I am a DCPS service provider and I would recommend a lap top over an iPad or chrome book for using Teams.

No, get a laptop. iPads work but you do not get all the capabilities.

You have to download the new teams update to see all 7x7. I think it would be worth getting a new ipad so that your child could see all their classmates, but I think you could survive with an old one.

--another parent of a rising first grader

I can see 9 on my Ipad. Sometimes it is extremely pixelated though. Never happens on Zoom, but regularly on Teams.

Just get a Chromebook.

I believe only laptops, but I haven't been able to test this.

Does the upgrade work for 7 x 7 on an iPad or just a computer?

Actually over the summer teams upgraded to a 7x7 grid so for ES that means a whole class easily fits.

OP: app for our old iPad allows you to see 4 at a time in Teams. I'm not sure if a new iPad allows you to see the upgraded 9.

Also, Canvas is where the “classroom” will live, but as a teacher I didn’t know it had an app version. I imagine an app would be easier to restrict on a tablet since you can do guided access to only allow that app. But you shouldn’t need the app.

Our school said programs kids will be using K-5 will not work on tablets and kids need a laptop. Only PK can get away with a tablet.

I may be incorrect but when you use teams on an iPad you can only see one person - no gallery view. I would go for some kind of laptop.

P.S. OP here: I know about the tech survey. There is at least one personal use app (Caribu) which would also benefit from a new iPad, so we're good with the purchase if needed. Also I'd rather use an iPad so I can lock him into one app with guided access, so he won't have the option to do something else. 1st grader, so don't need a computer yet.

Our iPad is is around 6 years old, version 10.3.4. It worked fine for DCPS summer school via Microsoft Teams, but I'm wondering if we should upgrade before the school year starts. I can not download the new version of Teams due to our iPad version, and have not had success figuring out what that means we're missing.

Specifically:
Does the new iPad Teams app allow you to see 9 folks instead of 4?
Can you do chat (okay, maybe not relevant for my 1st grader)? Our version doesn't allow chat.
In general, by chance has anyone upgraded iPads and seen a difference for Teams or elearning?

Also: is the Canvas app worth using? We can access the website, but I'd prefer to keep the kiddo off of the web when possible in case he wanders off. The Canvas app isn't accessible for our iPad version.

Thanks!