iPod touch / IPad integration with school administration software

[Dov Emerson]

Has anyone had any experiences with school administration software (like Banner, Ren Web, Rediker, or anything else) where iPod touch integration was available? 

What I mean is...I have this dream of walking the hallways of our school with an iPad (or iPod touch, same platform, same apps), and, using the school's wifi network, being able to easily look up records, make queries, modify records, even input notes and observations, through the iPad. 

I know that many programs have the ability to access such records through the web, so that would be an alternative, but I would love for their to be an actual App that would allow this to be done quickly and easily. 

Our school is currently in the market to purchase a new school management software suite, and I wanted to find out if such a thing existed. I suppose, secondarily, if there is blackberry integration, that would be helpful as well, but it would not be as convenient as using a full function tablet.

Thanks for your help!

Dov Emerson

[Glen McKay]

I would be very interested as well. I use Rediker and it does sync with Palm but an ipod touch would enable me to use ical and evernote as well.

[Cristiano Marcelli]

I am figuring out a good integration of iPad in school administration as well, like also timetable managing in different rooms, teachers and students time and infos etc. If you will find a way please let us know!

[Joseph M Gruce III]

We have Pearson's Power School software. It has an app for the iTouch and iPad. Alas, my network admin is having "issues" with getting it running correctly. Luckily there are only 5 "offical" iPads in the district and mine ;^). I'm interested in hearing other perpectives about this. I'm hoping with the release of OSi 4.2 some of the issues will go away.

[Dov Emerson]

Does that app allow you to fully access Power School? I was under the impression it was more a general attendance and gradebook app, more geared for teachers...would be great if I'm wrong!

[Joseph M Gruce III]

The app does not allow full access to the PowerSchool web interface, nor does it allow any more access to the grade book than to enter grades for assignments. That came from reviews at the iTunes app store. I have been able to acres some of the web based portions of the PowerSchool web interface using Atomic browser on the iPad. I can take attendance with it in the AM. I have to try Safari, but it's not my favorite browser on the iPad.

[Bryan Kelley]

Our school recently switched over to something called "School Tool" .....which seems to be very handy and is entirely web based. Grades/Attendance (from the teacher perspective) could all be done on an IPad, etc.

[Jason Christiansen]

There's an idea that we've discussed where walkthroughs are done via a Google Form, then mail-merged to the individual teacher by way of the iPad. I know you were looking for non-web app that would do it, but I thought I'd put this out there.

[Tom Kitchen]

The districts in our area are using something called Teachscape to do walk-throughs but it isn't as comprehensive as what you want. It might be worth investigating though. Our administrators use Ipads to do the walk throughs.

[gscavette]

I have been using the power teacher app on IPad but an not aware of an existing app that will allow you to access the administrative side of P/S. The I Pad will, however, access the administrative side of P/S via mobile safari with reasonable usefulness. I Pads still suffer a bit with replacing standard computers due to there lack of flash support.

[Julian Guillory]

We used web based software...Using Logmein i just connect to my office computer when I am roaming about campus, This way i connect to my SIS database which is eschoolplus and have acces to to all records and such. I know its not the same thing as an app but it does imitate what you are describing just not without a web connection...

[Donna Murdoch]

Desire2Learn has a handheld application, as does Schoology.  Blackboard does as well.

[Kevin Upton]

Our district use PowerSchool for attendance, scheduling, and grading.  I use the PowerSchool app for iOS and love it.  It doesn't take the place of the full desktop version, but makes a nice supplement.  It is also great for accessing student information.

Logmein might be a soloution for you.  Logmein is an iOS friendly resource for remotely logging into your desktop computer.  Using Logmein is like carrying your desktop in your pocket.  The app is not cheap but you can use a trimmed down version of the service for free.