For schools and departments purchasing ipads there are many things to consider and discuss with Technology Services prior to your purchase. Decisions will need to be made and listed in the work order for the purchase of the iPads so we can best serve you. Let us know how they are to be used and we can set them up as best as possible.
To consider
- iPads (and Android devices for that matter) are meant to be individual devices
- The device will generally need an email account, or other accounts attached to apps to be able to share anything made on the ipad. There are some ways to sync the ipads and get content off of them, but email is often the easiest way to share something made on the iPad to someone.
- If the device is to be shared, it cannot use a personal email. We can create a device email though for it, or for a group of devices in your school/department. Anyone using these devices will have access to this email account.
- iPad programs are called Apps and are not loaded like traditional software. Purchasing of apps is through an online iTunes store and requires an account, gift cards / credit card attached.
- Reimbursement to staff for apps they are purchasing and loading onto a district iPad but through their personal iTunes account is not recommended as the purchase is attached to the account, not the device.
- We can create district iTunes accounts. You can provide us with iTunes gift cards and we can redeem to the account so that staff can purchase apps. This way the apps are owned by the district iTunes account and will be available after a staff change over.
- iPad is not a computer. It is a different class of device.
- It can print with specific printers. If you require this it would be up to you to purchase the new types of printers. We recommend against this as there are better ways to share content created from the iPads which often wouldn’t be appropriate to print anyway.
- iPads are new for the staff at Technology Services and represent additional responsibilities without additional time available to us.
- Where are you going to charge the iPads?
- Who will be maintaining them in your school or department?
- Would a cart and a syncing laptop be appropriate for your purchase? If you are buying many of them a cart for 30 and a laptop can make the secure storage, charging, and syncing much easier. We recommend the Bretford Powersync Carts
- Are you getting cases and styluses?
- Will these go home? Are you providing an extra power adapter?
- Purchasing must go through Technology Services via work order with a purchase order number
- How are you providing professional development to staff regarding their pedagogical use of the iPads?
- Do you have a sustainable replacement plan? As these are still a new class of device, we are not certain on their average lifespan of the device or the battery. We do suggest you consider a three or four year replacement plan.
- We are not suggesting the additional warranty on top of the 1 year default warranty, although you are free to purchase if you require.
- There are numerous options for setup and “locking down” of the device. Can students or teachers add or delete apps? Should they have access to the internet on them? etc.
Other considerations or questions? Please add them in the comments below.