Why Tech Services Should Want iPads

I think when it comes to technology and all the challenges that come with it our school district is very similar to others.  We have a somewhat locked down system where teachers and students cannot install any new software or updates to existing software.  With the nature of technology we currently live in this is a constant problem in our schools, computers don’t have the right software or they have older versions that need updating that only one of a handful of technicians have the permissions to do.  Now our technology department has taken steps to try to alleviate these headaches by giving elevated account privileges to select teachers in the schools, but with everything a teacher has to do in a day who has the time to update flash, again on 300 computers?  While I am sure there are some solutions to these problems, (isn’t there an automated way to install updates?) these are major hurtles our teachers must face when using technology, not to mention challenges with everything else from WIFI and bandwidth to safety and ethics.  
In the past year our school district has purchased number of iPads fo kindergarten students, our special education and curriculum consultants and in the coming months all administrators. Our major challenge with the iPad is that the tech department will only allow ‘guest’ wifi access (which is awkward to say the least).  I recently watched a talk Fraser Speirs gave at the Abilene Christian University Connected Conference, on the implementation of iPads in his private school in Scotland.  (I have summarized his talk here, if you want to watch it click here.) Fraser’s talk got me thinking about why our tech department is reluctant to give us this access in an efficient way.  He asks a very important question, Why did we ever manage user machines in the first place? He gave three reasons:

1. prevent the user from breaking the operating system
2. Prevent installation of unlicensed software
3. consistent image for all users on any computer

Even with these checks and balances designed to minimize downtime we have massive issues with technology. Software requirements are complicated, updating software is impossible with the some user permissions, waiting for a technician to come to your school can take weeks, licensing is complicated, and connections are slow. What I have come to realize is that this is the world our technicians have always known, in many cases that is why they have jobs.  What has happened is that technology and specifically educational technology has changed and know one asked the technicians if it was ok.  I say this with a slight bit of sarcasm, but what has happened over the past ten to fifteen years is that the knowledge gap between the ‘tech’ department and educators has shrunk.  This has happened to such a degree that in some cases there is no gap.  What this has caused is a power struggle between the two camps. In years past we would go to the technician and say ‘I want to try this, can I?’ and they might say ‘ya go for it’ or, the more likely in my experience ‘no, there are all kinds of security issues.’  We would then turn around and walk away accepting that answer and move on.  With the knowledge gap closing we now stand there and say ‘prove it, show me the security risk’ or ‘tell me why’.  Let me be clear I think we need IT departments and more specifically technicians in our schools, but what we need them to do today is different from when they started their profession.  What we need technology departments to do is say ‘yes ‘when what they really want to say is no.  We need them to work with us to find solutions and better ways to deliver instruction.  I think that is what an iPad can do, it can help elevate many of the tasks that bog down our technicians and free them up to help educators use the technology in the best way possible.  Here is how an iPad changes things according to Spears:

1. It has an operating system that is extremely difficult to break
1. there is little or no IT involvement with an iPad until it is physically broken.
2. Licensing is handled as part of the platform   
1. you can look at any screen of any iPad and know that every piece of software is licensed (correctly) and free from viruses.  
3. Updates happen with one tap and one password.
4. The app store
1. One place to look and purchase software
5. Users are empowered for the first time to buy and try third party software without any fear of damage to their machine or problems with licensing or issues with compatibility
6. Purchase is trivially easy
7. Installation is automatic
8. The removal of apps is safe and easy
9. Every age, Every Stage
1. any one can use and learn from an iPad

For the first time what we, educators and technicians can do is give a student a piece of technology and have the confidence that it will work and work well virtually every time it is turned on.  Technology Services, IT, the computer geeks, whatever you call them should love this product and others like it because it will make their job easier and students experience better.