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I would have to say that I would go Chromebook. We are a 1-1 school 3-12. The elementary students use Chromebooks. They are easy to use, especially for the younger students. We are a Google school anyway and so the ease of using Google docs, sheets, slides etc would be super easy. Plus, we as teachers are familiar with it and would be able to help them better.

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I would recommend the Chromebook.  I love my iPad but it is difficult to do things on it along with any other tablet.  The nice thing about Chromebooks is it runs off of Google.  Google Docs, Sheets and Slides are easy programs for the students to use.  Plus it has a keyboard.  being able for the kids to learn how to type on a keyboard is important.  I have a keyboard for my iPad and it is so small that I cannot type efficiently on it.

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The school I currently teach at is 1:1 with Chromebooks, so I would probably recommend this system. Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are all awesome programs kids can utilize when they have access to Chromebooks. I also think it may be a pain to purchase keyboards for all of the tablets and I think it may be more expensive in the long run- although I suppose this would depend on the model of tablet purchased.

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I would recommend the Chromebook.  Tablets are great, but I think that a tablet has limitations.  If a school is going to invest in going one to one, I think that something with a keyboard is a necessity.  What’s the point of going one to one if students cannot use the device for keyboarding?  I understand that you can get keyboards for tablets, but to me, that is not efficient.  The school I did my practicum at has MacBook’s.  They are about eight years old.  The school is in the process of replacing the MacBook’s with Chromebook’s.  The school has been pleased with the Chromebook’s.  I’m a business teacher so the choice may be different for other teachers.  An art or music teacher would probably prefer an iPad.  The important thing is to choose a device that fits the budget and needs of all the classes.  That’s a hard thing to find.  In my opinion, the Chromebook is the best choice.

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Well, I have no experience working with any of those devices, so I don't have an opinion on them! I think I would start by looking at what the budget is for these devices and compare how well each device fits what capabilities we are looking for. After doing a quick Internet search, I discovered that the Chromebooks are fairly good computers, but not more more than a glorified internet browser. That makes me worried about using apps and what would actually work and be available to students. There are also mentions of them not being very sturdy or durable. They are great for folks who use a lot of Google products, so I would consider them great for older students and college students, rather than elementary students. iPads are notorious for being very user friendly, which usually means that they can do a lot in terms of personal activities. They are expensive, but are smaller and more of a tablet than a laptop. Accessories are expensive to add on (like a keyboard, which comes with a Chromebook). However, Apple seems convinced that iPads need to be at the forefront of education and classrooms, so we may see a great price war and technology battle in the next few years as these companies try to figure out exactly what will please teachers and students the best! Overall, I would be figuring out what we want these tools to be for, who the users are and then do my research to compare them!

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I think our school has a pretty good handle on the Chromebook/laptop/iPad situation.
Our library has the iPad's and when the students come to Library as one of their specials they work on the iPads in there. The K-5 have iPads in the classrooms that come out. They simply use them in there when they have need of them. If they earn a few minutes of free time, they are also allowed to use them at that time. Our MS/HS students have Chromebooks available to them during core classes as well as study halls or study periods. There are carts with the Chromebooks on them and they can check them out as needed and of course they use them during class time with their own logins. Faculty and administration have their own laptops and the principals have an iPad, Chromebook and Laptop. Should the staff be in need of one we have 3 computer labs that frequently are not full so staff may use them. This seems to work well for our school, so I would likely advise to looking into repair costs/damages, if there are any and use the money first there if it is smart thing to do. Sometimes it is just smarter to get rid of it as the repairs cost more than the value of the machine, then replace those. Should there be any money remaining, divide it up percentage wise and use the money in all 3 areas. If there was still money available, maybe a mobile cart that can be pulled in and used wherever there needs to be more screens. For instance, occasionally I wish I could have computers for a specific assignment but I don't need one all the time. PE is the same way. Occasionally they need to use it, maybe to test on the rules of basketball or something, but they just get in the way most days, so if it was mobile it could be stored in the back to the library, someplace safe.

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I have taught at schools that have used chromebooks, laptops, and iPads for 1:1 technology. iPads have been the most successful in my classroom for several reasons. First of all, they are current and students know how to operate them smoothly and without much of a learning curve. They fit their lifestyle both in terms of size, user friendliness, and options for apps, programs, and possibilities. Our children are learners on the go! I think that our technology should match that. iPads are easy for my students to bring with them when switching classes, or to our outdoor classroom to write a haiku, to the library for research in their PBL, or to show our math specialist the new level they achieved in Dreambox. There is also flexibility with adding on a keyboard to help when it comes time to publish their writing. From a teacher perspective it is simple for me to add on apps and organize the iPads in a way that helps a lesson or workshop flow nicely. iPads are also easier to store in my room than other devices.

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I would definitely go laptops all the way, especially for high school students. The school I used to teach at had 1:1 laptops and I loved the versatility of them and the student ability to have the capabilities of a PC. I understand that laptops are more expensive then some of the other options but personally I think they are worth it. I could see in a bigger school how this could be a lot harder to afford than other cheaper alternatives. I also liked having the exact same machine that my students had and that machine was my main machine as well. It helped me with troubleshooting and such.

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Chromebooks are an inexpensive way to get a good device into the hands of our students. I feel like students can be 1:1 with Chromebooks, and have access to everything they need. However, for Preschool-2nd or 3rd grade, we should have iPads. iPads may be more expensive, but our younger students may not be able to use the Chromebooks. Most of the students are already familiar with iPads when they start school. Chromebooks are easy to fix when there are issues as well. iPads are little more trickier to fix, and troubleshoot. Also, with Chromebooks you just need to buy a case. If you were to go with iPads you would need to buy a keyboard, case, screen protector, etc. I feel like the Chromebook is a great device for upper level students, and iPads for younger students.

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I currently work at a school where we have 25 chromebooks for a student population of 220 students. As a second grade teacher we use them more often then the lower grades, but they still aren't always readily available. In using the chromebooks I have found that I still would rather my students have iPads. When I did my student teaching there was an iPad cart for each grade level (k-3). This allowed the students to use iPads for center time in reading and math and pull them in for whole group for science and social studies. The apps and tools that were used during my time as a student teacher were endless. Many of those apps were free and engaged students and helped with motivation. I personally still enjoy using iPads and looking at all the different apps that are available. I think that many students are being exposed to the use of tablets earlier on in life and it would be an easy piece of technology to integrate into the classroom.

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If I were to play a part in deciding what form of technology to buy, I would be interested in a mix of iPads and Chromebooks. I have had many opportunities to use Chromebooks and like the simplicity of it for students. Especially with how much teachers use Google Classroom and Google Docs, Chromebooks are perfect. However, I think that Chromebooks would be most beneficial for general education and resource students. My opinion differs when it comes to my high needs, Life Skills students. My school district is going 1:1 with Chromebooks next year. However, our secondary Life Skills and Young Adult Program are looking into having the district purchase iPads for our higher needs kids. There are more iPad apps on the endless web for those in Life Skills. They also are perfect, and commonly used, as a communication device for those who need that assistance.

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As a secondary teacher, I actually a big fan of using chromebooks. That's actually what I use most frequently outside of school, though our school provided laptops are all Windows machines. However, there are a good variety of reasons to switch to or stick with chromebooks. First, they are significantly less expensive than either PC's or Apple products, which means that the school will be able to purchase more Chromebooks for the same amount of grant money. Second, the interface of a Chromebook is similar to something most of my students are already familiar with: smart phones. The move from smart phone to chromebook is not nearly as big of a transition. Finally, many chromebook manufacturers have taken the time to build an educational base by providing both easy to use applications and bulk-buy discounts for chromebooks. As well, Chromebooks have been designed around easy implementation for a school's IT department.

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For many years now, our middle school and high school have been 1:1 with MacBooks.  However, we have been reviewing this, and are considering the possibility of iPads in the future.
One obvious reason for this consideration is cost.  It would save the district a great deal of money to have 1:1 iPads instead of MacBooks.  Also, we really don't see that we will lose many of the capabilities that we have now.  I don't think the lack of a keyboard will bother the students, and we could have a classroom set of keyboards available if they are needed.  The iPads will also be easy for our tech department to monitor.
While I would hate to see the MacBooks go, I understand the reasoning behind the decision to make a change.
I really don't know much about Chromebooks, but I generally prefer Apple products in the classroom.

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In elementary school, I have seen success with iPads. They are easy for the students to carry and access. They are familiar with the object and are still developing those motor skills. This device allows them to create and interact in class.

We also have have Chromebooks you can check out when typing is needed.

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My go-to would be any Apple device. Although I find the quality of Apple products has slightly decreased recently, I still believe they outlast the competition. Personally, we own a Mac desktop that is still going strong since 2010! And a Macbook Air that has been in service since 2012.
Of course, I have little experience with other technology brands in recent years, so my opinion may not hold much merit. Perhaps other brands have increased the longevity of their devices.

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Donna Wratten - Opinions on what should be purchased

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Donna Wratten - Opinions on what should be purchased

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My school is in this process right now. I stepped into a school that has many different types of computers. They have iPads for our Elementary and for our high school we have MacBooks, Apple PC's, Laptops, Desktops and also iPads and Mini-iPads. I am going so crazy with all of it, that I have suggested to go with iPads for Grades K-3 and Chromebooks for 4-12. I had to fight to get my school on the right track with getting a Tech Plan and going with it. The Superintendent wanted to buy Chromebooks, which is what happened when he purchased 40, but wanted to put them out in circulation where we were short...Ugh! So to the school board I went. I do believe that we are heading in the right track to being a 1:1 school for sometime next school year. It just seems like it has been a hard, long road to travel to get there. Wish me Luck

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When I was in high school, we had 1:1 devices and we were an all Apple School. There is so much you can do with Apple computers and especially iPads that you can’t do with other brands. Now I am teaching in Sumner and we have 1:1 devices but we have different devices for different grade levels. 3rd grade through 12th grade have chromebooks to use. Kindergarten through 2nd grade have a combination of Acer Tablets and iPads. When I student taught at Sumner 3 years ago, the Acers were brand new. We had a lot of trouble with them working correctly and there were many limitations on what you could do on them. The classrooms have been slowly trying to build up their inventory of iPad through grants and various sources to have enough for each classroom. If the school would have bought the iPads to start with, they wouldn’t have wasted the money on the Acer Tablets that didn’t work. The iPads have lasted a lot longer and they are much easier for our students to run than the Acer Tablets. Since I have been able to experience different 1:1 programs, I would highly recommend going with iPads. I think the students and staff will be happy with the product if that is the route the school chooses.

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Our school recently went from MacBook Airs to Chromebooks, let me tell you both the students and staff are quite upset. Therefore, I would push the school to go with iPads. This still integrates with Google Classroom and Google Drive. Many students will purchase keyboards on their own and the school can provide those who cannot afford with one. There are so many things a student can do with Apple products, from iMovie to photo editing! I think that iPads are easier to use and can be monitored by the school, whereas Chromebooks cannot. As a teacher, Chromebooks do not work as great as Google makes them out to be. My newspaper staff had to receive their MacBooks back (and now carry two computers) because Wordpress (our newspaper website) is not comparable with a Google operating system.

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I would prefer Chromebooks to iPads for a couple of reasons.  First, Chromebooks are less expensive than iPads so we are able to get more for the money!  Second, we are a smaller school that has K-12 so having a mobile device that has the keyboard is important.  This allows the devices to be utilized in the English classes for writing papers and more effectively in the other subjects as well.  In addition the ability to share information on the Chromebook is easier and a student can access their information from any device.  One other factor is that our IT person believes that the Chromebook is easier to navigate problems over the iPad.  I think you just get more for the money with the Chromebook, iPads have "extra" expenses that seem to pop up and that can create a problem when the school is on a specific budget.
Kari

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Our school is actually considering moving 1:1 iPads after our current computer contract expires, so we recently weighed some of the pros and cons as a group of teachers. Our school is leaning towards buying iPads compared to other devices.
A few of the reasons why:
-iPads are easily controlled by schools (Our school can decide what apps to be on their iPads during the school day. After the school day concludes, they can have access to other apps)
-Our tech team believes iPads will be an easier/quicker fix if their are technical problems
-Access to applications for learning not only to the internet
A few concerns:
-iPads don't have a keyboard (Chromebooks do!) Will it cost our district more money to buy a keyboard/student/ipad?? In visiting other schools, our school has found that even though keyboards were purchases for each student they are rarely used!
-Printing capabilities? As with any tablet, the question becomes how are students going to print? Will they e-mail it to the teacher? Does "air" printing work?
-Storage on device? Storing items on the iPad can be problematic. At our school, we are google friendly, so our students will use their google drive to store files rather than trying to store on a device.

When it comes to which device to buy, I think it's important to think long-term. What device will last students the longest? What device will prepare students to be career and/or college ready? What device will students' purchase on their own once they graduate high school?

Despite the concerns that are shared by many tablets, iPads are the device that I think would best benefit the students longterm due to the accessibility to applications and the internet.