Home lessons - is tablet or laptop best? What are you finding most useful?

[Kennypowerstesticle]

We don’t have any spare devices for home lessons so have been using a phone for now but we are lucky that a family member has offered to get us something for ds to use. I don’t know much about tablets vs laptops so I just wondered which type of device people were finding the most useful for children to use at home for their schoolwork? Ds tells me a tablet would be more useful (but I don’t know if that’s more about him really quite liking the idea of having a tablet 😂 ) but I thought a laptop would be better for word processing? He’s in year 4.

School set us work that is mainly around watching videos and doing the related worksheets/writing tasks and some websites like times table rockstars and purple mash.

Thank you!

Tablet would be more useful for primary because they often have to write or draw things and take photos which is less awkward with a tablet.
We are using a laptop and I wish it was a tablet!

It really depends how your school is doing things.

Some educational websites use Flash, which is a pain but does eventually work on a laptop but not on an iPad. Uploading photos is harder (maybe you could use your phone for that?) but typing is much easier. It’s harder to draw with a mouse than a finger, but a Y4 child will manage, where a YR child would get frustrated and give up. So overall, I think I’d go for a laptop.

Have you asked the school if they can lend you a device?

We bought new tablets for ours for Xmas, Samsung Tab A7. They’re Yr 4 & Yr 6. We also bought a Bluetooth keyboard so they can use it like a laptop for school work (they’re using google classroom) or as a tablet for playing/watching vids.

So far seems to be a good option for the budget. Google family link parental controls are also really good, so we can leave it in their bedroom overnight knowing it is locked so they can’t use it.

I would say a lap top every time. The children in my class who are having most difficulty accessing websites or uploading work are the ones using tablets and ipads.
A laptop is more versatile and will be a better long-term purchase when it comes to high school.
I would second asking the school. Although we didn't get anywhere near the amount promised in the first lockdown, we still have one or two laptops that are not yet allocated to families. Your school might be the same.

I would also second @SlipperyLizard's suggestion. Definitely something with a keyboard option.

@SlipperyLizard we did exactly the same for Christmas- it was like we knew what was coming !!

My dc have both, but don't really use ipad for school work, definitely prefer laptop to do the work.

American here, our school issued devices. Tablets for primary. Laptops for secondary. N

Laptop we have borrowed 1 from the school after my tablet stopped working its so much easier than the tablet. Am going to invest in one ASAP.

We’re using iPads.
DS (secondary) is using his iPad but he has a separate keyboard, so he has the full iPad screen and he’s been fine with it.

DD (primary) we’re watching her live lessons through an iPad and then she’s doing work on paper, I’m photographing it on the iPad and sending it straight in. My friend is using a laptop and she’s having real trouble attaching photographs of her son’s work and sending it in.

How long does it need to last?
Lockdown1, we used 2 tablets.
This time, the 11 year old (now at secondary) is firmly on a laptop. The 9 yr old (Y5) is fine with a tablet.
Purple mash is good on a tablet. Lots of typing is good on a laptop.