Category Archives: Device workflow

Device workflow, Framework Supplier Advice

Framework Supplier Guidance: Workflow

Leave a comment

Framework Supplier

XMA was awarded the Scottish Government National Framework Agreement for Notebook and Tablet Devices Education Lot in March 2013. The framework enables schools, colleges and universities in Scotland to purchase from a range of Android, Apple iOS and Microsoft Windows mobile devices.

While some tablet devices maintain a traditional ‘icons and folders’ style interface for file management, some modern platforms such as iOS have simplified file management by storing files created by apps within a separate app data store, only accessible by the app that created them. For example, files created in the Keynote app are shown in Keynote, not in a system wide Finder or Windows Explorer style application. This can have some implications when it comes to classroom workflow, especially around submission of work from pupil to teacher, markup of that work and returning it to a pupil. Many apps (including Keynote used in this example) offer an ‘Open In…’ or ‘Share’ option allowing you to move the document to another app, email it, print it, etc.

With Glow’s migration to Office 365 it is expected that a shared storage space will be accessible across all platforms offered on the framework (Android, iOS and Windows) either through a native Skydrive app from Microsoft or an app developed for all platforms designed specifically for Glow storage. Watch this space!

1:1 deployment, Apple, Device workflow, North Lanarkshire

Bellshill Academy: Issues with workflow

Leave a comment
Bellshill Academy
Workflow issues to be resolved

Willie Davidson (The Learning Centre) discussed with us some of the challenges that he felt were faced with the iPad in relation to workflow. He felt that moving learners’ work to and from the devices had presented a challenge. He acknowledged that there were a number of third-party tools (many paid for) that could address this issue, but he felt that he was yet to see the perfect solution to address this issue.

Mr Davidson told us how the school had decided to use Dropbox to address the file sharing issues, but he expressed his concerns about the security of this solution and he also gave examples where pupils Dropboxes had been ‘broken into’ by other pupils. He also felt that, although the Dropbox solution was the one he felt offered the school the best and cheapest option at that time to address the workflow issue, he believed that it would prove to be unsustainable if a secondary school such as theirs attempted to roll the Dropbox solution out across the whole school. The workflow issue is one that, if resolved, Mr Davidson believes could help make learning with devices in school an even better experience.

Bellshill Academy: workflow issues Mr Davidson (The Learning Centre) discusses workflow challenges he has faced with the Apple pilot

Apple, Device workflow, Edinburgh

Sciennes PS: Workflow and the iPad

Leave a comment
Sciennes PS: Parents convinced learning is happening
Effective workflow models still a challenge

Over the course of our visits to schools involved in device pilots one of the issues that is always raised with iPads is that of workflow. There have been concerns expressed from colleagues in local authorities about this device’s ability to work effectively with Glow with the result that schools have attempted to make  provision to enable workflow to happen more effectively. An inability  to easily transfer documents and other materials from the iPad to the storage areas in Glow has been the biggest issue that has arisen in this regard.

Wendy French (class teacher) at Sciennes PS talked with us about the challenges that she faced with workflow in the early stages of the device pilot that they were undertaking in her school. Early attempts involved emailing work to and fro and then moved towards using Dropbox as the means of sharing work. This, however, proved unsustainable and it was felt that in order to access learners’ work and give formative feedback the email and Dropbox solutions were not quite good enough. Mrs French finally came across a proprietary app called ebackpack which they are now using in Sciennes PS. She feels that this is now meeting her needs much  better, but she notes that it was a paid for app. What she wants to see is for the workflow between IOS devices and Glow (as it evolves) to be much easier and slicker than it currently is so that there would be no need to purchase an app to manage workflow.

Sciennes PS: workflow Mrs French discusses workflow on the iPad

We also spoke to the pupils about workflow. Interestingly enough, they were not so concerned with what was used or where any material might be stored, but they were keen to state what a difference it made to be able to access their work at any time! One pupil commented on this change in access to their school work

…before we couldn’t take out jotters home, even if we wanted to carry on with our work we couldn’t but this is with us seven days a week!

Sciennes_kids_workflow Pupils’ perspective on workflow with the iPad