The iPads are set up to serve as mini-laptops (loan period to 30 days to match the laptops) and are pre-loaded with academic focused applications, including Word, Excel, OneNote, Canvas, WebEx, Firefox and Chrome.
- It is NOT possible for users to add or remove apps from an iPad.
- LockDown Browser is NOT installed (and can't be)--mention this to students during the checkout process
- If a patron needs to access their iCloud files, they can do so from icloud.com.
Check out & Set-up
- Patrons will need to fill out a green equipment form the first time each semester that they borrow an iPad
- Best practice is to make sure the patron is set up before they leave--there are instructions with each iPad.
- The important thing to tell the patron is if they log out or turn off the iPad all their app logins will be cleared.
- This isn’t terrible since everything is cloud based but logging back in to things might be annoying.
- Initial log into Microsoft 365 can be very slow but does improve after the initial connection
Returns: please set it aside for Systems.
- The iPads need to be re-set before going back in circulation.
Other things to be aware of:
- Users CANNOT log into their Apple account.
- So even though Apple apps such as FreeForm, Notes, iBooks, and the AppStore are installed, it is not possible for a user to log into their Apple account.
- Apple makes it very hard to remove these apps, they will still display.
- The control of where apps appear in the “desktop” is not particularly strong. That means when a new user “logs into” the iPad for the first time some apps may land outside of the folder they were placed in.
- The Bluetooth keyboard that is integrated into iPad case should automatically connect. There are instructions on how to connect it if that does not happen or if it gets disconnected.
- It will not be uncommon for apps to start updating after a user is set up. When this happens will depend on how frequently the apps themselves get up updated and how long the iPad sits unused.