iPads or Chromebooks… which is best in the classroom?

As schools increase their engagement with Modern Learning Practices and pedagogies which not only leverage, but are founded on technological systems the decisions about which technology to purchase and which is best for learning rages across classrooms, schools, districts, nations and the globe. Costs are definitely falling but undoubtedly one of the biggest factors for many schools is still the economic bottom line.. Which device ( that we can afford ) gives the best performance and impact on student outcomes at the right price point? This conundrum is also confounding parents as they struggle to figure out what will be the best fit for any particular BYOD initiative being rolled out.

In my own professional role as a school leader I use three devices regularly throughout my day – a tablet, smartphone and a laptop. All are mobile and all have advantages which make them the most appropriate device to use in different situations. If economics wasn’t a major factor then this would probably be the way most students might choose to work, too.

The article linked below gives an interesting point of view from school districts in the US that are bucking a major trend – to follow another major trend. It also identifies some of the challenges faced by school and district technology leaders as they struggle to keep up with changing trends and ever-changing models and feature-rich iterations of devices.