With the world changing and evolving, technology is becoming a necessity. WCHS is going to join this rapidly evolving world of technology by deciding whether to provide students with HP Pavilion Chromebooks or Apple iPads just in time for the new Common Core Standards which require students to use computers to take the state tests.
Without a doubt, School Site Council should definitely choose Chromebooks over iPads, and there are many reasons to support that decision.
Chromebooks come with many benefits, such as less charging time and an easily replaceable battery, while iPads take much longer to fully charge, even though it’s battery life is a few hours more. On iPads, it is very difficult to replace the battery and sometimes professional help may be needed. Chromebooks have a more user-friendly replaceable battery.
Chromebooks are Google programmed. This is the search engine that many people use and have email access to including the students’ school emails. This will allow the students to use the Google Drive, which is a program for through Gmail that teachers encourage students to use. Not only is there Google Drive there is also the Google Docs, Google’s version of the Microsoft Office, it provides creating the word documents, PowerPoint, etc. If the useful search engine and Google’s programs is not enough for the educational environment there are educational apps that are downloadable to use on the laptop. One important thing to remember about the laptop is that it provides Flash, opposed to the iPads where you have to download it.
The Google programming is not the only great thing about these Chromebooks, it comes with a much bigger screen compared to the iPad, with the option of a 11” or 14”, allowing students to complete schoolwork a lot more easily than if they were to use a small 9”, touchscreen tablet.
When purchasing the iPad it only comes with the tablet and charger itself. WCHS would need to purchase a separate keyboard, USB ports, and more gigabytes. With the Chromebook you won’t need to purchase any of those accessories. Another valuable thing about the Chromebook is the ability to block websites, ads, etc., iPads are able to do this as well, but it would be much easier to hack into the security system of the iPads rather than the Chromebooks.
The most important reason School Site Council should purchase Chromebooks instead of iPads is because of the cheaper, more affordable price of the Chromebooks, iPads are hundreds of dollars more. If iPads are more expensive because “you are getting what you pay for,” you could certainly purchase a larger amount of Chromebooks that could suit a greater amount of students for a lower price.
Chromebooks also allow students to browse as a guest, rather than having to sign into a computer each time. This makes a student’s working process much quicker, allowing more work to get done more efficiently.
The Chromebook proves to be more student-friendly. Chromebooks are easily the better choice when it comes to purchasing an efficient tool that students can use for schoolwork. Chromebooks are much more helpful to the students; providing the students with devices that are more capable of this generation’s technology and prepping them for how the future levels of school may be like. Yes, the iPad is very up-to-date with this time’s technology and is trustworthy, but it is too expensive for the school’s budget.
It’s up to the School Site Council now to decide on having reliable Chromebooks, or fragile iPads.
