At our school, we're already on our way to deploying our 1400+ iPads to students. So far, it's been a whirlwind two days with more to come. You may be wondering what goes in to preparing for an iPad one-to-one. Getting to the actual handing out of iPads took a full year of work to get to this stage.
What do you want to accomplish with iPads? What are some of the goals/results you want to achieve?
Is your faculty accustomed to using technology in the classroom? Is technology part of their curriculum?
Does your campus have Wi-Fi connectivity? If so, will you have enough wi-fi coverage for all of the places an iPad would be used?
How much bandwidth do you currently have for your current internet connectivity? Putting an iPad in the hands of every student on campus will be challenging if your bandwidth is limited.
What are your current policies on using technology on campus?
Does your campus currently have an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) or Responsible Use Policy (RUP?)
How will you address Cyber citizenship, Cyber Bullying and general online behaivor?
Is your campus IT department ready to handle every student having an iPad?
What kind of support will faculty and students have when they have trouble with their iPad?
What kind of device management system will you use to mange and deploy the iPads?
What is your budget like? Can you afford to subsidize the entire cost of the iPad, or will you need to charge an additional fee to cover it?
Again, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to planning for any type of one-to-one. Get everyone involved early on: Faculty, IT, administrators and parents will be needed as each of these groups will have different ideas and visions for a one-to-one program. Communication and a lot of healthy discussion will be key to your success.
