TECH - Tablet Tableau

When faced with the decision as to what tablet is best suited for a school, or particular age group even, facts need to be weighed heavily as to what is best for the children. How can they learn best? What device gives them the best opportunity to succeed and learn, and most importantly, enjoy the learning process? While most people know that there is a wide array of devices on the market, most only know of the basics, there is a device created by Apple...then there is everyone else. But when making this sort of purchase, we need to know what these devices do. Are they just eReaders or do they access the internet. Each option needs to be explored in great detail before letting our students delve in to a device.

The first device anyone thinks of when asking about a tablet is the iPad. This particular device runs on an iOS operating system. The new iPad comes in two different sizes. The iPad air has a screen size of 9.7" and the iPad mini has an 7.9" display. While the bigger screen is easier for children to use and manipulate different activities on the screen, the size comes with a price. The price of the air is $499, while the mini is $399, and these devices can run off of the wifi internet, so there is no extra charge there. They also come with the knowing that there are many different options to receive technical help if needed. Most cities and malls have an Apple store located nearby and they are fully staffed with knowledgeable people who are trained to help with any Apple tech type questions we might have.

Some of the lesser-known tablets are running on an Android operating system. Google has recently come out with a Nexus 9, Dell has a tablet called the Venue 8, and Amazon has the Fire HDX 8.9. The Amazon Fire tablet was originally created to be just an eReader, but as times have changed, they have had to make changes to stay with the trendy devices. This tablet has the ability to obtain any apps that are in the app store that are available for Android devices, as well as having a great book selection. This device is great for teachers that are wanting to do a lot of textbook reading. The other Android tablets available are similar in a lot of ways to the iPad, only without the technical support readily available. While the iPad has Apple stores conveniently available, most Android systems do not have a specific store for if their devices crash. When speaking with people who have switched from an Android to an Apple product, or vice versa, the main complaint they have of the Apple products is that they have little room for personalization. While this is mainly a complaint for personal use, if one of our teachers wants to move around apps on the home screen to make it easier for the students to navigate quickly during class, their options are limited if they are using an Apple as opposed to a Samsung, for instance.

Just on the surface, the different devices seem very similar. Most are around the same size, whether it be a mini or a full sized version of the tablet, and they all have the capability to access apps in the App Store and Play Store. But there is some variance in the connection. Some offer cellular connectivity, while others are wifi connected. If we chose to go with the cellular connections, that needs to be purchased up front. Once a device is purchased as not being cellular capable, it can not become cellular capable.  However, to add cellular capabilities, it will cost, therefore making the wifi the best choice for the school.

While there are many choices to consider, I would personally recommend the Apple iPad for our school's use. It is large enough for the children to navigate, while being simple enough to make learning more enjoyable. We also will have access to more apps than we would if we chose the Android models, and this will be a great tool for teaching as well as a way for us to expand our curriculum and really get our students involved with their studies.