TECH

In searching for tablets for our elementary school, there are many things to consider; first, what will the tablet mostly be used for? In our particular case, we anticipate using the tablets mostly for apps, which the students will use for interactive games and activities to build skills primarily in reading and math, but also for books and textbooks. The internet will not be used frequently on the tablets, as it must be monitored closely at this age. Also, because of the age of the students, the tablets will not be taken home; they will be left at school, another factor to take into consideration.

In deciding which brand of tablet to purchase, the operating systems used by each must be considered; Apple, for the ipad; Android, for the Barnes and Noble Nook, Amazon Kindle, and generic Android; and Windows (Microsoft). Each has its own set of pros and cons, including the types of tablets each system can be used on.

The Apple operating system for ipads (or ipods, which we have concluded are too small to be of decent use in our classrooms), has many pros, although it does have some cons as well. First, Apple has a strong app market, and is very education-focused in many of their apps, an obvious advantage for our elementary school, as we plan to make use of many apps in the classrooms. Second, the Apple operating system is easy to use and understand, which is important for our young learners in order that they may quickly learn to use the tablets without becoming frustrated, and wasting valuable learning time. Next, there is great technology support for Apple, which is important since we do not have an IT team. Last, Apple is a strong competitor in the marketplace, constantly updating and coming up with new ideas; they are not likely to soon become obsolete, or cause us to fall behind in our technology, which is important for our children to learn and understand in order to compete and be successful in the global marketplace. One con to consider is the fact that Apple does not use Flash software, which can sometimes be needed for certain videos, etc. to work; although, this should not become too big of a problem, since we will mostly be using apps.

The Android operating system is the next to consider. Products that use the Android operating system, such as the Barnes and Noble Nook and Amazon Kindle, are often cheaper than Apple products. Another pro that definitely holds relevance for our school is the fact that many books are available for these tablets; in fact, more than are available for Apple products. Last, these products have the least expensive cellular capabilities, which will be discussed in more detail later on. One large flaw for these products is that they have a significantly lower number of apps than what are available for the Apple ipads, which could be a great disadvantage for our school. Many schools are using Apple, and many of their apps are not compatible with an Android operating system; therefore, sharing apps and ideas with the schools around us may prove difficult. Android also does not have nearly as strong technical support as does Apple.

The last operating system to consider is that of Windows (Microsoft). Windows has been around for a long time, and is a well-trusted company. Another strong pro for Windows is that they are compatible with Microsoft often used on desktops. There is also access to the entire Microsoft office suite, which is, ironically, the cause of one con to consider; battery life. Windows' tablet's battery life is significantly less than that of Apple or Android powered tablets, which could be a problem when our students are using the tablets frequently in the classroom. The students should not have to take the time to plug them in and wait for them to charge, losing learning time in the process.

Besides the operating systems for each type of tablet, there are a couple of other factors to consider. First of all, there is the question of size. While we came to the conclusion that small (such as ipods) is too small, there is also medium (6-7 inches) or large (8-11 inches). I believe that because we are an elementary school, medium would best serve the needs of our small-handed children. Medium tablets are much lighter and easier to hold, while still maintaining a decent sized screen. Lighter and easier to hold also means a smaller likelihood of accidents with the tablets. Because we are not likely to use internet and video frequently on the tablets, a medium size will suffice.

The next question is that of cellular capabilities; whether or not our school needs it, or is fine with just wifi. Tablets that are only wifi-capable cannot be changed later to add cellular capabilities; it must be bought initially with the cellular capabilities. In the long run, wifi will probably prove to be cheaper in our case. Our school already has it; there is no point in adding cellular, an extra cost. Wifi tends to have a more reliable connection as well. Our students, being elementary, will not be taking the tablets home, so whether or not they have wifi in their homes is not an issue.

In conclusion, I would recommend that our elementary school purchase Apple ipads for use in the classrooms. Because of our primary uses for them, apps, Apple is the obvious forerunner. Apple also has a great interest in education, and has developed many apps for use in schools. Although the cost of Apple devices is somewhat higher, this will be worth the price in the long run, because of the plethora of apps, great support system, long battery life, easy-to-use functions, reliability, multitude of books, and prominence in other schools. There are few cons to this choice, and I truly believe it is the best course of action for our school at this time.