So Android or Apple?

We have been investigating both Android and Apple tablets this year.
After a few trails in schools I know that I have come to a conclusion as to what platform performs bets in school.
First a brief pro and con list for each platform.

Apple iPad

Pro
 •Loads of great Apps that are fun and creative.
 •Intuitive to use
 •Great battery life - can be used for left on for a few days and will still work
 •Built in camera that is very easy to use an access.
 •Interoperability of apps - they all work together.

Con
 •Difficult to manage large sets of devices. (This will change when Volume Purchasing of Apps is available in the UK - currently only US)
 •Can be difficult to share work.
 •No Flash Support

Android - Acer (There are other tablets available - which might change some of the hardware pros and cons)

Pro
 •Has flash - Flash support will vanish though with the newest android update. You won't be able to even install it on new devices after 15th August (Jelly bean 4.1)
 •Can be cheaper to buy.
 •Built in camera.

Con
 •Difficult to manage large sets of devices even more than apple devices - they can't be synced with a computer - This can be helped with software like Learnpad though.
 •Can be difficult to share work.
 •Less high quality apps - though this is changing more apps appearing on both android and apple.
 •Apps don't really work well together.
 •Not as intuitive to use out of the box - Learnpad software adds an iOS type skin over the top of android.
 •Average battery life - a day in the model we used.

The above is by no means a definitive list - any comments would be welcomed and  I will add to them to the lists.

I think it is quite clear what I prefer. Apple in most cases beats the Android devices hands down.

Removing any of the pros and cons to do with the hardware, it simply comes down to ease of use, the quality and interoperability of the apps themselves. Both still have issues with managing large sets, but at least the apple configurator will help lots when Volume Licensing comes to the UK - currently it will only work with free apps.

Apps from the appstore are in most cases better designed and work must more effectively together. To do tasks in school you often have to run the image or video though a few apps to tweak different parts - it is so easy to do with an iOS device.

The main reason I always thought that an Android would be a better fit for schools is that they support flash so a lot of the flash content that schools use can be used on the tablet. What I have come to realise is that we have PC's and Apple Mac's for flash content.

Tablet computers are different devices and shouldn't be used in the same way we use laptop and desktop computers - we need to use them differently and by not having flash it help to force you to do so.

So my final word is if you want to get tablets for your school look at the iPad!
(Of course when Microsoft surface comes around we may have to look again - don't you just hate how technology changes so quickly.)

Endless Ocean is really endless.

Please check this blog post from Ant's ICT. He has been an long term supporter of Games Based Learning and has finally tried out some of the great ideas floating around the interwebs.

http://antsict.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/endless-ocean/

New Website - Teach Your Monster to Read

Just been emailed about this new site that has just been launched.

Some members of the network consulted and trailed this software in the school. We'll get their views up soon. Check out the video and then go and sign up.


Teach Your Monster to Read (First Steps): Trailer from Teach Your Monster to Read on Vimeo.

http://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/

If you are in KS1 it looks like a great fun way to teach and consolidate phonics teaching. I look forward to using it with some children in my class next week,

iPads are Awesome! Nightingale Primary School

Have a look at a post on my blog about how I have been using iPads in class. View

Scratch 2.0

If you haven't already you all need to go and check out the Scratch 2.0 Prototype site.

It is simply amazing. I have posted about scratch before and the great things that you can do with it.

2.0 adds some great functions. Motion sensing using a webcam - so you can achieve XBOX Kinect like effects. Go and switch your webcam on and pop some balloons.

It also allows you to work on-line completely which means you can open others work and remix and edit it all on the fly. Its great.

Also you can also define your own programming blocks.

Check it out its only open for one more day as I type this. I can't wait till this is released next year.

Check out this short video I made in case you miss the site.



and their official video explaining some of the features.

Why Toontastic is great at school.

iPad and Field Trips

iPad use on a school trip to the British Museum.

Last term my year five class went on a trip to the British Museum to expand their knowledge about the Ancient Greeks.  I know from going on this trip before that the talk that is provided by the British Museum staff is very interesting and engaging, but if you do not give the children a focus when going the around the galleries they pass by and take little notice of exhibits.

The children used the iPad’s to focus their attention on different objects that they found in the galleries.  The class using keynote produced a presentation as they went around the museum.  In each of the rooms we went in I gave them a focus, they then took a picture of an artefact placed that onto a slide and used the information from the cabinet to add bullet pointed information.  By doing this the children had a readymade presentation by the time they had left the British Museum.  But we did take some time to tidy them up back in class; this just gave their work a final polish.

In my opinion the use of iPad’s on a school trip is workable.  They are light enough to carry five in your bag ready to be issued when you arrive.  The children enjoyed their use and they could all work with them in a group.  They provided a structured and focused way to keep the children interested and for the children to have some new knowledge about real Ancient Greek artefacts rather than just memories of lunch, the shop and the train.

Check back to look at the work they produced.

Mr Frith