Sharing Kindergarten

Charging My Devices

by 3 Comments

Hi, my name is Mary and I am addicted to iPads.
I have been using iPads in my classroom for 2 years and I can not stop using them.
I currently have 5 iPads, 3 iPods, and my iPhone in the classroom.
My school has issued me 2 iPads as well.
Fun right? You bet!
Hard to manage? No Way
Heavy to carry? Yep, but totally worth it.
Hard to charge? Not anymore!
I previously charged my iPads over two days at home and sometimes
I would set an alarm to go off in the middle of the night to change them out.
I didn’t have enough outlets to charge all 11 devices at once!
Last spring, I saw an add for a Griffin Powerdock 5.
It promised to charge up to 5 devices at one time. Score!
It didn’t get release until this summer, so I saved up my birthday money and waited to snag this cool tool. There are others on the market, but after researching what would meet my needs with my devices and their covers (Otterboxes) I wanted this one.
(Be careful what you buy. Some docks looked awesome because they had the 30 pin charging spot in the device… but you can not charge devices with thick covers on them. Reviews also said they didn’t “hold up the devices well.” They also will not charge the newer Apple devices that are now using the lightening cord. Each adapter for that is $30!!!)
I got my shipment in early August. And here is the Griffin Powerdock5 in pictures!
 
What I love about this charging device…
1. It is small. Size is important. I don’t want some huge docking system.
2. It doesn’t have the docking pieces on it, ie the charging spots for the 30 pin. Why is this good? The charging docks that do don’t need cords, which is awesome, but they don’t actually hold up the devices with cases on them, like thick Otterboxes. That doesn’t work for me. I can actually use this for 5 iPads and not worry that the iPads will fall.
3. It needs cords. Why is that good? I have one place for all my cords so I won’t loose them. This is also good because the older iPads have the 30 pin piece and the newer ones have the lighnening charger. You can charge ANY device with this because you need the cords. AND the cords you need come with your devices, so you are not buying anything.
4. The devices doesn’t need the actual plug in part, just the USB part. Why is that good? iPod touches don’t include the wall plug in piece. So you don’t need to have that part, meaning you don’t need to buy that piece.
5. I can charge my devices WITH the Otterbox bases on. I do have to remove the covers, but that is no problem. I store them right next to the charging station.
I did have to wrap up my cords to condense them, but that is a detail I didn’t mind. Keeping it all together is awesome.
I was not asked or paid to tell you guys about this device. Nor do I recieve any money for posting this on my blog. I simply LOVE this product and it has saved me time and effort, so I wanted to share it with you guys.
If you choose to purchase the Griffin Powerdock5 through this Amazon link, I do earn a few cents from Amazon, not from you.
click on this picture to get this awesome docking station
How many devices do you use in your classroom?
Do you think this station would be helpful in charging your devices?

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Comments

  2. CK Photo says

    I have 4 ipods, three are my family's old phones. I can't wait to upgrade this fall… three more ipods for my classroom. lol I have a multiple USB hub charge, it holds 4 cords at a time. Works great, and it was cheap at WalMart.

    Reply

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