The Digital Learning Room: Deploying iPads in Rural Fiji

Judit Klein, Auckland University of TechnologyPart of XW14

Managing and deploying iPads in any context can be challenging, but how about doing it in an environment where Internet access is limited and power going out is a very real possibility?

The Digital Learning Room project by Rotary aims to help bridge the digital divide in the Pacific Islands. In February this year, a team from Rotary and AUT University took 70 iPads, Mac Mini servers, Airport Extremes, Apple TVs and other assorted hardware to two high schools on Taveuni Island in Fiji.

This presentation covers how we approached the technical setup and deployment, as well as the challenges faced in implementing the setup on the group and managing iPads in this context: the successes, the pitfalls, the implications for long term sustainability and why sometimes, you just have to break the rules laid down by Apple.

This talk is broadly intended for anyone interested or involved in deployment of iOS devices or from education backgrounds.

Judit is a student at AUT University, integrating iOS development as a core component of her research for the Master of Creative Technologies degree.

She also works at the Centre for Learning and Teaching at AUT as a Learning and Teaching Technology Enabler (or, LATTE), assisting in the professional development of staff with specific focus on technical literacy and iPads in teaching, research and education.

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