File Management with iPad

One of the questions that comes up whenever I speak to schools thinking of deploying iPad or extending their deployment from an initial few, is how to manage the files that have been created on the devices. This is particularly the case where iPad is being used as shared devices. You will be familiar with these scenarios I’m sure.

Scenario 1: the class set are booked out and work commences. A hand goes up and the student tells you that they can’t save any work because the device is full.

Scenario 2: after a particularly good lesson with some excellent work produced, the devices are passed over to a colleague for their lesson. Later, the colleague mentions that the good work their students had produced previously has disappeared from the iPad, overwritten by your eager students in your lesson.

So back to the original question: how do you manage the data and files created on iPad? It may be worth widening the question to also include devices in a one to one deployment where the students have access to the same device at all times. The issue of file management where devices have no spare capacity still applies.

You will be happy to know that there is a solution to this issue, one which you and your students may already be familiar with.

Where IT lessons consisted of booking the ICT suite for a lesson, the students would save their work to the school network with their familiar login, either individual or a class login.

You will be pleased to know that the same solution exists for iPad. So how is this possible?

The answer is a product called Foldr.

Foldr works by utilising the existing storage already in place on the school network. It allows students and staff to use the logins they are already familiar with to access the server storage, exactly as you would sitting at a desktop machine.

More importantly still, Foldr maintains the security and restrictions already in place on the school network. As a bonus, it can be set up to allow secure access completely away from the school network so staff, for example, can work at home and still access their files and folders on the school server; no more lost or forgotten memory sticks!

Foldr was developed by the ICT technicians working in a large comprehensive school who were an early iPad adopter and came up against the very scenarios I outlined above. Their elegant solution has evolved over time to become a powerful, feature-rich product.

Foldr is a licensed product, the cost based on the number of students on the roll, thus ensuring that no matter how many mobile devices the school has, everyone - staff and students - can enjoy the benefits of Foldr.

It is installed by your ICT team in simple process onto the school server or, if preferred, KRCS engineers can set it up to run on a Mac mini and linked to the school server (there is a small additional charge for this in addition to the Foldr licences. Your KRCS Account Manager will be able to advise on this for you).

A free App is then added via the iOS App Store. Work can then be saved back to the network via the Foldr App and from inside many Apps as well (iOS 8 or higher required). The Foldr App can also be pre-configured using a Mobile Device Management solution such as Lightspeed.

Foldr also allows media streaming directly from the school servers as well as built-in feedback tools to allow teachers to mark student work, including recorded voice!

Furthermore, Foldr will work on desktop/laptop machines as well through any HTML5 compliant browser - KRCS Engineers have setup Foldr to manage suites of Apple Macs.

So what does Foldr offer compared to cloud storage like DropBox, Google, OneDrive?

• Foldr uses the storage that already exists on the school network
• as a result, any files/data is stored locally NOT in ‘The Cloud’
• this ensures protection from hacking of the data
• it also ensures the school maintains compliance with e-safety requirements
• secure access to the network available from outside the school network (using f-links)
• no new logins/passwords to learn and remember
• support for GarageBand files

If you would like to know more about Foldr or to trial the product for a month please, contact your your KRCS Account Manager. Also have a look at Foldr’s website at:

www.freeyourfiles.co.uk