Internet usage for kids using Google Classroom on Ship?

[CherylA]

We are pulling my High School Freshman and Middle Schooler out for a week for our cruise. Both of their curriculums heavily rely on Google Classroom for assignments which is great because they should be able to do a lot of their work on the ship. Have any of you dealt with Google Classroom access on the ship. The kids tell me we really need to bring the laptop because its hard for them to do their work on an ipad, tough to type and I guess the app is different than the actual website. If you have used it, how much data am I looking at? Any tips to make it work best?

 

[MaleficentRN]

What itinerary are you sailing and how long? Many ports have a least one place that has free wifi. My kids took their iPads to Tim Hortons in Canada and submit and downloaded what they could until the next port. Otherwise, we used up all the free wifi we got onboard, (100 megabytes), on our five night cruise. You can save that by logging it off unless you are actively using it.

 

[CherylA]

What itinerary are you sailing and how long? Many ports have a least one place that has free wifi. My kids took their iPads to Tim Hortons in Canada and submit and downloaded what they could until the next port. Otherwise, we used up all the free wifi we got onboard, (100 megabytes), on our five night cruise. You can save that by logging it off unless you are actively using it.

We are doing the 7 night out of NY with stops in Port Canaveral and Castaway Cay so that's why I figure we'll just have to pay for a package. We can use the free wifi in Disney World but the kids are saying its better to do on the computer (and i'm not dragging the laptop to the parks!). They will have their iphone/ipad with them in the parks so I guess they can see what they can pull down while we're at the parks. So not being too familiar with Google classroom they can pull stuff down then work on it offline then upload it?

 

[GoofyNewfie]

I'd be nervous of depending on the shipboard wifi. It can get used up - depending on the cruise. As in, too many people trying to use it and suddenly you can't even use gmail because the performance is too bad. But if you have some stops that have wifi, that should help. Or try to use shipboard when others aren't.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Yes. They can work offline after they download and then upload their work. That will save you some. And I was just talking to DS and he reminded me that the wifi can be slow certain times of day. Late in the day is slower, like when people go back to their cabins after dinner and such, but early in the am seemed best.
He also told me that if you work on Google Classroom from the computer you would still have to upload the work to Google Docs to access it from your iPad . So if they plan to upload work where they can access free wifi and vise versa I don't think that would help. Are they sure they can't do the work from their iPads?

 

[CherylA]

Yes. They can work offline after they download and then upload their work. That will save you some. And I was just talking to DS and he reminded me that the wifi can be slow certain times of day. Late in the day is slower, like when people go back to their cabins after dinner and such, but early in the am seemed best.
He also told me that if you work on Google Classroom from the computer you would still have to upload the work to Google Docs to access it from your iPad . So if they plan to upload work where they can access free wifi and vise versa I don't think that would help. Are they sure they can't do the work from their iPads?

Maybe they can do some of it on an ipad. I guess it depends what it is. I'm guessing if they have to really type something up they'd rather be on a laptop. This is what I get for pulling them out of school!

 

[MaleficentRN]

Maybe they can do some of it on an ipad. I guess it depends what it is. I'm guessing if they have to really type something up they'd rather be on a laptop. This is what I get for pulling them out of school!

Yeah, it's easier to type on a keyboard but tell them they either do that or stay home.

 

[Geomom]

From what DD16 has said in the past, it's better to use the computer (and I assume laptop) for writing papers as the formatting gets all messed up when she does it on her Kindle.

 

[MaleficentRN]

From what DD16 has said in the past, it's better to use the computer (and I assume laptop) for writing papers as the formatting gets all messed up when she does it on her Kindle.

Maybe it's the Kindle. My kids have worked almost exclusively on iPads for the past four years with no issues. I think it takes a matter of getting used to. I have to say, I love that all their work is on the iPad. No more, "I forgot this book. " of " I didn't write down the assignment." I've also, on top of having a great principle, been able to let them miss a couple of days of school since all of the work is right at their fingertips. But DS wasn't a fan of not being in a classroom during our cruise and canceled a long weekend he planned with his father.

 

[Steelers0854]

Have them download to their iPads the iPhone app called DataMan Next. When searching for the app at the top of the screen is an option that says iPad only, change the to iPhone and you can download the app. This will allow you to track the amount of data the google classroom uses. Have them use the classroom app and do more than than they normally would on a typical day. Then check DataMan and get an idea of how much data they would use.

Secondly. Go and buy an iPad case/keyboard like this Anker Bluetooth Folio Keyboard Case for ipad. Amazon has them on sale for a good price. This will help them out and avoid you having to bring the laptop along as well.

 

[Disneyteachers]

DH had to work and use google docs on our Alaskan cruise. I also like to stay "connected" so we got the most expensive plan on the first day and actually had some data left. We often had cellular service though because it was Alaska. We would get that plan again.

 

[AlternateID]

Could you use your phone as a mobile hotspot on the ride to and from the parks on your WDW day? Could throw the laptop in a locker at the parks. They could get a lot done in those two hours back and forth.

 

[MUN]

We are doing the 7 night out of NY with stops in Port Canaveral and Castaway Cay so that's why I figure we'll just have to pay for a package. We can use the free wifi in Disney World but the kids are saying its better to do on the computer (and i'm not dragging the laptop to the parks!). They will have their iphone/ipad with them in the parks so I guess they can see what they can pull down while we're at the parks. So not being too familiar with Google classroom they can pull stuff down then work on it offline then upload it?

I would think your best bet would be to have your children do their homework while at WDW. Great wifi and some of those laptops aren't too bulky. They're old enough so they can sit together and work on their studies while you and your husband enjoy the park.

MUN

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

My kids have worked almost exclusively on iPads for the past four years with no issues. I think it takes a matter of getting used to. I have to say, I love that all their work is on the iPad. No more, "I forgot this book. " of " I didn't write down the assignment." I've also, on top of having a great principle, been able to let them miss a couple of days of school since all of the work is right at their fingertips.

This. It's all about what THEY can get used to. For ME, I need a laptop to type long things, or to work on big projects, but for my two teen-aged sons, no such problems. Long stories, homework, PowerPoint, video editing, etc., the iPad is all they need. Usually on the floor or hanging off the couch, which I also can not do anymore. But my kids use the iPads a lot, so they have gotten used to it. To each their own.

 

[CherylA]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I'm going to try to have them get set up ahead of time. Fingers crossed that there is no undue stress with trying to get this all to work!