School Technology Purchases: Chromebooks, iPads, Android Tablets or Laptops?
Author: Rick Phelan
Published: 08.05.13
As the economy recovers and schools look to replace dated technologies, a common question is which type of technology to purchase—Chromebooks, iPads, Android tablets, or laptops? There are a range of opinions in this area. Some favor Android tablets or laptops, others talk about the merits of iPads or Chromebooks. From my perspective, the best way to answer this question is to first focus on what’s going to be done with the technology and how it will be used in the classroom. Some questions to consider:
- What specific educational activities are planned with the technology?
- Which technology will serve students most efficiently and effectively in those activities?
- What specific tasks will teachers use the technology for?
- Which technology will help teachers be most effective in their work with students?
- Which technology will help students access information and express their ideas?
Some educational leaders are also recognizing that technology solutions don’t have to be “this or that” decisions. There is a growing recognition that combinations of technologies can work for different educational purposes.
Piloting small sets of different technologies will help schools understand the educational applications and management dynamics of each technology choice. In carrying out pilots, teachers and administrators can see how the technologies work with students in their schools. After using pilots to support school technology decisions, one administrator commented, “...we didn’t paint ourselves into a corner.”
Chromebooks, iPads, Android tablets, and laptops each have advantages and limitations. Here’s my perspective on their strengths and weaknesses in a school setting.
Chromebook
Strengths
- Works great with Google Apps
- One device can be used by many students throughout the school day
- Has controls for managing school Chromebook sets
- Easy access to student work through Google Drive
- Has keyboard
Weaknesses
- Requires strong wireless access
- Moving content between apps can be complicated
- Limited printing abilities
- Websites with Flash coding elements will not work
- Not recommended for 1:1 deployment where students have limited/no Internet access
iPad
Strengths
- Wide selection of apps, including over 300,000 for education
- Has built-in assistive technology features, including screen reader, text magnification, and guided access features
- Can operate for 8-10 hours when fully charged
- Can work without wireless connectivity
- Rich collection of free digital content available from iTunes U and iBooks
Weaknesses
- Managing apps for school iPad sets can be complicated and difficult
- Websites with Flash coding elements will not work
- Student work can be complicated to access; this is particularly true when there are multiple users per device
- More expensive than other tablets when you add in the cost of apps and management time
- Onscreen keyboard is not geared for extended composition and writing activities
Android Tablet
Strengths
- Multiuser feature now available with OS 4.2.2
- Good integration of Google Apps
- Less expensive than iPads
Weaknesses
- Many OS versions; difficult to manage
- Inconsistent quality of apps
- Not as developed with specialized apps and digital media as iPads
Laptop
Strengths
- Multi-faceted for education tasks and major range of possibilities
- IT staff generally have knowledge and experience with laptops
- Storage space and peripheral ports available
- Strong on Web tools/plug-ins
- Full-size keyboard
Weaknesses
- Tend to be bigger and heavier for students to carry around
- Software licensing and management necessary
- Management costs often very high
- Long boot times
Blog: Technology for Learners
