Day 4 – Multiuser accounts on the Surface RT, a big deal for schools and families

Surface RT for Teachers -

Teaching and Learning with a Windows 8 Tablet

Another feature of Windows 8 is something called multiuser accounts. Having the capability to logon as a different user on the Surface RT is something that is missing on other tablets. Multiuser accounts come in very handy in a school environment and also for the family.

Technology budgets are not unlimited

Gadget makers are in the business of selling as many devices as possible to as many people as possible. That is their business model. So if you are a gadget maker it stands to reason that you would encourage schools to adopt 1:1 programs so that each student has their own individual device. This is great for the gadget makers but sometimes having a device for each student is beyond the fiscal means of many school systems and families.

One device for each member of the family can be a budget buster. One alternative is to have one device setup with different user accounts, thus the name multiuser accounts. This is what I have done with the Surface RT. I have an account and my wife has an account and we share the device, essentially cutting the cost of our gadget budget in half.

One device now serves two different people. I can have my Start Screen setup the way I want and she can customize her Start Screen to her preferences. Sure, it is sometimes inconvenient to share a device but saving $500 is enough of a reason for many to share. Sharing is caring.

Imagine if you are a family with 3 or 4 school aged children, is spending $500 for each child to have their own tablet reasonable? That would be $2000 spent on gadgets that will need to be replaced every three years. Some schools are even starting 1:1 programs at the Kindergarten level.  Given a turnover rate of a new device every three years for four school aged children would require four different sets of devices at a total costs of $8000 by the time all four children graduate from high school. For the average family this is difficult to do financially and does not even account for the costs of apps, ebooks, music, movies, and other online subscriptions/purchases. The costs add up in a hurry.

Online Stores

Speaking of costs adding up, these devices now come with something called “stores”. Apple has the App Store, Google has the Play Store, and Microsoft has the Windows Store. Stores exist to sell you things. I have not heard many educators address this issue but having online stores on devices in classrooms and at home with targeted advertising, branding, and marketing to children is a topic of concern.

Many tablets are now given to children either as a learning tool or more often an entertainment device. Some stores make it very difficult to setup an online account without giving up credit card information. Once a credit card number is associated with an online store account the credit card holder is responsible for payment, be careful.

This new model of online store purchase and delivery is very challenging in a school environment and also for many businesses. Making an online purchase is now just a simple click or touch away. Managing hundreds or thousands of devices in this new environment is challenging and I know many schools and businesses are struggling with the implementing and managing large numbers of devices and trying to figure out how to deal with online stores.

Many children have no concept of money and when it comes to playing games on a tablet there are now new ways for stores to make money called “in-app” purchases. There have recently been a couple of cases in the news where a parent is shocked to find a $6000 credit card bill because their child bought items from the Apple app store from a free app that included in-app purchases. Here are a couple of recent examples:

Apple refunds dad $6,000 iPad bill racked up by 8-year-old

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57594710-71/apple-refunds-dad-$6000-ipad-bill-racked-up-by-8-year-old/

In-app purchasing and $3,000 iTunes bill stun mom

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2013/07/22/nl-in-app-purchases-warning-723.html

Both examples above are from Apple but this can just as easily happen on the Google and Microsoft Stores. There are ways to manage an account to help prevent this but having a separate account not associated with a credit card is another way to protect yourself from unauthorized purchases from a child using a tablet.

Screencasting and the Flipped Classroom

For teachers there is another HUGE benefit when it comes to multiuser accounts on the Surface. Windows 8 Live Tiles on the Start Screen are wonderful in keeping you informed with notifications of the latest happenings. But, if you are using a tablet in the classroom to project up on the big screen you probably do not want all of your email and other notifications broadcasted for the entire class to see.

The same is true with screencasting. With the popularity of the flipped classroom model of instruction you do not want your personal information captured when you record a screencast that will be posted to YouTube for the world to see. With the Surface Pro and Surface RT the simple solution is to make a separate account that you can keep pristine for screen recording and/or projection purposes.

I have used this multiuser trick often to keep a nice and neat Desktop and Start Screen, everyone thinks I am so organized, you should see my other account ;)

Now my screencasting secret is out.

Until next time…

Keep on Learning,

Tom Grissom, P.hD.

@tomgrissom

http://eiu.edu/itc/

http://techtalk4teachers.blogspot.com/