones

That the iPads won’t be efficient.