Best iPad for 1-to-1 and 1-to-Many Classrooms
Your school has just received additional funding to purchase technology for the following school year and you’ve decided that Apple iPad is the way to go. There are a lot of good places to rent from, for example, you could get ipad rentals from Hartford Rents or somewhere similar. However, when you begin to budget the purchase order, you realize that there are many different iPad Generations to choose from including:
- iPad (1st Generation)
- iPad 2
- iPad 3
- iPad 4
- iPad Mini
While four generations of iPad have been released since April 2010 as well as a new smaller iPad Mini, there are currently only three iPad options to select amongst when cruising to the Apple Store.
Breaking Down the Options:
Here is a breakdown:
| Which Apple iPad Should We Purchase for Classrooms? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
iPad 2
|
iPad Mini
|
iPad Retina
|
|
| Generation: | 2nd Generation | 4th Generation | 4th Generation |
| Wi-Fi Capacity and Price: | 16 GB $399 | 16 GB $329 32 GB $429 64 GB $529 |
16 GB $629 32 GB $729 64 GB $829 128 GB $929 |
| Wi-Fi + 3G/Cellular | Not necessary for classroom |
||
| Screen: |
No Retina 9.7?inch (diagonal) 1024-by-768 resolution |
No retina 7.9?inch (diagonal) 1024-by-768 resolution |
Retina 9.7?inch (diagonal) 2048-by-1536 resolution |
| Processor: | Dual-core A5 | Dual-core A5 |
Dual-core A6X with quad-core graphics |
| Cameras: |
Front-Facing Camera VGA-resolution photos VGA-resolution video Back-Facing Camera |
Front-Facing Camera 1.2MP photos 720p HD video Back-Facing Camera |
Front-Facing Camera 1.2MP photos 720p HD video Back-Facing Camera |
| Video Recording: | 720p HD video recording | 1080p HD video recording | 1080p HD video recording |
| Charging Connector: | 30-Pin | Lightning | Lightning |
| Battery Life: | Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi?Fi, watching video or listening to music. |
||
| Siri: | No | Yes | Yes |
My 1:1 iPad Classroom Setup
Here is a table that gives you an idea of what I have in my classroom and some feedback about each that I use on a daily basis:
| My 1:1 iPad Math Classroom Setup | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Device | Cost | Quantity | Feedback |
| iPad 2 | $399 | 30 | Using 30 iPad 2 tablets in my classroom for two years, I am completely satisfied with the functionality and do not miss any new features that fourth generation iPads provide. |
| Apple TV | $99 | 1 | Apple TV is an absolute must for any 1-to-1 or 1-to-many iPad classroom. Completely eliminate the need for a computer or IWB in your classroom. Read more about Apple TV here. |
| MacBook | $999 | 1 | The MacBook serves as the syncing mothership for the iPads. While I used to use this computer to lead my lesson, I have since replaced it with Apple TV. This MacBook is discontinued. Read more about whether a MacBook or MacBook Pro is necessary for your classroom. |
| Bretford Powersync Cart | $2499 | 1 | This is our iPad storage, charge and syncing station. The cart is also what I sit my projector and Apple TV on in the centre of the room. Other charging solutions are available for slightly less money, but I am very happy with this cart. |
Are you getting ready to deploy a class set of iPads? Be sure to check out my iPad Deployment Guide here.
My iPad Purchasing Recommendation
After two years of using iPad 2 in my 1-to-1 iPad math classroom, I see no need for any of the features offered by the latest generation iPad or iPad Mini. Our school recently purchased a class set of iPad Mini devices that offer a better camera for still photos as well as recording video, but it is tough to notice a dramatic difference in quality. Siri is also another feature that seems beneficial for the classroom, but we have not utilized the feature extensively enough to justify influencing a purchasing decision.
A purchase decision can also be influenced by factors such as insurance and warranty period. It would be an added bonus if this period could cover the cost of repairs. There are chances that the screen might crack, or would have a broken glass one fine morning. Therefore, before you buy an iPad, you need to factor in the ipad screen repair cost, and any other costs relevant to this purchase.
In any case, I think the 4th Generation iPad Retina should be eliminated from consideration completely due to a high price point and added features that are not significant to enhance learning in the classroom.
When making your decision between iPad 2 and iPad Mini, consider the following:
| When to Purchase iPad Mini over iPad 2 | |
|---|---|
| If Your Needs Include: | I Recommend: |
|
Larger screen Typing with keyboard often |
iPad 2, 16 GB |
|
Portability Higher quality photos/video Speech to text |
iPad Mini, 16 GB |
| Large amount of storage | iPad Mini, 32 or 64 GB |
It should be noted that I find it difficult to believe that there is a need for a class set of iPads with more than 16 GB of storage. My personal iPad that I teach with and record screencast videos on daily has 16 GB of storage and once in a while, I must backup my old videos/photos to my computer if I want to keep them and delete them from the iPad. While there is an outside chance that you may have so many apps that storage becomes an issue, I would assume that there are many apps that you do not use and can be eliminated. If you’re not sure how all of this is done, you could get help from any service center (find more information here) near your home to teach you the basics.
What Generation iPad Are You Using in Your Classroom?
Feel free to leave a response in the comment section to help others as they begin to plan what iPads make the most sense for their classroom and student learning needs.
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About Kyle Pearce
I’m Kyle Pearce and I am a former high school math teacher. I’m now the K-12 Mathematics Consultant with the Greater Essex County District School Board, where I uncover creative ways to spark curiosity and fuel sense making in mathematics. Read more.
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