Posted by Ashley Wainwright on Fri, May 17, 2013 @ 01:12 PM
iPads are everywhere these days, especially in education. Many schools have implemented iPads as learning tools and the numbers will only continue to grow. Even little kindergartners are enjoying the benefits of iPad technology in the classroom. These cool gadgets can make fantastic learning tools. There’s a plethora of ways to use them too.
Here’s a list of 5 smart ways to use this fabulous technology in the classroom to get you started on your iPad endeavor.
1) Display Work
Teacher’s work: By connecting your iPad with a device like Apple TV, you can display information from your iPad to the big screen for your students to view. This allows the teacher to walk around the classroom while teaching instead of just being stuck up front.
Student’s work: Also teachers can use the iPad to mirror students work on the big screen to the rest of the class. This is great easy way for showing group work and presenting students hard work to the rest of the class. Teachers can also use this as leverage to get students to stay on task while doing classwork on the iPad. If they know their work could be shared with the rest of the class they are probably more likely to put a little more effort in it and stay on task.
2) Create Instructional Content
There are tons of really cool apps out there you should take advantage of to create your own content. iPads aren’t just about having a place for students to do research and play learning games. Use them to create custom videos, treasure hunts, presentations, etc. for your students. You can make lessons more customized and engaging than ever before with iPads in the classroom.
3) Interact with Students
Not every student will just throw their hand up in front of the class if they have a question or comments about something. Using iPads in the classroom can fix this. I’ve seen teachers use iPads to allow students to send questions and comments to the teacher while they are presenting something. Teachers can choose to address the question or comment then or wait and send a message to the student after class. I’ve also seen them use iPads as a polling tool to see how well students are absorbing content throughout the lesson and what they need to go over again. Posting the results as a whole, not individually also lets the students know how well they are doing compared to the rest of the class and will hopefully keep their attention.
4) Personalize Learning
Every student learns at a different pace and through various ways. iPads in the classroom can provide opportunities for students to be able to work and excel at their own level and pace. Teachers can use apps and games to make learning more personalized to fit each students progress.
5) Classroom Management
iPads can make managing a classroom and keeping up with a class full of students much easier. Teachers can use apps on their iPads to keep up with students progress, attendance, assign random groups, track behavior, keep up with grades; pretty much everything you need to do to manage a classroom full of kids.
iPads can really take learning to a whole new level and these 5 ways to use them in the classroom are just a peek at the plethora of ways they can be used in education. There are are over 33,000 education apps out there now and it seems like theres just about an app for everything.
If your school is interested in implementing an iPad solution, you can contact us here with any questions or for a free consultation. We have worked with schools all over the country and are always happy to help however we can. Also check out our free downloadable eBook “How to prepare for iPads in the classroom”. It has more good information you might find useful.
Posted by Ashley Wainwright on Thu, May 16, 2013 @ 01:28 PM
Apple revolutionized education when they created the iPad. iPads provide so many benefits in education and really are quite the learning tool with today’s generation of digital natives. All over the world, schools are putting ambitious plans in place to adopt Apple’s iPads in the classroom.
Growth of iPads in the Classroom
iPads are a hot commodity in schools right now. The proliferation of iPads in the classroom is growing at staggering speeds. A PBS Learning Media study found 35 percent of K-12 teachers surveyed nationwide have a tablet in their classroom, up from 20 percent a year ago. The iPad is the most popular tablet option among educators; just check out these numbers:
-1.5 million - the number of tablets sold to U.S. educators in 2011
-4.5 million - the number of iPads sold to U.S. educators in 2012
-8 million - the number of iPads sold to educators internationally in 2012
-1 billion - the number of downloads in Apple’s education app store
Study that Supports iPads in the classroom
There are several studies that show the effects of iPads in the classroom. This recent study by NAACE used surveys to assess the impact of iPad use on motivation, quality of work, achievement, collaboration, and other factors. Here are some of their findings you may find interesting:
-77% of faculty respondents felt that student achievement appeared to have risen since the introduction of the iPad.
-73% of students and 67% of staff felt that the iPad helped students improve the quality of their work.
-69% of students that completed the survey felt that using the iPad was motivating and that they worked better with it than without it.
-60% of faculty thought that students were more motivated by lessons that incorporate the iPad than those that did not.
There’s an App for that1.jpg)
One strength Apple’s iPad offers is the range, diversity, and sheer number of educational apps. There are more than 33,000 educational apps out there for the iPad for a variety of subjects, age ranges, and learning styles. Education apps include reference apps, study apps, note taking and sharing apps, learning games, and even classroom and class work management tools. It seems like there’s an app for everything these days.
The adoption of wireless devices such as iPads in education will only continue to grow. With today’s tech-savvy students that are growing up in this increasingly digital world, using mobile devices as learning tools will soon become the norm.
If your school hasn’t implemented some sort of program to support wireless technology in the classroom like iPads we are here to help. We have worked with schools all over the United States prepare for and implement successful classroom technology solutions like 1:1 and BYOD (bring your own device). If you have any questions or would just like some guidance on where to start you may contact us here. We are always happy to help. Also check out our free eBook “How to Prepare for iPads in the Classroom” for more good information. Good luck!
Posted by Ashley Wainwright on Wed, May 15, 2013 @ 12:41 PM
Medical professionals are continuing to bring in mobile devices to work at an accelerating rate. Therefore, hospitals everywhere are feeling an increasing demand for a BYOD (bring your own device) policy and it makes sense. With all the apps out there that can make their job more efficient and convenient it’s no surprise doctors and nurses want to use their fabulous gadgets during daily work tasks.
- A study from Jackson & Coker found that four out of five physicians regularly use their mobile devices for medical purposes.
- Also, a report from Spyglass Consulting Group found that 69% of surveyed hospital nurses use smartphones for personal and clinical communications while on the job.
Patients and guests are really pushing for secure and speedy access as well. I know I am. I went in for a 3 hour test the other day and couldn’t believe the location I was at didn’t have Wi-Fi. I just assumed a facility that big would have Wi-Fi access so I brought my laptop with me, but instead of working during the long test like I had planned, I ended up having to flip through tons of old, worn out magazines. I have a feeling I’m not the only one a little aggravated by this.
So, implementing BYOD on your hospital wireless network has the potential to make not only your healthcare professionals happy, but also your patients and guests as well. Of course that’s as long as it’s a well-planed and implemented BYOD solution.
Here are 7 BYOD best practices for your hospital wireless network.
1. Device platforms
There is so much technology out there and it seems like it is evolving daily. You should make sure your hospital is continuing to monitor which OS versions and device platforms your employees are using. You need to make sure the mobile devices you are allowing are equipped with the features you require for use on the hospital wireless network.
2. User Agreement and Policy
Creating a well-planned BYOD policy that covers any possible issues and questions is necessary for any BYOD implementation. You want to ensure your employees fully understand and comply with your hospital’s BYOD policy. Include all the details, for things like regulations, security, and expectations.
3. Simple centralized management
For deploying widespread Wi-Fi to support BYOD, hospitals require a WLAN that’s easy to manage and configure, even across multiple locations, from a central location to ease the burden on your IT staff. For greater efficiency, you’ll need a solution that can scale. To do this you need a system that is centrally managed so that all of your management, wireless security, and settings are in one place for your entire wireless solution. You want to give your IT staff end-to-end visibility and centralized control to manage mobile users that connect to the network.
4. Lost and Stolen Devices
This one is especially important for healthcare, because of all the sensitive information medical professionals may be accessing on their mobile devices. There is always that possibility of theft or losing the mobile device. Come up with a process for when an employee’s device has been lost or stolen. You can even have an auto-wipe of certain apps after a certain number of failed login attempts. You need to keep sensitive information like patient records secure. Make sure your users understand the process and policy for lost and stolen devices.
5. Apps
Currently, there are over 20,000 mobile Health applications in the marketplace, and that number is growing across all mobile platforms. Hospitals should use next-generation firewalls with application visibility and control in order to deploy and monitor applications safely and securely, and remain in compliance with HIPAA.
Determine a plan for when employees leave your company.
6. Employee Departure
Don't forget about what will happen when employees with devices on your BYOD platform leave the company. A device that is loaded with all sorts of confidential information and emails is very dangerous if it were to fall into the wrong hands especially when you are dealing with patients personal information. You might consider a mandatory device wipe or to disable emails or synchronization access. Whichever method you choose, it’s important to make sure it’s clearly stated in the BYOD policy so employees are fully aware ahead of time.
7. WLAN architecture
For BYOD implementation, healthcare facilities that want to create a single consistent network that combines wired and wireless access across indoor, outdoor, and remote locations should consider deploying an enterprise-grade WLAN. A centralized WLAN architecture that uses controllers with more processing power and 802.11n aps that combines affordability and configuration simplicity is the best option. You need to make sure your hospital wireless network can support all these devices before you allow them otherwise you will end up with a ton of unhappy users.
If your healthcare facility is considering a BYOD solution for your hospital we are here to help. The team here at SecurEdge has worked with many hospitals and we’re experts in working with large wireless networks systems. You may contact us here with any questions or for a free consultation. We are always happy to help!
Posted by Ashley Wainwright on Fri, May 10, 2013 @ 02:31 PM
There’s no denying it, technology is everywhere and a part of just about everything we do and education is no exception. Today’s generation is full of tech-savvy digital natives. The use of mobile devices as learning tools in the classroom is now becoming widely accepted. Programs like BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and 1:1 are spreading like wildfire throughout school wireless networks all over the United States.
So we know wireless technology in education is the present and future of education , but how is all this mobile technology affecting education? This infographic below gives us a pretty good peak. It’s based on results from a study by CourseSmart and Wakefield Research which focused on more than 500 currently enrolled college students.
Here are some of the most surprising study results, for more check out the great infographic below.
- Professors are also relying more on technology for delivering class announcements and assignments: 84% of students have had professors post a class syllabus online and 78% of students have received class news and updates from their professors via campus systems, such as learning management systems or student portals.
- A majority (67%) can’t go more than one hour without using some sort of digital technology.
- Digital devices also allow for on-the-go reference to information with 79% of college students reporting they have done a quick search on a mobile device or tablet to verify something right before a test or a quiz.
- The survey revealed that technology has become a significant part of students’ everyday lives with the average using three devices daily.
- Online courses are gaining popularity with 58% of students reporting they have taken an online course, motivated primarily by being able to take the class on their own time (63%), not having to physically be in a class (48%) and being able to learn at their own pace (47%).
- Nearly all (96%) college students have had online components to a course: a majority of students (79%) have submitted assignments or papers online and 71% have taken online tests and quizzes.
- Communication between faculty and students is becoming more social with nearly one in five (18%) students having received materials from their professor via Facebook.
If your school hasn’t prepared your wireless network infrastructure for mobile devices in the classroom yet, we are here to help, and yes you need help, because, you can’t stop them. So go ahead and embrace these fabulous learning tools that have everyone’s attention already. Contact us here with any questions or for a free consultation. We have worked with over 250 schools all over the country implement solutions like BYOD and 1:1 to help successfully integrate these mobile devices into the classroom. We are always happy to help! Good luck!
Posted by Ashley Wainwright on Thu, May 09, 2013 @ 02:29 PM
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Today’s generation of students is unlike any other. These little digital natives and their beloved mobile devices are attached at the hip. They keep their mobile devices on them at all times and expect connectivity. Therefore, as our society continues to become more and more gadget addicted, BYOD (bring your own device) becomes inevitable. You are going to face a wave of devices coming to the school wireless network, whether you like it or not. The times are changing and education must change with it. Now the question is…will you embrace this unavoidable digital shift with a well-planned BYOD policy?
Yes, BYOD is unavoidable, but there are many benefits a successful BYOD solution can provide. Check out these 10 fabulous benefits of BYOD in school wireless networks.
1) Workforce ready students
The world today’s students are growing up in is becoming increasingly tech-addicted. We use our mobile devices all the time for just about everything these days. Today’s students will likely be using mobile devices in their future careers, so why not teach them with the tools they will be working with in the future. It provides opportunity for teaching respectful/appropriate use of mobile devices which they will be using as adults and future professionals. The whole point of education is to prepare them for their future right?
2) Collaboration is easier
With BYOD technology in the classroom, students can easily collaborate on projects and even with students from other schools. Collaboration is key to engagement in today’s classrooms.
3) Learning beyond the classroom walls
Students spend countless hours outside the classroom on their mobile devices. So why not use that to your advantage. Let them use these devices as engaging learning tools in the classroom. Then, they can easily bring their homework, educational games, projects, books, etc. and everything they need to continue learning outside the classroom can be accessed with a swipe of the finger.
4) Personalized instruction
BYOD provides the opportunity for personalized education. Teachers can use media to meet different learning needs. Then all students can learn and excel at their own pace.
5) Cost Savings
Although BYOD is really about delivering education in new ways, saving money isn’t a bad objective to have in addition. With the students using their own mobile devices as classroom technology schools can save some serious cash on technology costs. Schools would spend a fortune trying to keep up with all the coolest new updated technology that can be used for education these days. So let students bring in their latest and greatest technology in the classroom and ease the demand on schools.
6) Gamification
Okay, so I grew up hearing that video games make you dumb, but apparently there are all sorts of new games these days that have parents actually encouraging video game playing. There’s an app and a game for everything these days that turn learning into a very fun and exciting experience.
7) Education more interactive
BYOD allows student to use their own technology in the classroom to make learning more fun and interactive than ever before. Students can interact with students and experts in other countries, create a digital scavenger hunt, take virtual field trips, the possibilities are endless and kids love it!
8) Increased Engagement
Kids these days live for technology. So it only makes sense to utilize their love for technology in the classroom if you really want to get them engaged.
9) Student and Teacher swap roles
BYOD changes the entire teaching model. With the technology they are using for BYOD, students can have more authority over their own learning. They can pose questions and do research instead of just listening to a lecture.
10) eBooks
In the real world, things and information are constantly changing. By the time most textbooks reach the classroom, parts of them are already outdated. BYOD allows students’ access to the most updated information available through ebooks/digital textbooks. Many digital textbooks also offer interactive aspects as well. Plus, kids can easily tote them around and access them whenever they choose.
No wonder BYOD is spreading like wildfire. It provides so many opportunities to enhance education. If your school is considering implementing a BYOD solution, please feel free to contact us here. We have worked with over 250 schools all over the country and are always happy to help. Our goal is to be a resource for you!
Posted by Ashley Wainwright on Mon, May 06, 2013 @ 10:20 AM
According to Gartner, BYOD was predicted to be one of the top trends this year. We’ve all heard about it and many of us have already experienced it, but what does BYOD (bring your own device) really mean for schools? Here are the basic questions and answers concerning BYOD in education.
What is a BYOD policy?
Let’s start with the basics. A BYOD policy allows students to bring personal devices, such as e-readers, smartphones, netbooks, and tablets like iPads in the classroom for use as a learning tool. Increasingly shrinking school budgets these days have caused many schools to look into BYOD solutions as possible ways to save money, while still providing students with the access to technology. Each schools BYOD policy will vary based on the schools or school districts individual needs. Every schools BYOD policy must be carefully planned and thought out for BYOD success.
What are the benefits of BYOD policies in schools?
BYOD policies in schools can provide a plethora of benefits for both the school and the students. Here are some of the top benefits:
Schools save money- eBooks are significantly cheaper than textbooks and students and parents pay for technology and maintenance instead of school.
Personalizes learning- There are tons of learning apps available to meet different learning needs.
Encourages collaboration and student engagement- Students love technology!
Prepares students for future- BYOD in the workplace will soon be the norm.
Promotes anytime, anywhere learning- Bridges the gap between classroom and at- home learning
What are the wireless network requirements to support BYOD?
Network Access Control (NAC)- It’s a way to control the devices and regulate who is connecting to the network, with what device, and then you can assign them the appropriate user role that limits access to only the resources that are necessary.
Next-Generation Firewalls- You need to have the ability to identify and segment all of those BYOD users to safely enable applications and prevent threats.
Unified Performance Management- It combines bandwidth management, WAN optimization, and application acceleration into a single network appliance for centralized management. Your IT staff will really appreciate this one.
Secure Wireless Network Infrastructure- BYOD requires wireless access that is widespread with adequate coverage and capacity to effectively support many devices.
What should be included in the BYOD Policy User Agreement?
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Acceptable use rules and consequences of breaking those rules
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Responsibilities of Users
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What the school is and is not liable for
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Acceptable devices
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Device security requirements
How to get parents and teachers on board with BYOD?
Getting parents and teacher on board with a BYOD policy or any technology integration for that matter can sometimes be cumbersome. Here are some tips to help gain overall acceptance of having BYOD on your school wireless network.
- Clearly portray the educational and financial benefits of this program.
- Create your acceptable use policy first to help address a lot of questions and let them know the set expectation ahead of time.
- Give examples of other schools that have had success with BYOD.
- Give your educators time to experiment with using mobile devices in the classroom and adjust their teaching styles.
- Hold training seminars for how to plan lessons using the new classroom technology and what apps are successful.
- Bring in representatives of other BYOD schools to share their tips and successes.
These are just some commonly asked questions regarding BYOD policies in schools. If your school is considering implementing a BYOD program and has any questions or would like some guidance you may contact us here. We are experts in school wireless design and implanting new technology. We have worked with schools all over the United States and are always happy to help. Good luck!
Posted by Ashley Wainwright on Fri, May 03, 2013 @ 12:36 PM
Tablets and other mobile devices are entering classrooms all across the United States at an increasingly rapid rate. iPads seem to be the fantastic little device leading this invasion. I can see why though. They can provide an incredible amount of benefits to both educators and students, and several studies have proven they certainly do enhance education. Therefore their exponentially increasing growth and support as a learning tool only makes sense.
Some are still a little shocked at how well the iPad had done in education. Apple CEO Tim Cook said on a call with investors, "Education tends to be a conservative institution, but we're not seeing that at all on the iPad. The adoption of the iPad in education is something I've never seen in any technology."
Check out these interesting survey results and figures concerning the growth of iPads in the classroom. Some of them might really surprise you.
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Apple says it has sold twice as many iPads as Macs to its education customers. (Macworld)
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43 percent of teachers surveyed said they allow students to use tablets such as iPads in class. (Pew Internet and American Life Project)
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"The Big 3" publishers: McGraw-Hill (MHP), Pearson (PSO) and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which together provide 90% of the textbooks available to schools, are all currently partnering with Apple to sell digital versions. (Pearsoned.com)
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The iPad currently accounts for 82% of all web traffic generated by tablet devices.(Forbes)
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Apple has sold over 8 million iPads direct into education institutions worldwide. (TechCrunch)
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Teachers are realizing that tablets are beneficial with 82% of all teachers surveyed saying that their students have an interest in using tablets. (BESA)
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In the U.S. over 2,300 school districts are using iPads in the classroom. (Apple)
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Tablet sales are set to grow from 17.6 million in 2010 to 326.3 million in 2015, and the bulk of them will continue to be Apple iPads. (Gartner)
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According to Apple, more than 1,200 universities and colleges, and over 1,200 K-12 schools host over 2,500 public courses on iTunes U, along with thousands more private courses available only to enrolled students. (Apple)
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Tablet sales into K-12 exceeded 3.5 million units in 2012, a growth of 340% on 2011. Sales are expected to double again in 2013, to reach close to 7 million. (Futuresource)
Also, here are some examples of schools and school districts that have or plan to implement a program to bring iPad technology in the classroom.
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San Diego Unified School District: 26,000 iPads
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McAllen Independent School District: 25,000 iPads
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Mansfield High School: 10,600 iPads
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Knox Public Schools: 56,000 iPads by 2015 – Every student in all 87 of Knox County’s public schools will have access to an iPad.
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Regis College: 1,250 ipads
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Zeeland Public Schools – 1,800 iPads
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Manhattan Beach Unified School: 75% of students will bring their own Apple tablets
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El Paso Public Schools: 7,200 iPads – About a third of a nearly $9.9 million grant will be used to purchase the iPads
It’s no secret, wireless technology in the classroom like the iPad is the future of education. In less than 10 years tablets like the iPad in the classroom may be the norm, not the exception.
If your school is considering implementing mobile devices like the iPad in classrooms we are here to help. We have helped 250+ schools all over the US prepare their school wireless network for programs like 1:1 and BYOD to bring put these incredible learning tools in the hands of teachers and students. You may contact us here with any questions or for a free consultation. We are always happy to help; our goal is to be a resource for you!
Posted by Michael McNamee on Thu, May 02, 2013 @ 08:25 AM
I am assuming that you are reading this article because you googled “How to prepare for 802.11ac” and found your way here. This means you either already have 802.11n wireless or you are in the midst of considering a migration to 802.11n but heard that 802.11ac is around the corner and wanted to explore potentially skipping over 802.11n and going straight to 802.11ac.
My current recommendation is to move forward with your 802.11n implementation now because mass adoption of 802.11ac is still 18 months or more away and right now there aren’t any benefits yet to having it. 802.11n still has lots of life left in it and there is much to benefit from using it now. Current 802.11n technology won’t be phased out until 2018 which means you can get 5 years out of an investment today. I am a proponent of the mindset that you take advantage of what is available now and not wait for the “next big thing”. There will always be the “next big thing” around the corner and if you are perpetually waiting for it you will never be able to enjoy the benefits of what is available now.
However, I do recommend that in moving forward with your 802.11n implementation that these considerations are ones you should make now. Taking care of these now or at least planning their institution shortly will allow for a successful and less painful 802.11ac migration when the time comes.
1. Switching has to be Gigabit at the edge – 802.11ac in its first phase will be offering 600Mbps to 1.3Ghz bandwidth. This is going to demand that the edge switching infrastructure can keep up with the data flow and 10/100 switching will not cut it. Factor this upgrade in now as you should any way if you are doing an 802.11n upgrade. 802.11n offers bandwidth to the client up to 600Mbps which means that a 10/100 edge switch port is the bottleneck in your secure wireless network.
2. Recommend 10Gb from the edge to the core – Uplinks from edge switches are recommended to have 10Gb interfaces to your data core. At a minimum make sure your uplinks can support some type of link aggregation protocol like LACP or Ether Channel. Aggregating links to give you 2, 3 or 4Gbps to the core will provide better performance than a single 1Gb link. Again with each AP offering 600Mbps to 1.3Gbps of bandwidth and having multiple APs on a switch could potentially oversaturate your link.
3. Core switching will need 10Gb interfaces – Aggregation switches will need 10Gb links to accommodate the uplinks from the edge switching infrastructure. Core switches will also need 10Gb interfaces. They will need these high throughput interfaces not only to support the links from the aggregation switches but also for connectivity with wireless controllers. The wireless controllers coming from manufacturers today that are in support of 802.11ac have up to four 10Gb interfaces which allows for up 40Gbps of throughput to the network.
4. Switching needs to be PoE+ (802.3at) capable – 802.11n access points use up to 15mw of PoE but 802.11ac access will be north of that. I have seen some estimates in the 20-25mw range which 802.3af (regular PoE) will not support. Make sure your switching can support 802.3at PoE+ (make sure there is a plus sign at the end of PoE!) and you will be good to go.
5. RF designs have to be done from a 5Ghz perspective – 802.11ac will only offer the high bandwidth benefits in the 5Ghz spectrum. 2.4Ghz will still be supported on access points but the speeds will be that which we have now with 802.11n. This will mean that your AP density will be higher because the 5Ghz wavelength is shorter and attenuates greater than 2.4Ghz when transmitting through building materials. Knowing that this was coming and that 5Ghz has become the preferred band to use we have been doing all of our WLAN RF designs from the 5Ghz perspective for some time.
802.11ac technology shows a lot of promise in what it can do for client performance. From high speeds to optimizing client connections there is a lot to benefit from when you finally implement 802.11ac. Make sure you get all the benefits you can both from 802.11n and 802.11ac by implementing the considerations above I have outlined for you.
If you’re considering upgrading your wireless network infrastructure and have any questions or would like a free consultation, you may contact us here. We have deployed and support 250+ wireless networks all over the United States. Also, check out our free wireless network design kit as an additional resource. Good luck!
Posted by Ashley Wainwright on Mon, Apr 29, 2013 @ 02:54 PM
The topic of mobile devices like iPads in the classroom is a pretty hot one. Schools all over the country have implemented programs to bring them into the classroom as learning tools.
I’ve read plenty of articles talking about all the benefits or iPads and similar devices and why schools should integrate them into education, but not near as many on why not to implement iPad programs. I would love to say this great classroom technology is for everyone, but frankly it’s not. Some schools just arn’t cut out for using devices like these.
Here are 5 reasons why NOT to implement mobile devices like iPads in the classroom. Check them out and see if your school falls into any of these categories, if so, beware of iPads technology in the classroom!
1) You’re a fun-sucker…
Some people just don’t believe education should be fun and interesting to their students. If you are a strong believer in boring, monotonous, activities, that are no fun then iPads and similar devices are not right for you. They get students excited and engaged in learning. So, stay away from using iPads in education if you don’t like seeing smiles on your students’ faces (aka. fun-sucker).
2) You’re a fan of hunch-backs… 
If you prefer your students looking like turtles or hunch-backs lugging around over-loaded backpacks, then iPads are a bad idea. With iPads all those thick, outdated, heavy, textbooks will be gone, because students can have a virtual bookshelf on their iPads and carry them with ease. So if you really love the turtle look or you’re a fan of slumped over hunch-backs, definitely do not implement iPads in the classroom!
3) You think collaboration does not belong in the classroom…
If you are thinking… collaboration, teamwork, cooperation, what?! There’s no place for that nonsense in the classroom then stay away from the iPads, because let me tell you there will be no way to avoid these things with them in your school. With mobile devices, students can easily collaborate both inside and outside the classroom, so say no to iPads in the classroom if you’re a collaboration-hater.
4) You don’t like saving money…
Some people just don’t like saving money. If you fit into this category, then you should probably avoid the whole mobile devices integration thing. I mean things may look good at first when you get to spend the money to buy those fancy-shmancy devices, but then schools can really start to save money after integrating them. Many schools have significantly cut costs on by digital textbooks, writing implements, calculators, word processors, etc. all in one tablet. There’s the potential to save big amounts of money through paperless innovation. So if you don’t like saving money, then you should not implement iPads in the classroom.
5) You don’t believe in apps…
If you are thinking apps...who needs those? Then say no to iPads. There are thousands of educational apps out there that students and educators love and find beneficial. The iPad has the ability to interact with a variety of educational apps. If you let your students and teachers use iPads in the classroom they will definitely start using these cool educational apps.
Well, I hope you found this list helpful. iPads can make fabulous learning tools, but if you fall into any of these categories then you must beware of them. They will most defiantly get your students excited and engaged, lighten the loads on their backs, encourage collaboration, save money, and bring accessibility to tons of educational apps.
If your school doesn’t fall into any of these categories, and you are considering implementing iPads on you school wireless network you can contact us here for help. We have helped schools all over the country implement solutions to bring mobile devices like iPads into their classrooms. We are more than happy to answer any of your questions and get you steered in the right direction. Also, check out our free eBook on How to Prepare your school for iPads and other mobile devices. Good luck!
Posted by Ashley Wainwright on Fri, Apr 26, 2013 @ 02:13 PM
We have to admit, times are changing. Technology is everywhere and has become a staple in everyone’s daily lives now. Education must change too to continue to be effective and reach this tech-savvy generation.
So what should schools do to keep the attention of today’s students? It’s simple; let them use the gadgets they are used to and already attached to anyways in the classroom aka BYOD (bring your own device). Smartphones and tablets like iPads in the classroom can make great learning tools.
What was once thought of as just a trend, has taken our country by storm. BYOD has infiltrated its way into just about every industry, healthcare, enterprise, government, hospitality, and especially education. Many districts and schools across the country are implementing BYOD programs to increase the access that students have to the internet, digital content, and a range of educational opportunities. Plus, for all those schools with consistently shrinking budgets, BYOD can save them money.
Here are some interesting facts from various surveys and studies done that point to why schools that haven’t already, should do their homework and hop on the BYOD bandwagon already..jpg)
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43% of parents see student use of mobile technology as a way to increase engagement (Speak up Survey conducted by Project Tomorrow)
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41% of parents see participation with mobile technology as preparation for the working world. (Speak up Survey conducted by Project Tomorrow)
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67% of parents would buy their children a cell phone if allowed in school. (Speak up Survey conducted by Project Tomorrow)
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81% This generation prefers to connect wirelessly and the majority (73%) use social networking to connect with others . (Pew Research Center)
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More and more students own a cell phone at younger ages.With 22 % owning a cell phone at ages 6-9, 60% of tweens (ages 10-14), and 84% of teens (ages 15-18). (C&R Research)
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Analysts from the IDC firm have predicted that 170 million tablets will be shipped this year, and claims that 60% of these will be for smaller tablets like Apple’s iPad mini. (IDC) 
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100% of students will use mobile handheld devices for education by 2016. (GoKnow)
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By the end of the decade, Gartner expects that more than 30 billion devices will be permanently connected and 150 billion will be occasionally connected. (Gartner)
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Gartner has predicted BYOD as being the top trend this year, with mobile devices surpassing PCs as the most common Web access tool. (Gartner)
So obviously the need for wireless technology in the classroom will not be going away, just increasing as time goes by. So whether you like it or not, it looks like BYOD will be sticking around, so hop on that bandwagon.
If your school is considering implementing a BYOD solution and need some guidance, we are here to help. We are experts in everything from school wireless networks, to BYOD, to 1:1, to classroom technology integration and everything else in between. We have worked with schools and districts all over the country and would be more than happy to help. Just contact us here with any questions or for a free consultation. Good luck!