ipads in school

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cyril7

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# 87103 20-Jul-2011 08:23

Hi thought I would seek GZ members thoughts on this subject as it now seems to have raised its head in mainstream media.

Our kids attend a high school where netbooks (not ipads) are required and is part of the stationary list, and has been for year 9/10s for 2yrs already. They are used extensively in class, all school activities are based around Google Docs with Google apps supplying pretty much all the cloud service for the school and it seems to work very well.

In our case the school prefer XP/Win7 netbooks, our kids just have cheap and chearfull Acer/emachines naturally the school prefer machines with 6cell batteries to keep them going for the school day.

Anyway thoughts on this matter?

Cyril

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# 495563 20-Jul-2011 08:32

Stupid thing is if the school had approached Apple directly, or at least Renaissance, they would have been able to swing a good deal on the products - they do this regularly. The parents shouldn't just have been given the option to go retail - but even if they had to source the products themselves they should have been advised they can get education pricing via Apple directly.

Poor foresight on the part of the school and whoever was in charge of the initiative.

wreck90

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# 495564 20-Jul-2011 08:36

My 2 year old has already mastered the ipad. He beats his grandma. It's amazing how he can get stuff going without actually knowing how to read ha ha.

iPads/computers should extend existing education rather than replace it.

Just my opinion.

old3eyes

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# 495565 20-Jul-2011 08:42

So much for free education in this country..

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Old3eyes

freitasm

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# 495566 20-Jul-2011 08:45

Unless those devices (and any device, be it a calculator or a laptop) is used with the right software to actually replace textbooks, it's nothing more than a gimmick.

We should teach kids the basic before giving them a calculator. In other words, they should learn how to think, put together solutions, before giving them this kind of tool.

It all sounds like a fad, and reading from some of the reports it sounds like some lobbyist group managed to convince someone that hipster iPads should be the norm for everyone.

I am not against people using technology for learning, but the number of people who can't think is incredible.

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billgates

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# 495567 20-Jul-2011 08:47

Don't like the idea of an iPad in schools. It's a good reading device no doubt but what about writting assignments and then printing them?

Do whatever you want to do man.

hairy1

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# 495569 20-Jul-2011 08:49

The problem I have with the ipad (in fact any tablet) is that it is primarily a consuming device not a content creation device. Surely if our kids are going to have a device it should be one that it easy to create content on. Typing an essay on an ipad would drive me nuts.

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tdgeek

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# 495570 20-Jul-2011 08:50

The principal was on Campbell Live. iPads are NOT being made compulsory. A device is. It can be an iPad, tablet, netbook, but they recommend an iPad solely due to battery life.

Their school now has UFB and almost all of the school now has wifi. Now, if they are this connected, and there has been such a push to get schools setup this way, its of no use if the kids dont have their device.

In a few years, this will be the norm, I am sure if the word iPad wasn't mentioned it would not have made a sensationalist story. If the headline was "School making a Netbook compulsory for Year 9", its not a story worthy of Camplbell Live

myopinion

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# 495571 20-Jul-2011 08:51

iPad is no good it is primarily a consuming device from my experience. It can not replace a laptop - I've tried.

hairy1

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# 495572 20-Jul-2011 08:54

I am sure the powers that be haven't thought the ipad through for use by students. It strikes me that everyone has ipad stars in their eyes....

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tdgeek

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# 495573 20-Jul-2011 08:55

hairy1: The problem I have with the ipad (in fact any tablet) is that it is primarily a consuming device not a content creation device. Surely if our kids are going to have a device it should be one that it easy to create content on. Typing an essay on an ipad would drive me nuts.

I agree. It appears that the device will be more for accessing educational information I'd say. Typing essays on even a laptop at school is a waste of educational time, thats more like homework.

I'm keen to hear what parents say how their kids device is used at school.

tdgeek

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# 495574 20-Jul-2011 08:56

myopinion: iPad is no good it is primarily a consuming device from my experience. It can not replace a laptop - I've tried.

Same for any tablet

cyril7

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# 495576 20-Jul-2011 08:59

Unless those devices (and any device, be it a calculator or a laptop) is used with the right software to actually replace textbooks, it's nothing more than a gimmick.

Agreed, and in WHS case the extensive use of the collaborative aspects of Google Docs is its prime advantage. Teachers interact in essays with students, text books and schoolwork is never lost, parents can monitor kids work (remotely), in my view this is a big step up from conventional stationary.

As for creativity and mind extension, with the search resources of Wiki and Google available immediately kids have no excuse for not getting to the library to research or find books that are booked out.

As for the Netbook/Laptop against tablet argument, I too agree to a small amount, I think the prime mover for a Tab over a Netbook is battery life. Other than the onscreen keyboard issue on a Tab, with Google apps providing the apps etc the experience is pretty much the same.

Cyril

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# 495577 20-Jul-2011 09:01

Macbook pro's apparenty have a battery life of up to 7 hours which would be plenty. Cost would be more of an issue.

hairy1

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# 495578 20-Jul-2011 09:03

Asus Transformer would be awesome. Removable keyboard. 16 hours battery life with the keyboard. Google apps integration .... what more could you want.

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tdgeek

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# 495579 20-Jul-2011 09:04

freitasm:
It all sounds like a fad, and reading from some of the reports it sounds like some lobbyist group managed to convince someone that hipster iPads should be the norm for everyone.

I disagree.

One, the word iPad sparked this story, whereas its about a device, an iPad was only recommended due to battery life, so lets forget about it being an iPad issue, thats just the journos making headlines.

Two, I'd like to see how the technology is going to be used, it will be faster to give information to the kids via a webpage than a teacher talking or handing out notes. It will also give the kids a buy in as its "cooler" to do stuff online. So assuming these devices are used to gather educational info, I feel it will be more efficient time wise and more liklihood to get kids interested.

I do agree though that teaching them to think and formulate decisions is a key. Too often they dont need to think they just need a tool

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