Research

Report: iPad, Mac Use Growing in K–12

• By Richard Chang
• 03/07/17

Ninety percent of K–12 schools in a recent survey said they use Apple’s iPad to enhance learning, while 70 percent use Mac devices. Plus, 83 percent of schools saw an increase in Mac adoption, while 81 percent of schools reported an increase in iPad adoption over the previous year.

These findings and more were released in a JAMF Software Trends Survey on Apple device adoption in K–12 schools. “2016 Survey: Managing Apple Devices in K–12 Education” is based on responses from more than 300 IT professionals, managers and instructional technologists from K–12 organizations around the world.

According to the survey, the top five reasons users in K–12 favored Mac were: better security (cited by 55 percent of respondents), less maintenance (48 percent), user preference (46 percent), a preference for the app ecosystem (41 percent) and fewer calls to the help desk (38 percent).

The JAMF Trends findings provide a positive spin on Apple devices and operating systems. However, a recent report by FutureSource Consulting indicated that Google’s Chromebooks gained a majority share of the K–12 mobile device market last year, pushing iPads back even further, while Microsoft Windows devices held steady in second place.

Apple’s iOS was in third place behind Microsoft (second) and Google’s dominant Chrome OS, according to the FutureSource report. Apple’s combined iOS and macOS shipments were behind Microsoft Windows, the report said.

Other findings in the JAMF 2016 survey include:

• 76 percent said Mac is easier to deploy than the PC;
• 77 percent said iPad is easier to deploy than other tablets, such as the Chromebook;
• 75 percent said it’s easier to maintain a secure environment on the Mac versus a PC;
• 65 percent agreed it’s easier to secure an iPad compared to devices with other operating systems;
• 69 percent said it’s easier to configure a Mac than its counterpart the PC;
• 71 percent said iPad is easier to configure than other tablets;
• 69 percent said it’s easier to receive support for a Mac than a PC;
• 66 percent said it’s easier to receive support for an iPad than other tablets;
• 66 percent said it’s easier to perform software deployment on a Mac versus the competition;
• 66 percent said it’s easier to deploy apps on an Apple mobile device versus the competition;
• 61 percent said it’s easier to integrate a Mac than a PC; and
• 59 percent said it’s easier to integrate an iPad into existing environments than its rivals.

The full report is available for download on the JAMF Software site.