Chrome books. Not a lot of storage but most schools use online storage like Google docs so it’s not a need. Plenty of power to connect to Zoom calls. I don’t worry about viruses as much with the chrome book versus if they were using my home computer.

5th grader, macbook air

Late elementary kids, and we bought $700 nice laptops, which should last through high school. I'm not messing around with some half measures. I fully expect the use of some of these distance learning tools to continue even after in person learning resumes.

We bought our kid a Surface Pro. Would do it again 10 times. A few things to consider before you invest in technology:

1. Kids take PARC and other tests on PC's (or Chromebooks) with trackpads. If your kid is anything like ours then they've worked with touch screens since infancy but have little experience with trackpads.
2. The remote environment is Google and/or MS heavy. Classrooms, Meet and the MS suite of products are in heavy rotation. Make sure your choice can support those items.
3. Pens and touch screens may be useful. As our kid gets older and does more complex math it has been useful for them to be able to use the pen on the screen to work out math and enter responses. More and more online tools incorporate touch screen responses. Spending a few bucks more now may get you several more years of use as your kid gets older. Also useful for virtual whiteboards (Teams).
4. You will need a keyboard. Whether it is a BT add-on or comes with the device, you will need a keyboard once your kid exits ECE.
5. ECE goes really fast. I know it is a cliche and everyone says they grow up so fast, but it is really true. Everyone's budgets are different, but if you can swing it you may be better off spending 50-100 bucks more now to prevent having to reinvest in only 1 or 2 years time.
6. I can't speak for DCPS but our charter school is giving everyone who requests one a chromebook. You may not need to spend any money.

I would get a 2-1 so they can use the virtual whiteboard in Teams. That’s what I’m getting my DD

Yes. We use HDMI to connect the TV and ipad. I would definitely use a keyboard if DC was using this class. (We use it for movie nights)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You bc a nice monitor from Costco for $130, and a decent dell desktop for $400, and then headphones and webcam probably for $50.

You need to have a keyboard for any age above 2nd.

iPads are nice but the lower priced ones have so little storage it may not simply hold the Complete school apps.

Oh and these are decent sized 27” monitors which make the zoom classes immersive and slides easy to read. That’s the real key part.

You can connect an iPad to a monitor too, just need adapter

Would connecting to a TV work?

If your children are in DCPS, please fill out the tech survey. Parents should not have to buy new devices to access public school education. And the school district should not be assuming that any DCPS student already has a device at home.

Anonymous wrote:A laptop is better than an ipad for distance learning. Having a real keyboard is important.

I only have an iPad (no laptop), and it’s fine. You can get a wireless keyboard for the iPad. Off brand ones are as low as $10 (though I recommend something a little more).

I bought an IPad for my rising kindergarten student. She was sharing with her older sister in the spring. It was fine for the apps and Google Meets/Classrooms and Zoom (which we only briefly used for DL).

Anonymous wrote:Purchased a surface laptop for my 9th grader and a surface tablet for my 7th grader. Microsoft comes without all of the junk that other laptops come pre-loaded with. Also - work easily with teAms

how much & where?

Webcams have not been available since March

Anonymous wrote:You bc a nice monitor from Costco for $130, and a decent dell desktop for $400, and then headphones and webcam probably for $50.

You need to have a keyboard for any age above 2nd.

iPads are nice but the lower priced ones have so little storage it may not simply hold the Complete school apps.

Oh and these are decent sized 27” monitors which make the zoom classes immersive and slides easy to read. That’s the real key part.

You can connect an iPad to a monitor too, just need adapter

You bc a nice monitor from Costco for $130, and a decent dell desktop for $400, and then headphones and webcam probably for $50.

You need to have a keyboard for any age above 2nd.

iPads are nice but the lower priced ones have so little storage it may not simply hold the Complete school apps.

chromebook. 300 and perfect for elementary school.