Mobile Labs of iPads for Extension Education

MOBILE LABS OF IPADS FOR EXTENSION EDUCATION

Greg Parmer, MS, Information Technology Specialist

Sondra M. Parmer, PhD, Extension Specialist, Nutrition Education Program

Barb Struempler, PhD, Professor/Program Leader for Nutrition Programs

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Auburn University

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Let’s Share Experiences

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Where We Are• Youth curriculum, Body Quest: Food of the Warrior, uses 7

iPad apps• SNAP-Ed program – nutrition education program for

limited-resource individuals funded by USDA, Food and Nutrition Service

• 24 county paraprofessional educators covering 67 AL counties

• Each educator receives mobile iPad laboratory with 25 iPads

• Mobile iPad laboratory taken into 3rd grade classrooms for 1 hour lessons

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Start With Planning

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Why We Used a Mobile iPad Laboratory

The original plan was to use sets of laptops, BUT…

• iPads are less expensive than laptops• iPads are lighter in weight than laptops• iPads are easier to manage than laptops

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Purchasing iPads

AU has purchased more than 600 iPads over the past 3 years.

• Began with 12/educator and kids shared • Built up over time• Now have a mixture of iPad 1s, 2s and 3s

It’s important to understand purchasing policies through your institution

• Bid laws• Sole source vendor• Apple offers discount on 10 iPad bundles

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iPads Have Arrived

Who is going to:• Set-up• Manage• Distribute• Inventory

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Setting Up Our iPads

25 iPads named

“acesnepXX_[a-y]” comprise a set

One e-mail alias for each

set – [email protected]

One iTunes account for each set

using above alias• “Creating an iTunes account without

a credit card” • Passwords

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Protection & Transportation• Protect each iPad with individual cases

• OtterBox vs. Inexpensive

• Vaultz case (vaultz.com)• Handles • Combination lock

• Rolling cart for laptops

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Central Management

Depending on number of iPads, central management can be a good idea

Many different options available• We have used Casper Suite from JAMF (based on NCSU

recommendation years ago)• OSU has used MaaS360• LSU has used AirWatch

Apple’s Device Enrollment Program (DEP) should make enrollment easier

Another budget item!

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Hubs = (FAIL!)

Charging Ideas

Vaultz case

Inventory List

County Label

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Charging Ideas

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Charging ideas

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Extra Equipment

Ear buds• If the apps you plan to

use have sound• Size• Reuse• Cost

Extra cords• 30-pin vs Lightning

Keyboards

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iPad Security

Write iPad name on case in

Silver Sharpie

Bar code

Store in secure location

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App Security

What is allowed?

• Safari

• Camera

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In the ClassroomPreloaded standalone apps• Warning: everything is a race for 3rd graders

If online, many more options• “Focus” for classroom management• “Doceri” for screencasting, desktop control, and

interactive whiteboard

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User Comfort: All Eyes Are Looking At You

Training

Troubleshoot

Be available

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Ultimate Goal: Engaging Education!