A 1,000-student private K-12 school in Tennessee will require students in grades 4 through 12 to bring iPads to class beginning next semester. Beginning in the fall of 2011, students at The Webb School of Knoxville will be carrying more than just books and binders with them to school everyday. That's because the private K-12 school in Tennessee is making Apple iPads mandatory on campus and asking all students in fourth grade or higher to either buy or lease a device for the coming school year.
Rekindling Interest in 1:1 Computing
The implementation of mandatory iPads has been a long time coming, according to Jim Manikas, technology director for the 1,050-student school. Administrators and teachers have been mulling over a 1:1 computer program for the last 17 years, said Manikas, "but it's just never been the right time for an actual implementation."
The implementation of mandatory iPads has been a long time coming, according to Jim Manikas, technology director for the 1,050-student school. Administrators and teachers have been mulling over a 1:1 computer program for the last 17 years, said Manikas, "but it's just never been the right time for an actual implementation."
The excuses ranged from laptops being too costly to teachers not being ready to integrate computers into their classrooms on a 1:1 basis, said Manikas. But when Apple introduced the iPad, he said, the idea of "one computer per student" was rekindled.
Positive reviews from those schools around the nation that are already using the tablets in the classroom, along with the device's more affordable price, pushed the private institution back into a 1:1 shopping mode. "We see this as a piece of technology whose advantages far outweigh the disadvantages," said Manikas. "The device comes with an easy price, is simple to use and support, and handles the vast majority of what our teachers need it to do in the classroom."
Equipping the Students
Before announcing the initiative, Manikas said, his team gave the school's existing technology infrastructure a good, hard look. What they saw were about 700 computers, a high percentage of which had either passed into obsolescence or come pretty close to reaching it. Replacing those units would cost the school about $550,000--an investment that would simply put the IT infrastructure "at a reasonable level," said Manikas, "without expanding it in any way."
Before announcing the initiative, Manikas said, his team gave the school's existing technology infrastructure a good, hard look. What they saw were about 700 computers, a high percentage of which had either passed into obsolescence or come pretty close to reaching it. Replacing those units would cost the school about $550,000--an investment that would simply put the IT infrastructure "at a reasonable level," said Manikas, "without expanding it in any way."
The fact that a half-million dollar investment would only provide "sufficient" computing power for the school pushed Manikas to consider other options. "Our teachers wanted to be able to do more with technology, and students needed to graduate feeling like they were prepared to use that technology," said Manikas. "If we had to spend all of that money, why not vastly expand what we were doing programmatically with technology by giving students a device they could use on a 24/7 basis?"
Manikas said the answer was a no-brainer and that the school at that point decided to roll out its mandatory iPad initiative for the 2011-2012 school year. With all of its funding generated through student tuition and gifts from donors and parents, the institution then had to consider where the money would come from to finance the initiative. "We looked at whether we should increase tuition, or just charge a fee and have parents pay for the [devices]," said Manikas. "We also knew that some parents had already purchased the tablets for their kids, and that a tuition increase would mean those students would be paying for their devices twice."
After assessing the options, Manikas said, the school's leaders decided to allow those pupils with iPads to bring them into class, while the rest of the students would have to purchase their own tablets. Those in need of financial assistance would be eligible for an annual, interest-free lease whose cost will total about $200 a year, paid in monthly installments.
Prepping the School for E-Learning
The devices will be used to conduct classroom research, create interactive lessons, and store electronic textbooks, among other activities. Manikas said the rollout will expand the horizons for both students and teachers who currently have to schedule lab or network time to gain Internet and computer access. "Everything will be so much more immediate," he added.
The devices will be used to conduct classroom research, create interactive lessons, and store electronic textbooks, among other activities. Manikas said the rollout will expand the horizons for both students and teachers who currently have to schedule lab or network time to gain Internet and computer access. "Everything will be so much more immediate," he added.
As the school prepares for the rollout, Manikas said, his IT team has been making infrastructure and network tweaks to ensure that both can support 1,000-or-so new devices simultaneously, 24 hours a day. "It's not a big deal, but there are definitely a few changes that we need to make," said Manikas, who added that tech support for the devices will be handled by the current IT staff.
Questions for you to ponder...
- Does it make any difference that this is a private school rather than a public school? Why or why not?
- Is it important that each student have her/his own computer? What opportunities are afforded to both teachers and students in terms of the learning and teaching processes?
- The article doesn't mention ongoing training for teachers, but how will teachers know how to use the iPads? What kind of training will be needed, how often should it be provided, and how should it be delivered?
- What are some potential obstacles that might impact the overall success of these devices throughout the school?
- Is it reasonable to expect that public schools might implement a similar program?
- Given the fact that iPads have only been in existence for just over a year, do we know enough about these devices to justify their purchase and use in schools? If not now, then when?
The issue of whether the fact that this school is private I think does come into play. There are certain expectancies that public school participants have; buying an x-hundred dollar piece of equipment for their child is not among them.
ReplyDeleteThis being said each student having his/her own personal iPad is a dream come true for the students as well as the teachers. To have a personal computer would ensure that any work that is done on that computer is yours and can be saved and retrieved at the touch of a button. In my current practicum placement an obstacle they face is the fact that the school has ten iPads that are used throughout the day and usually cannot all be reserved at the same time. This means that we can only use about three at one time. If each student had their own, all students could be engaged with them at the same time. This would allow many opportunities for the teacher to promote interactive, problem solving activities simultaneously or within small groups.
Having recently purchased an iPad, I definitely think that for non-Mac users especially, ongoing training should be provided. In order for the iPads to reach their full potential educationally, teachers must learn how to properly and effectively integrate them into their classrooms. Small group or personal training would be encouraged as often as possible. Every day there are more and more methods of implementing this piece of technology into the classroom and teachers must stay “up to date” on these procedures.
It is reasonable to expect that public schools might implement a similar program. If the private school implementation proves to be a success, the more chances there are for the public school system to do the same. Children are becoming increasingly technologically experienced and public schools may realize they need to keep up with them. I think the gradual acceptance of the iPads into schools has been positive and I do think we know enough about them to deem them beneficial. I have seen them in use first-hand and the students are making and producing legitimate work. The students love them!
First, let me preface my argument by sharing my ignorance. I know very little about the Ipad I have fiddled around with one for all of ten to fifteen minutes combined, so my argument as to their validity or not contains quite a few holes. Anyway, I can certainly see how students could use the technology to their advantage. Almost like laptops, students would have their own personal hands on experience with programs and exercises that they use on the devices. How much "cooler" and more accessible is it to learn through doing rather than watching somebody else do. Of Course some people can learn that way, but I am a doer. To properly learn something, I have got to be in the driver's seat. However, teachers have to know/ be experts in what they are teaching. To show an effective example, the instructor cannot be floundering around drowning in technology ignorance. This would be my biggest problem. I can pick up technology, but I am not inherently good at it. I need at least a little shove in the right direction, and I could see older teachers needing more than a shove.Depending on the teacher, minimal training may be needed, or tons of hours could be the only way to illuminate the Ipad process. Just like in the classroom, some kids get it quickly others need extra guidance. This makes us question: Is it worth it to spend man hours and money on training? I am not entirely sure. Because the Ipad is so new to the scene, it is not fair yet to judge how effective it will be in the classroom. Thus, we cannot say if the spending would be worth it too. In conjunction with spending, I personally do not believe that any school should require such a pricey purchase. This mandate would be especially egregious in public schools. Talk about inequity, so many students would make their families chose between food or an Ipad or just fail. That is wrong. However, I do think, that if these devices are deemed successful, that the government could purchase them for the students. Like textbooks, students would receive an Ipad. In fact, with the Kindle and Ebooks on the scene, schools may not have to purchase the physical books themselves. Surely this would cut spending. In general, technology is bombarding our lives and now our classrooms. Perhaps it is a good thing, but we have to find proper usage for the technology and balance our desire for the new fangled toys and education. If technology, in this case Ipads, do in fact enhance learning, then we must find a way to successfully finance such an endeavor.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an intriguing idea, but the questions you pose, Dr. Purcell, really should be considered before jumping on the bandwagon. First you ask, “Does it make any difference that this is a private school rather than a public school?” Well, let’s do a reality check. Obviously, financial considerations do not affect many of these Webb families. Tuition for the lower school, K-5, is $12,700 plus a book fee of $225 and lunch fees of $680. Upper school tuition is $14,620 plus a book fee of $680. Do the math and parents spend $178,540 in tuition alone if their child (forget multiple children) attend for his/her elementary and high school careers. I would imagine spending a little more for an iPad would not break the bank. How many public school parents could shell out the money needed to attend this school? How many of our public school families have trouble even providing the required school supplies to their children. Even when you consider the financial aid the school provided in 2009-2010 ($1.4M to 140 families), these financial-aid recipient families are economically fortunate enough to pick up the additional $3000 they did not receive in financial aid. Then consider the resources at the parents’ fingertips. The school has set a fund raising goal of $440,000 this year. They expect parents to raise 75% of that goal. How many parents of public school students could help raise $330,000? Many parents I know cringe when they need to raise $20 for a class field trip. Yes, it makes a difference that this is a private school!
ReplyDeleteI wonder, though, if another question needs to be asked. Let’s assume the infrastructure to support the iPads is in place (an issue of Question 4) and that teachers and students know how to best use the technology to enhance learning (issues of Questions 2, 3 and 6). Does the question then become “To what extent is the gap between “haves” (private school students and economically advantaged students) and “have-nots” (public school students and economically disadvantaged students) getting even larger? How do we ensure that all students have access to tools and opportunities that will allow them to be on equal playing fields? Or do we accept the fact that differences exist and we will always have those disparities? Just my musings as I sit here in the luxury of my own home, working at a career that allows me to have musings like this…
I really like the idea of having iPads in the classroom, because there are thousands of apps that are made just for students that can assist in teaching the curriculum. I am not surprised that some private schools are making the first move to require all students to purchase and bring an iPads to school, simply because public education is supposed to be “free” so they technically can’t require them. I think it makes a huge difference that this initiative is going on at a private school because the families that usually attend these private schools have more money and they are paying for their child’s education, so these schools feel that it is alright to ask parents to purchase these for students. I do however think that iPads could be very beneficial at both public and private schools but I do not see this happening at a public school system right now, instead I see some counties maybe buying iPads for each student to use during the school year. I know I have said this before, but in the county where I grew up going to school they purchase laptop computers for each students to use, since the school system is paying for them this program is working just fine, but if parents were having to pay for these personal laptops for each student I don’t think it would even work in a public school setting. I don’t think it is totally necessary for each student to have their own computer, however it would be very beneficial to both teachers and students if this were the case. It would not only help prepare these students for their future but it would also assist teachers in bringing interactive activities to the classroom. I think teachers would be better able to create lessons and activities that were geared to all learning types because of the vast amount of apps and games out there that are made to assist in student learning. Even thought the article didn’t mention any training for the teachers, there would have to be at least some basic training to help teachers troubleshoot simple problems when they arise in their classroom. I know in my high school when we had Dell laptops, there was a help desk (both students and faculty members ran this) that was open during school and for more complex problems students could go there to get their computer fixed, so this is another option. The main obstacle that comes to my mind when using these devices, is students who sit in class and get off task by going to websites/games that are not school related. Since these are personal devices, the school can’t really block websites on each individual iPad, like they could if they were owned by the school and just being leased out to students. In my mind, I can see some public schools that will try to implement the iPad program in their schools but as I said before I highly doubt these public schools will require each student to purchase their own, maybe a leasing option would be better suited for public schools. I think that since iPads have been out for a about a year now that we probably know enough about them to use them as an educational tool in the classroom. Because technology is always changing, if we wait too long to implement these in school then there will be something bigger and better available on the market.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely think that it makes a difference that this is a private school opposed to a public school. If parents can pay to send their children to private school, it seems like they would be able to pay a little extra to buy them an iPad. Buying an iPad does not seem to be that expensive in comparison to what parents are paying for tuition. In public school, that is a different case. Parents make a wide variety of incomes ranging from very low to very high. The obsolete computers in The Webb School of Knoxville are definitely a problem. This is a problem in many school around the county, especially where are budget cuts happening everywhere. $550,000 is a lot of money for the school to pay to only get the computers at a “reasonable’’ level and probably cannot afford that. With the budget cuts schools are having trouble paying for a lot of things, but I am not sure that that burden should be passed onto the parents. It surely seems like the easiest option, but I am not sure that it is the best option. Students can definitely succeed without their own personal computer. I can say this from personal experience. I can also see how each student having their own computer can enhance their school experience. Technology is something teacher can use to help keep their students’ attention. Lectures can be boring for schools and students can become easily disinterested. Technology is something students are interested in and should be used to enhance their learning. iPads would give students and teachers an opportunity to access information and applications that they would not have had access before. Teachers would need to be trained on how to use the iPads effectively. The opportunities for iPads are endless, but if teachers do not know how to use them effectively then they could easily become just another item students carry around. It would be a shame and a waste of money if that happened. The teachers should be able to practice with the iPads while they are being trained. Learning hand-on would offer much better training. Teachers should also multiple workshops throughout the year. The more training teacher receives the better they will be able to use them in the classroom. The technology person in the school should offer that training and the technology support. This allows one person to help with the iPads and there is never confusion on who to ask for help. One reason teachers and administers might be concerned about is students using their iPads to get on the internet and play games during class. If the teacher is engaging her students this should not be a problem. I also feel like having students sign a contract helps keep the students accountable. Another issue was brought up in the article. If all of the students are using their iPads at the same time, it could cause them all to run slow or stop working. The school needs to make sure they are ready for the use of all of them at the same time. I think if the schools can find the funding to provide these iPads for all of their students and not give the responsibility to parents, then it would be a great program to have in the schools. Normally I would say one year is not enough time to work out all of the kinks in a new device. When a lot of technology is first released it is recalled a couple of times before it works out all of the kinks, but Apple is an extremely reliable company so I feel like it would be acceptable to get the devices for schools. Apple has put out many technology pieces that have all been successful.
ReplyDeleteJen-
ReplyDeleteI liked reading this blog post because you have an iPad yourself. I feel like your opinion was a great addition to our discussion. I am not a Mac user on a regular basis so I would fall into that category of needing extra training to make using an iPad in my classroom effective. I also liked the point of having ongoing training to keep up-to-date. Technology changes quickly and we need to stay up with it to make sure it is being used as effectively as possible. It is interesting you practicum school has iPads already. I did not realize that schools already had them and were being using them to implement curriculum. It is exciting that you have seen students working with them and they enjoy using them. Hopefully schools will be able to use them in the classroom soon!
Dr. Hughes-
Dr. Hughes raises a lot of valuable questions to be asked and that really need to be considered. Adding iPads to the classroom would prove to be an expensive addition to schools. If schools are going to shell out all of the money to do this, they need to make sure they research the situation properly and that they also have the money to provide the proper training to make this an effective addition. Dr. Hughes calculation of how much it cost to send students to this private school really enforces the idea that students from public schools cannot be expected to pay for their own individual iPads.
Lindsey-
I like all of the points Lindsey made in her post and it seems all of us are on the same page in thinking that public schools cannot require students to pay for their own iPads. I enjoyed reading this post because it brought a new perspective to the situation, since she had a laptop program in her school that allowed every student to have their own laptop her arguments provided insight into this situation. If the laptop program worked in her public high school, I feel like getting iPads for the public school would work as well. It was interesting to read about her perspective and brought up a point that I had not thought about. If the students own their iPad the school cannot block internet sites, but if the schools own the iPads schools could block websites just as they are doing now. That already gets rid of one of the concerns I had about each student having their own iPad. I also really liked the idea of having a student and faculty run help desk.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAshley said something that struck me."Teachers would need to be trained on how to use the iPads effectively." The key word here is EFFECTIVELY. How many tools have been place into the classroom that claims to be the silver bullet, but it never is. Perhaps, this is because there is no silver bullet. However, could it not be that teachers have not been trained to utilize the device to its full potential. Let's take a super low tech worksheet for example. How many of us has sat through a class where the teacher lectures and you fill out a textbook-made worksheet. I'm sure that applies to about everyone. However, hand a student a well-made graphic organizer and BAM you get engagement that is conducive to instruction. This concept applies to Ipads as well. The opposite problem might be true than a worksheet. Worksheets can be soooo boring that it is covered with more drool and doodles that sentences. Ipads, on the other hand, can be so entertaining that students might never look up at the teacher. Students need motivating and interesting lessons that work with the Ipad to keep the lure of Facebook and games at bay.
ReplyDeleteThis is in resonse to Lindsey. I think the greatest gift that Ipads lend to the teacher and student are Apps. This is a world of infinite possibilities. I mean as long as people can think of new ideas, new things (Apps) can be born! What a stellar move for education. For what is eduaction but the promotion of new and creative ideas. By using various Apps students can be exposed to different ways of learning, thinking and doing. For instance, different Apps accomplish the same goals, but they go about achieving these goals in different ways. What a great tools for learners with a variety of learning styles! I also have not explored teaching Apps, but I am sure there are some out there, and as the technology ages I am sure they will refine and help educators stay up-to-date and refreshed in their lesson plans.
ReplyDeleteI think that Michelle Hughes presents some pretty solid points here. I mean common. Americans are IN DEBT up to their eyeballs. So many families owe something to everyone and their brother. The house, the car, the T.V., the Credit Cards. Yikes. So thank God for free public schooling! Maybe it is not always the best and most cutting edge, but it is free. I am grateful enough to have grown up in a fairly priveledged house hold, but just because a family owns a two-story house doesn't mean they are not living pay check to pay check. An Ipad could be a major purchase when you owe the credit card companies 40,000 dollars. So, let us not even look at the implications of buying an Ipad for students that live in impoverished areas. Can you picture it? The principle saying to an audience of struggling parents, "Oh, by the way, you need to not eat next week so you can buy Sally an Ipad." I don't think so. Michelle also pointed out the gap between the "haves" and Have-nots." Clearly, the gap is less of a crack and more of a crevasse. Now, I am not going to try to claim to know the answers. I am just not that informed or brillant, but something has to be done. Either through government spending or teacher education or scholarships. Some great equalizer needs to come along, because the technology may just increase the gap at alarming rates.
ReplyDeleteSorry the above comment is suppost to say "I mean come on" I tried to fix it by deleting the other one and copying it again, but I messed up.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned already in posts by my fellow classmates, I too believe that it makes a difference that this iPad initiative is taking place in private schools rather than public ones. In the situation that The Webb School (what a fitting name!) has created, students' families will be forced to buy iPads. With some private school tuition higher than college tuition, most private school families are very well off and this additional investment will not be troublesome. However, for public school families that do not have the financial stability of private school families, even an extra $500 purchase (which is what the new iPad 2s are selling for) could prove arduous.
ReplyDeleteI do think that this is the right direction to go in. If private schools begin to initiate programs like this all over the country, then pressure will be placed on public schools to fund similar programs. Although the iPad has been out for only a year and their benefits in the classroom have not been fully accounted for, I think it is safe to say that it will be valuable classroom tool because it is basically a personal laptop and the advantages of using computers in schools has been known for years and years. That being said, as schools like The Webb School implement these programs, studies should be done to evaluate the iPads effectiveness. I think that it is completely reasonable to expect public schools to fund programs like this in upcoming years after more results of increased student learning are developed. Furthermore, iPads are less expensive then laptops, computers, and most likely SmartBoards. In the future it may be the most cost effective way for public schools to fund technology efforts. If the iPads prove to be a positive addition to learning environments, I believe that public school systems will slowly begin to add them to classrooms, maybe as portable computer labs at first, and could eventually produce programs like The Webb School's.
I graduated from a public high school that gave me a great education, but did not give me my own personal laptop. I think that teachers can provide students with wonderful educational opportunities that do not involve computers, but I also know about the vast educational benefits that comes with using technology. I think that if we have the resources to allow every student the occasion to personally interact with content through technology, then we should implement them. If each and every student had his or her own computer then teachers do not have to fight for open time slots at the computer lab to give their students individualized learning opportunities. Personal computers would allow for teachers to run simulations that students can go through at their own pace, to use educational apps to vary teaching methods, to implement the use of WebQuests and Concept Maps, and many other things. The only limit is the imagination of individual teachers.
I think a potential obstacles for schools with a program like this will be ongoing training and the implementation by technology laggards. Although many school districts in the country use Apple computers and software in their schools, teachers will have to be trained to use iPads. I am a MAC user and I could not figure out how to use the iPad a few months ago when I was playing around with it in Best Buy. It is not a device that one can just pick up and know how to use, but most technologies are not. I think schools will need to implement initial training sessions to get teachers acquainted with the technology, and then have monthly sessions for further improvement. Even with training sessions, there is no guarantee that teachers will use them in their classrooms.
It could be a big problem if parents buy iPads for their children or if public schools buy them for students, and then teachers do not use them in instruction. If that happens then a lot of money has been wasted. This problem is very real considering the amount of SmartBoards that sit idle. Not all teachers are going to be receptive to initiatives like these, so it will be school administrations responsibility to promote using this technology in the classroom by giving ideas on how to use it.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely interesting topic! I'm assuming the school is private, since they must pay tuition, which I think matters. It is easier for private schools to make their own "big" decisions, like being able to demand they pay for the own ipad.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how realistic this idea can be for other schools (depending on their finances and region etc). I know there are some students in Harrisonburg City right now that they still don't have a computer in their home. So I think even with the private school having a "finical aid" option still would be unreasonable to some parents. I wonder what parents' reactions are to this? That would shed some light on the matter of it being a private vs. public school and economic status.
I really like the idea, I think it is smart and will work out to equip students with ipads, I mean we talk about how technology is a moving target, they are already on to the next ipad, I think updating and upgrading computers is great,but each student having even their own ipad to take home is a big deal and better for them to continue their education but also have the chance to "play" on it for their own entertainment.
Like any technology, there could be obstacles with it working all the time. Teachers may need some training, but like students they would learn best just by doing. So I think assistance for teachers should be required, so they can use it to its full advantage as well as collaborate on educational ideas and applications. But overall, I think they would be able to get the hang of it with the right amount of help and training.
Money is clearly an issue and obstacle, as I already went into with economic status of that area. It seems that maybe that is an obstacle they have overcome? Again, wanting to know about some parental feedback.
I think it will be interesting to see if other schools can and will be able to start this as well, and if they want to. I will be curious to hear about the effectiveness of their use, but right now to me it sounds great if all the students can get them!
Megan-
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about teachers not "drowning" in knowing how to use ipads. That is a really good point, especially since the whole idea may overwhelm. I talked about teachers needed training and most importantly continuing collaboration with one another. They would need to know good applications to use and what worked and what didn't, just like daily teaching, the more they can work together the better of they will be. I think it would be wrong to assume a couple classes or in session days of training would be enough to keep instructors confident and effective in their use of ipads in the classroom.
Jen-
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about every student having their own ipad being a "dream come true". We know our students love technology and we know technology can aide student learning in a positive way. I feel like some ideas are shot down by...that'd be great but we don't have the money. So I think this will be a great experience for that school and they get to go out and have that advantage. I mentioned, this is something the students even have at home. We can't control student home life, but this would definitely be a helpful homework helper for students whose parents aren't around. Again, they'd have to know how to use it properly (thinking of research and plagiarism)but how great that they could continue things from class used on the ipad?!
Michelle-
ReplyDeleteYou do a nice job of the "reality check" of the financial burden of this idea. I think probably everyone has said something about it in their post--the money is real solid issue. I like that you bring up the have and have nots. This school has an advantage over many others, just the fact that they can implement having an ipad as mandatory! Interesting things to think about.
I do very much think it makes a different that the school is a private school. The school is able to increase tuition and parents do have the money to send their student to a private school. If they have the money to send them to the school it would count that they would also have the money for the iPad. Being a private school means there are less people the school has to go through in order to get things approved.
ReplyDeleteI think it is important that students have access to the most current technology. Having their own computer will allow the student to make more use of technology and the assignments given can be completed without the need of waiting for a computer to open up. Teachers can now have the students pull up different websites or even videos to watch and compare. Now the students do not have to wait for the teacher’s computer but look at it on their own. Teachers can also give more advanced projects that require more access to the internet such as WebQuests.
I think that if students are required to have an iPad so should the teachers. Also the school should offer an in house specialist on the iPad in case something does go wrong and the teacher needs help. Also teachers should have monthly training because new applications come out all the time for the iPad. I find that it is hard for teachers to keep up with technology when they are not given the support they need.
I do think the cost of an iPad and the internet connection to it will be costly. Already the iPad 2 is coming out and that will put students at a disadvantage if they have the first generation. Another obstacle would be teachers who cannot afford to have an iPad and chose to not want one. Also there could be parents resisting this change and could not afford the use of the iPad because their child has a scholarship for the school. There are so many different obstacles that could be in the way.
I do not think the public schools will implement anything of this cost any time soon. There are too many parents who would challenge the cost. In many schools there is always a percentage of students who are on free and reduced lunches and the parent would not be able to even afford renting an iPad for the year. It will take a long time and much government money to be able to have something like this in the school systems.
I do think that because a new iPad has already come out it may not be a great idea to use the iPad just yet. I do think that if you wait too long there will be a new thing out and the technology you have in your hands will be old. Always technology is changing so some may say get the newest thing out there and some will want to wait until a couple versions have come out.
Jillian
ReplyDeleteI agree that it may not be realistic to ask of a public school but a private school can afford to demand this from its students. I also agree that students having their own iPad is something important because they can continue their own learning but also have fun on their computer as well. It is important for students to spend time with the technology outside of an educational experience.
Hannah
ReplyDeleteI like how you talked about studies being done on the effectiveness of iPads and that the public schools will not follow with the same program until all of the data has come out. I think it will take longer for public schools to use an iPad because it is costly right now but as you said it may become the most cost effective way soon.
Ashley
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing about passing the burden onto the parents to pay for the iPads. I think it makes a difference that they are a private school because the parents are already paying for the school they might as well pay for all the additional requirements. I also agreed with your comment about having the computer person being in charge of the iPads and being able to help the teachers with the iPads.
I think this is a very interesting initiative that the school is taking. I definitely feel that at this point, it could only be done in a private school. Public schools are supposed to be free and accessible for all students, whereas private schools charge tuition, and put more of the cost for academic supplies in the hands of the parents. I feel that it would be unfair to ask students in a public school to pay 200 dollars a year to rent an iPad, because the reality is that some of the parents do not even have enough money to put sufficient food on the table.
ReplyDeleteI feel it would be beneficial for students to have a personal computer, but I don’t feel that it is crucial for learning. Teachers could certainly take advantage of computer labs when they want to do a whole group activity on a computer, or create a computer station in the classroom for small group work. Some opportunities that personal computers would afford teachers and students in the learning process, would be that research could be incorporated more easily, and feedback could be provided more quickly.
I also feel that in order for this initiative to be as effective as possible, the teachers would need extensive training with this device and how to most effectively integrate it into lesson plans. This training should be done on a frequent basis at first through conferences and in-service days. Once the teachers have a good grasp of this device, then the training days may be more spread out.
Some obstacles that I for see with this initiative are the teachers being unable to troubleshoot issues that students have with their iPads, students using the iPads inappropriately, and students paying to either purchase or rent the iPad. These obstacles could be overcome through teacher training, guidelines for iPad use, and financial support for students.
I could for see a public school implementing a 1:1 computer ratio with laptops, and potentially even iPads farther on down the road. I feel that the students would check out either a laptop or an iPad like they do textbooks, and be responsible for returning the device in good condition to the school at the end of the school year. I think it would have to be free for the students, with a cost incurred only with mistreatment of the device.
I think that it would be wise for schools to wait a little bit longer before purchasing and using iPads to support learning. I personally do not know a lot about the iPad specifically, but I know that whenever a new technology comes on the market, it typically takes a few versions to work out the glitches. I would say that it would be more reasonable for the school to utilize individual laptops at this point, instead of iPads, because there are reliable and appropriate versions of laptops that have been on the market for a long time. However, with the continued improvements to iPads that will undoubtedly take place, I feel that they will be an appropriate device for schools before too long.
Stephanie-
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about the cost of an iPad being an issue for public school families, especially those who qualify for free or reduced lunch. In order for a 1:1 computer ratio to be possible in a public school, I feel it would have to be free to the family, unless the student has misused the device. With all things considered, I feel personal computers are beneficial to students, but several obstacles need to be worked through before bring this initiative to public schools.
Jillian-
I agree with your comment about teacher training with the devices in order for the iPads to be utilized most effectively in the classroom. I would be such a waste to put all the money and effort into placing an iPad into each child’s hands, and then not take advantage of that opportunity. Since technology is constantly changing, I think that teacher training should be on going. This way with the combination of training, and of their own exploration with the device, they will be capable of integrating the device into lesson planning.
Hannah-
I completely agree with you when you say that private schools should implement this initiative first to sort of “test out the waters” before the initiative potentially moves to public schools. Private schools have more freedom to make decisions such as this, as well as additional funding from families that are not found in public schools. If the personal computer initiative is found to be extremely useful for students in private schools, then funding may be provided for public schools to provide the same experiences to their students.
Ipads in school. As everyone on here pretty much agrees that would be a dream come true. It makes a total difference that this is a private school over a public school. Private schools are able to implement in house policies for students and teachers very easily compared to any public school district. I do believe that each student should have access to a computer but is it important that each student owns a computer. No. Students need to be given access and exposure though, as much as a teacher or school can afford in time and money. There are many opportunities that computers give and with training, an iPad can probably give even more. The learning process can change greatly and for the better the more technology that you do involve in the classroom. It engages students and makes a constructivist classroom where activity and creativity flourish.
ReplyDeleteThe obstacles that teachers face are ones of practicality. How do you use one, what programs are there, what can you do with an iPad? From higher levels, justifying cost, durability, upgrades, use protocol, wear and tear? Training I believe is easy and would be welcomed by most teachers. Personally I would go weekly if I could. (Sorta like a technology class in college.) I do not think it is reasonable at this time to implement a school wide change to iPads because this is an emerging technology. There are competitors now being produced to compete with the iPad and what if there are better options. There are many different layers to look at before a school can decide if this is the correct mode to go. What is proven however, is the use of computers and laptops that have already been implemented. In a time of money crisis, which some states are in, changing like this is radical and can not be seen as effective for cost. Once there are options, low price, and states have funds available, iPads should and can be a great asset to a classroom and to learning.
Jillian/Michelle
ReplyDeleteI agree with the "reality check" that schools will have to make before a decision like this. The difference between public and private can seem like the "haves" and the "have nots." Although I believe the individuals who would benefit most from an iPad classroom would be public school over private, it does not seem feasible to change at this time. Once there is a rebound for our country, I believe it should be the state and federal governments committment to schools that should lead the way for better technology.
Karen,
ReplyDeleteI really liked what you had to say about teachers taking full advantage of computer lab time to implement computer stations within the classroom, because this is a good alternative to schools that can’t afford to have individual computers or iPads for students. I also agree with all of the obstacles you mentioned because theses can be a problem when using technology in general in the classroom not just the iPad. I think that a lot more training and guidelines need to be set into place before placing iPads in the hands of students.
Stephanie,
I completely agree with what you are saying about implementing the iPad into public schools as opposed to private schools. I especially liked the points you made in your second paragraph about requiring the teachers to also have and use an iPad on a regular basis. As I mentioned in my post, when my school had individual laptops for each student, there was an in house specialist who was there to deal with problems when they arose and that seemed to be very helpful to both students and teachers.
Jillian,
I liked how you connected the topic of technology to the local Harrisonburg City school district because that puts this idea into perspective. I definitely agree that public schools will not be able to require iPads for each student when some families can’t even afford a computer in their home for the whole family to use. But I do like what you said about the benefits an iPad would have for these students who do not have access to technology outside of school.
The fact that it is a public school that is requiring all students to bring an iPad to school is HUGE. Parents are making the choice to send their students to the school and thus have the option to change if they feel it is necessary. I think it would be much harder to implement a similar program in public schools. However, some public schools already have every student using a laptop and I think that having each student using an iPad is at least as possible if not more so than each student having a laptop. Public schools could possibly allow students to use their own iPads if they already own one and then be prepared to provide iPads for everyone else, just as they do textbooks.
ReplyDeleteProviding opportunities for all students to have access to his or her own computer provides for greater opportunity for learning and growth, but it also provides a distraction to students. I think that access to the technology has its benefits, but as educators we need to be aware of how we can strive to find the balance so that students obtain as much learning through the experience as possible.
I do not know a whole lot about iPads. I have had about 15 minutes of experience with them, although I am hoping to change that soon. I am not sure how much training teachers would need. I would imagine that it would be beneficial for them to at least have opportunities to learn about new applications that are available for them to use on the iPads. How much training offered, I think should depend on how much prior knowledge teachers have. Most likely, I would guess that some teachers would need training and support while others would not. Therefore, I think it would be best to offer training and support, but make it optional so the teachers who feel comfortable with the iPads don’t have to spend time hearing things they already know.
I think that public schools should allow a little more time to learn about the iPads before making the decision to purchase and use them on such a wide scale. They can look at how it is working in schools such as the Webb School of Knoxville. I don’t think it is bad for them to begin using them on a smaller scale in the schools. They can use information they observe and gather about the usefulness of the iPads to determine whether or not it would be useful to implement their use on a larger scale.
Lindsey,
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about the fact of whether or not schools would be able to block websites if students were using their own iPads. I don't know a whole lot about technology, but I wonder if schools could block what websites could be viewed using their server. In that case, while students are using the school's internet, they wouldn't be able to access certain websites even though the school can't block sites directly on the iPad itself. Like I said, I don't know for sure if this is possible, but it is something I wonder about.
Michelle,
Your question about the gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots' is thought provoking. I think that in our current system, there will continue to be the haves and the have nots. However, perhaps having ever increasingly mobile technology could allow some of the schools that have less the opportunity to provide at least some more access to the technology than they could before.
Jillian,
I like your idea that parent input is important in this issue. Parents are the ones that will either be responsible for obtaining an iPad or facing the challenge of what to do should their student end up losing or damaging an iPad.
Nick-
ReplyDeleteYou make a very good point that every single student does not need to own a computer to succeed in school. This could be a possible way that public schools could start implementing an iPad program. Instead of providing iPads to each student, schools could buy iPads for the classrooms and so the classrooms will each have a set. As a result, schools would not have to buy new sets of iPads for each entering set of students because they would just use the classroom sets. It would be similar to how schools use textbooks.
Lydia-
I like that you talk about having optional training sessions. Just because the iPad is a new technology does not mean that people do not know how to use them. Teachers that are technology savvy and know how to operate them should not have to sit through basic training sessions. This could be solved by having different levels of training sessions that teachers can optionally decide to attend during lets say in-service days. In this way, teachers with no experience could go to basic sessions and more experience teachers could go to higher levels to learn advanced applications of the iPad.
Jillian-
I like that you mentioned parents opinions in this. I would wonder if the parents of students at the Webb school are pushing for this and that is why the school is pursuing it or if the school is pursing it on its own. Furthermore, I wonder if public school parents wanted a program like this implemented in their children's schools, if the schools would feel more pressure to find room in the budget to start it. If parent opinion is high, then this program may get pursued by public schools quicker.
If used appropriately, I can definitely see how these devices can be versatile learning tools in the classroom. We may know how to use the iPad, but I do not think we know enough about how it can be used effectively. As it’s used more, we will find more ways to utilize it in the classroom and unique apps and activities. The iPad is a powerful tool with many applications, including educational uses. I definitely agree with a comment made in the article mentioning how iPads will be used to conduct classroom research, create interactive lessons, and store electronic textbooks, among other activities. It can open student’s horizons on learning who currently have to schedule lab time to gain access to Internet and computers. If it is a private school, the tuition can be raised that includes the price of an iPad. I do not think it matters whether or not it is a private or public school.
ReplyDeleteEach student having his or her own computer can help students in their learning. However, I do not think it’s mandatory. In my experience, having my own computer has helped me in my learning because I am able to use the software on my own without sharing with another classmate. Importantly, the teacher will have to understand how to use the computer and the variety of ways he or she can effectively utilize the technology in the lesson. If it’s a new piece of technology, the teacher will have to learn how to use it and weave it into the content. In addition, the students most likely will be familiar using technology and could be very excited to use such tool in the classroom. I think it can be such a powerful tool to aid in instruction if the student’s are engaged.
If the iPad is required in the school system, some kind of training to become more familiar with the device must be available. Personally, it would be daunting to require each student with an iPad, and as the teacher, expected to know how to use it and effectively use it in the classroom instruction. I would use my resources and find workshops that provide training. However, it is vital that there is an ongoing training because it does not mean much when teachers do not know how to use it and incorporate it into the lesson. Therefore, training on how to effectively use the device through engaging activities can also promote higher-level thinking. It should be available quite frequently with the all faculty because technology is constantly changing and improving and so it’s important to keep everyone up to date. However, it would be advantageous if teachers collaborated in their content areas to discuss activities they can do with the iPad.
A potential obstacle is when these devices are not used effectively and become abused for solely entertainment purposes. In addition, the teacher may not be confident or prepared to use it and it can end up just taking up space and not used as a valuable tool for students in their learning.
Public schools may implement a similar program. If it is required, a rental system would work. Money should be in the way for learning! I read an article in the New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/education/05tablets.html?_r=1about a pilot program using iPads in some classrooms. A teacher used an iPad to play “Jeopardy”- like games. It brought up some good points about how some parents and scholars have raised concerns about schools rushing to invest in these devices before their educational value has been proved by research.
Relating to chapter 5 of our text, while teaching students how to use the iPads, it’s important to teach information literacy by teaching students how to do Internet research and recognizing and utilizing high-quality electronic information. Also in relation to chapter 9, students are allowed to encounter new opportunities to make meaning with the content being learned through different apps they can learn to use. It’s imperative that teachers strive for multimodal learning when combining spoken words with visuals or written text with audio or utilize simulations and models.
Nick,
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you that using the iPad would be an amazing way to engage students and allowing them to use their creativity with their learning. I think it’s important that teachers know how to effectively use these tools and weave them into instruction. iPads are fairly new and I think it’s too early to implement a school wide change. Ongoing training would be a great way for faculty to become familiar with the technology and it would be beneficial if teachers in the same content area got together to brainstorm and think of ways to utilize such device in their lessons.
Jillian,
Thanks for your insights! I agree with you that using the iPad would be a great asset to classroom instruction and I think it’s key to understand that they must be used effectively! What good is it when there is such a versatile tool in the classroom but just takes up space and isn’t used? Technology is a moving target and I did get the news that there is an iPad 2 out! How crazy is that. It’s constantly changing and we need to keep up and ongoing trainings would be a beneficial way to do so. I see how money does get in the way for having these iPads in schools, but I also think money should not be hindrance to learning. Therefore, if students are not able to afford one, the school should have some sort of rental system available. However, there is also the problem if the school does not have enough money to supply the school with iPads.
Megan,
I agree with you that learning is best achieved through doing! iPads would give students the chance to actively learn, not passively learn by sitting and hearing the teacher speak. I believe it would be a cool, versatile, educational tool if used effectively and appropriately. Students attention spans are so short and allowing them to use technology with the newest device, is a great way to engage them in learning. I like the question you posed if it’s worth the time and money on training. I can see how time consuming it can be but if we want to learn how to effectively use it in our lessons, I would think that would be a good option and worth it. Maybe if teachers in their content areas got together to discuss apps and ways to effectively use the device would be helpful.
I am definitely a fan of using iPads in the classroom. I haven’t personally used them in classrooms, but the opportunities for learning seem abundant. Aside from the idea that using them makes learning more interesting and interactive, it is a more compact and “greener” alternative to carrying multiple textbooks around all day.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that this is a private school definitely comes into play when considering the use of iPads in the classes. Typically, private schools have students that come from a higher socio-economic level. I understand that not all private schools have students from affluent families, and there are plenty of public schools that feed from affluent areas as well. The Webb School only has 140 students out of 1,041 that receive financial aid. This leads me to believe that most of the students that attend the school can afford to buy or lease an iPad. The main difference comes from how public and private schools are funded. Public schools receive funding from the federal and local government and how much they receive depends on many factors, such as state accreditation. Private schools are mainly funded by tuition and endowment. The Webb School received almost $500,000 in donations for their annual fund, and they launched a campaign that raised $12.8 million. It’s not unlikely that public schools will start using iPads in the classroom, but it may take longer to raise the funds and train all the teachers to use them. From a financial standpoint, private schools may have an easier time incorporating iPads into the classes. Public schools may have better luck introducing a more affordable tablet that offers similar educational advantages.
It would be ideal for each student to have their own iPad, however it’s not completely necessary. It would make interactive teaching and learning easier because all students have an equal opportunity to be involved as opposed to students having to share the devices. It would also help with the flow of the class if everyone has access to an iPad. If each student has their own iPad, they can tailor them to their own learning style, and the students can take them home to use outside of class. The only disadvantage is that there is more potential for technical difficulties.
One of the major challenges schools may face when incorporating any new technology is having teachers that know how to properly use it in the classroom. Before introducing the iPads, all teachers should be required to attend a mandatory introductory course to using the device. The school should also make sure the media specialist is well versed in using the new equipment. After the introductory course, teachers should be required to attend an annual iPad related in-service or class for updates on how to use them in the class. In between these yearly classes, help sessions should be offered throughout the year for those who need extra help or are eager to learn more. Another option is making it mandatory for teachers to take a class related to iPads or other technologies for recertification points. I’m not sure about other tablet manufacturers, but Apple offers workshops for teachers and administrators who are new to using the iPads and iPod touches. These workshops are “designed to help educators experience the educational value of these technologies” and help teachers “learn strategies for integrating the iPad and iPod into their classrooms.”
Some more minor problems schools might encounter are the inappropriate use of the devices by students. The immediate access to the Internet can be a gift and a curse in the classroom. Students may tend to get sidetracked on other websites that are more tempting than doing schoolwork. Schools can avoid these problems by having the students connect to the “school-approved” network that blocks certain websites and applications from being accessed. Schools may also have a problem with certain teachers being unwilling to change their teaching methods. Administrators could make it mandatory for teachers to use the iPad in their lessons.
ReplyDeleteOverall, the difficulties schools might encounter by using iPads can be easily overcome and are far outweighed by the educational advantages the iPad brings to the classroom. Despite the fact that iPads haven’t been around for very long, they definitely seem to be the way of the computing future. iPod touches are slightly older than the iPad and are also being used effectively in schools. The iPad is basically the same as the iPod touch, but it has even more beneficial educational opportunities and applications. Due to the newness of the iPad, I don’t think it should be the sole medium for getting information across to students. It would be most effectively used in conjunction with current teaching methods and textbooks until the technology has been perfected and all students and teachers are comfortable with the technology.
While this is a good idea in theory, I think that this school needs to think through things a little more before implementing this plan. Although if a school is going to accomplish something like this, I am not surprised it is a private school. Many parents send their children to private schools because they feel they may receive more individualized attention and perhaps a more college prepatory education. The parents may be more apt to purchase the ipads if they think this is just another step in betting their students education. However, the school needs to think seriously about the financial implications of this plan in this tough economy. These parents are already paying for their childrens education why should they have to pay more. I don’t see a program like this being implemented in any public schools anytime in the near future just because of the price. Public Schools do not having the funding to buy many of their students ipads, but many families may not be able to afford to purchase an ipad for one child, let alone if they have a larger family of 3 or 4 children.
ReplyDeleteI think that this plan if executed properly will benefit the students and the teachers. Although the article doesn’t mention the ongoing training for teachers, it is something that I think will be important. The teachers will need to know how to use the ipads so that they can use them in their classroom in a way that will benefit the students and their education. Because of the entertaining nature of ipads, I think the teachers training could be something fun for the teachers. I know if I was a teacher in this school, I would want to play with an ipad and learn about all of its cool features. Maybe the younger more tech-savy teachers could pass on this interest to the older teachers.
Once the students know what they are doing with the ipads and beginning using them in the classroom they are going to face some obstacles. One main one I see is going to be the constant distractions that the ipads will provide such as games or browsing the internet. Teachers will have to come up with a way to use the ipads and keep the students focused and on task at the same time. Another obstacle I foresee occurring is the condition of the ipads. Is this school going to require ipads for every grade even down to kindergarten or is it going to start at a certain grade? Because I certainly don’t see my 7 year old niece in 1st grade taking very good care of her ipad, and parents are going to want to buy their children multiple ipads if they get broken or lost. This may be a more effective tool at a higher level, like perhaps just implementing the program in the high school.
Another major obstacle they I think will be a major problem will be the newness of the product and also the constant upgrades. The ipad has only been out for a year and already they are putting out the ipad 2. How do these schools know that the next brand new innovation in educational technology isn’t just around the corner? They will have a tough time selling it to the parents if they parents are going to have to constantly be turning around and buying their children new ipads because a bigger and better one just came out.
If this school can figure out a way to smooth at all the kinks, I think the students will benefit from the added use of technology in the classroom from the ipads.
Megan,
ReplyDeleteYou bring up an important point that some teachers may need more training than others. This also makes me think that some students may have trouble using the devices. While a lot of kids today seem to have an innate ability to understand complex technologies, this isn’t the case for all. Using these devices may be new for some students. This would require time out of the teachers’ schedule to teach the students how to use the devices or the school will need to add new technology classes to the curriculum. This adds additional costs and time that may not be worth it in the ever-changing technology world.
Dr. Hughes,
You bring up some really good questions. It would be ideal for all students to have equal opportunities and access to such tools, but that thinking isn’t realistic. From the perspective of a realist, I think we do have to accept the fact that there will always be differences between the advantaged and disadvantaged. I don’t want to come across as pessimistic, but in today’s economy, it just doesn’t seem feasible for everyone to have access to technologies that are this expensive. However, tablets are a cheaper alternative to personal laptops for each student, and if a school has the funding and resources to use them, they should definitely take advantage of these new educational technologies.
Lindsey,
That would be great if some counties could start buying iPads for the students. The only problem I see with this is that not all counties would be able to afford iPads for every student in the whole school. It may be more affordable to buy some portable iPad carts that teachers would be required to reserve for class use. The only problem with this is that the number of iPads is limited to a few classes at a time and not everyone in the school has an equal opportunity to use them. I worry that by the time enough money has been raised to afford iPads for every students and train the teachers/students, the technology will already start to become outdated.
I think it makes a huge difference that it is a private school. They have a little more freedom to try new things. If families cannot afford it, public school is an option. Henrico County (in the Richmond area) is actually considering distributing iPads to students. They have distributed laptops in the past. http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2011/feb/24/tdmain01-henrico-schools-to-pursue-tablets-ar-863677/
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how important it is that each student have their own computer. If they do, they will likely learn to use it more effectively and efficiently. I think it's great that students will be able to learn in a much more interactive manner. Also, the activities and apps that teachers use and create in this school will hopefully be shared with teachers nationwide (like the Rockingham County site). This would then support the more widespread and effective use of iPads in schools.
I definitely think the teachers should be trained in the summer and at least once each month. Teachers could also allow students to take on leadership roles in this area as they might be more comfortable and find more ways to use them in the classroom. The high school students in this school could create activities for the elementary school classrooms. There could be a few students in each class who are the "iPad pros" and they could assist the teacher and other students.
When I've used iPads in my 4th grade classroom, the students did more playing around with them than using them for the intended purpose. Once the students are used to working with them, this will probably not be a problem. Since iPads' use in schools is relatively new, there may not be many preexisting activities, programs and supports for teachers. Also, teacher motivation and time to change to using them may be an issue.
Although Henrico will issue iPads to their students, I do not think this can be expected of many other schools. I can see schools having class sets of iPads that teachers can use for a specific time. I definitely do not think that students in public schools can or should be expected to bring their own iPads to school. I've heard local teachers talk about how they are not supposed to ask students to bring in markers and tissues because the cost is too much of a burden on some families. Although the iPads are new, they are widely used and I do think enough is known about them for this tool to be adequately used in schools.
Vivian, I also think it's a great idea to have electronic textbooks. This could turn out to be very environmentally friendly and save the schools some money from paper textbooks.
ReplyDeleteAllison, the Apple workshops for teachers sound like very useful tools for teachers! I had no idea about those. As more schools begin to use iPads, I can see Apple expanding this training.
Sarah, I definitely agree with what you said about there being distractions on the iPads like games and the internet. I wonder if there would be a way for teachers to lock all the iPads in his/her classroom to a specific program that the students should be using at that time?
I believe that the fact that this school is a private school, rather than a state funded public school, affects the process and practicality of implementing curricula that requires students to own/lease a laptop. In a public school, this would never fly. Ideally, a public school system would apply for state funded grants and would “lend” the iPads to their students throughout the school year, collecting them before the summer. Other opportunities to lift the financial burden for the students and their families would also be considered within the public school systems. If the schools failed to find a financial solution I seriously doubt they would be able to mandate iPad ownership for each student in a K-12 setting.
ReplyDeleteA computer for every student would provide endless opportunities for teachers to implement lessons that allowed students to gain a more in depth understanding of the content if and only if they are used effectively. As I may have mentioned in an earlier post, my high school participated in a laptop initiative program. Although we were ecstatic to receive the laptops, ineffective implementation by our teachers quickly lead to misuse of the technology we had been provided. If I were teaching in a school system that was planning on providing/requiring iPads for every student, I would request intensive training sessions at least once a quarter. Technology evolves so rapidly! If my school system or the families of my students were investing in iPads I would want them to feel comfortable I would want them to be confident that their money was being put to good use.
Based on limited experience using an iPad and discussions I have had with others I believe that purchasing/using the devices in schools would be an appropriate right now. Apple makes quality products that, fortunately, are not threatened by the viruses that PCs have been fighting against since I can remember. As the popularity of Apple products continues to increase this may change but, for now, they are the safer bet for school systems. Although the product is only a year old, the iPad2 has already been released. Many of the “glitches” of a technological device are improved before the upgraded version is released.
I like the idea of electronic textbooks on iPads. Add in there that you can link the text book to articles and video on the web, this could be a powerful teaching tool. That would then make it that the kids would all of to have iPads throughout their day though and it will run into the problem of getting public schools an iPad for every student. I was thinking that if the school had a set that it rented out to students for the year, this can ultimately can turn into a positive school wide behavior program to teach responsibility.
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say, I believe that any move to using more technology in school is better. I do see the problem of only having 1 class set per school. This does not give enough time for the students to really use and utilize the technology.
Alison- I also thought that a problem would be the distractions the students will face from using the device. I like you idea of having them connect to the schools guarded network, that isn’t something I thought about but is definitely a good idea.
ReplyDeleteKaren- I really like your idea of having the students check out the laptop or ipads like they do their textbooks. This would keep the price burden off the students and make it a much more reasonable program for public schools.
Lindsey- I like that you can provide good insight on this topic because you were involved in a school that gave you laptops. The fact that your school had a help desk that was always open is a very good idea that this private school would benefit from to help the students with their ipads.
iPads in the Classroom – Ann Lefeve
ReplyDeleteThe iPad initiative at the Webb School of Knoxville, TN, is an interesting, and rather obvious, step forward for technology in the classroom. Given the prevalence and increasing availability of tablet computers, it makes perfect sense that every student should have one: collaboration with peers and teachers becomes easier, assignments are now at one’s fingertips should students (as they often do) lose the syllabus, a notebook, or a worksheet, or miss a class due to sickness; and information and texts are available in an easy-to-transport and eco-friendly way. Ultimately, I am not of the mind that every student needs his or her own computer, given that learning has been taking place without such devices for thousands of years. The differences between need and advantage, however, are vast; and, the ever-expanding wireless world in which students exist dictates that those who have access to personal computers have the advantage. In this case, they not only have access to computers, but handheld devices with which they can interact on a minute-by-minute basis. If the teacher should choose to use it in this way, they would have an instructional aide for every student- a tutor who could continually help with homework, writing, reading, etc.
The fact that this experiment is taking place in a private school makes it, in my opinion, much more viable than in a public school. Private schools have strict discipline policies, smaller class sizes, and are often college-preparatory in nature. I a student is disciplined the threat of suspension and expulsion is not only more prevalent, but means more given the shadow it would place on a college application. Students who have 24 hour access to the internet are likely to misuse it at some point, so a school whose discipline and management are already taken care of has less to fear from handing 10-18 year olds a tablet computer than does a larger public school for which discipline can be daunting. For that reason, I don’t think it’s reasonable for all public schools to implement a similar program. In smaller districts where more attention can be given to individual students, it makes perfect sense that students could have iPads, assuming the funds for such an initiative could be generated. But, handing computers to students in 40 person classrooms with one instructor sounds to me like a recipe for distraction and misuse. While it might provide some engagement for otherwise unengaged students, it seems as though the majority of students might use it as a way not to pay attention to schoolwork.
While I don’t see the relative newness of iPads to be any kind of obstacle to their effectiveness in schools (after all- one device for web browsing and running software isn’t that different from another: the packaging on the iPad is different, but the technology isn’t that surprising), I am concerned about teacher training. While most teachers could probably figure out how to use the iPad, I wonder how many will actually implement it in their lessons. Teachers would need lots of training and time with the devices before the beginning of the school year to effectively integrate them into the classroom. Moreover, they would need to be trained at least three to four times throughout the school year to be updated about new applications, options, and uses. Ideally, training would be in the form of some kind of workshop so that teachers could share ideas with one another and collaborate about how best to use the devices. Moreover, a workshop would give them an opportunity to explore cross-content collaboration ideas for their classes. But, given the already busy schedule most teachers have from September to June, how will they find the time? I am concerned that while the iPad may be an excellent resource, it may prove a burden to teachers in its first few years of use.
Karen and Nick,
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you that waiting to explore other technologies surrounding tablet computers might be an effective strategy. I hadn't thought about that before posting, but it does make sense that an emerging technology might have more to offer us if we wait a bit before offering them to students. I do think, however, in a private school setting where cost is less an issue, it is appropriate to go ahead with the iPad experiment as soon as possible.
Lydia,
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that some school districts already have students using laptops (Henrico County I think?) Does anyone know what the use of those computers is like in those schools? Is it just for internet access or word processing? Is it a fancy notebook or is it used for collaborative activities? I would be very interested to know what it looks like for every student to have a computer before we can reasonably have a debate about every student having an iPad.
First off, I think the requirement of iPads is certainly acceptable considering this is a private school. If this were a public school system saying this, it would not be acceptable. This requirement could not be enforced by a public school system simply because of the cost. The only way a public school system could do this is if they basically leased the iPads to all students for the entire school year. Students should only be required to pay a very minimal amount of money to have this iPad leased to them. I do think that it is nice for the private school to offer the leasing of iPads in case their students cannot afford one.
ReplyDeleteI went to school in a county where all students were issued laptops for middle school and high school, so I do not know what it’s like to go through school without every student having their own computer. From my experience, I would say that it is very important for students to have their own computer to use during school. When this happens, teachers do not have to worry about reserving laptop carts or computer labs, students just automatically have a computer in front of them. Students also benefit because they have the option of writing or typing notes during class, they have internet access readily available if they need to research a topic, and what better way to give students the opportunity to use the 21st century technology skills that they will need going out into the workforce.
I think it is important that if iPads are going to be required for students to buy, then obviously teachers must be required to use them in the classroom. Since teachers should be required to use them, then they need to have training for how to use the iPads properly. I would think that minimally teachers in that school should be required to attend at least one training for using iPads in the classroom. The school should then provide extra support meetings throughout the year for teachers to talk about how they are using the iPads and be given more training as needed.
One major obstacle that I know our county had to/still has to endure is the fact that technology breaks sometimes and needs to be fixed. There were always students in my class that did not have their computer because it was broken and was at the help desk. The help desk only had a certain number of back-up computers for students to have while their computer was being fixed, so if you didn’t get one of those back-ups, you didn’t have a computer. I know that the iPads are brand new, and hopefully they will not get messed up easily, but when you give a nice piece of technology equipment to students, something is bound to happen. So this school system needs to have a plan for what to do when students do not have their iPad if it is broken.
Someone has got the be the guinea pigs in this situation. If no one decides to find out how these iPads can be used in classrooms, then it will never happen. I think this private school might be able to give some insight into how these iPads can truly be used day-to-day in the classroom. From their experiences, everyone can learn.
Lydia:
ReplyDeleteI hadn’t considered your idea of making the training optional for teachers who already felt comfortable with the iPads. Personally, I was thinking that because they were so new that everyone would need training, especially training for how to effectively use the iPad in the classroom. On the other hand I am a person who does not enjoy sitting through a lecture of something that I already know, so I agree that training could be optional for teachers. I think this would work as long a those teachers could demonstrate that they could use the iPads effectively in their classrooms without training. Possibly teachers could have the option of attending the training, or presenting a lesson in their classroom using iPads so that they can prove their knowledge of being able to use them.
Lindsey:
I agree that a major issue, especially if teachers do not have good classroom management, is that students could get off task by playing around with their iPads during school. You mentioned that they wouldn’t really be able to put blocks on the computers because it is their own individual iPad. I’m not sure how they can actually go about making those adjustments. I know that if it was a computer, they could just makes blocks through the internet access that they give students, but I’m not sure how all of that would affect the apps that they students already have on their iPad. One way that schools who just lease the iPads to the students could go about this is by not allowing students to download their own apps to the iPad. It will be interesting to see how this plays out at Webb and see if any of their feedback about the iPads mentions anything about how to address this issue.
Dr. Hughes:
You bring up a great point that money issues and technology are serverely increasing the gap between those who have and those who have not. I don’t know how to do it, but somehow, the government needs to realize that all public schools need access to a great amount of technology, but that is going to take some money. I understand that the US is in extreme amounts of debt and obviously other areas need money too, but our school systems are the places where the future leaders of the world are being taught. We need to provide our students with access to at worst, good computers that run efficiently and are used in their day to day schooling. I understand that issuing an iPad to every student in America is not feasible, but I do think that somehow we need to start investing in getting every school in America to have a decent number of computers in each classroom. It amazes me that when I was in 5th grade, we had 5 computers in our classroom and my current 5th grade practicum setting only has 2 computers in the classroom.
Nick:
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment about the priority of accessibility, rather than ownership, of computers for students within the school setting. As we know, incorporating the use of technology within a lesson allows students to explore and apply the curriculum content further than any other classroom resource would. The elementary schools I was placed in during both of my practicum experiences had one computer lab that was used by all of the students. There was also a computer for student use within our classroom. The grade levels, as a whole, were assigned a time block for the computer lab and the teachers within that grade level would sign up for use as needed. Strict daily schedules made it difficult for the teachers to implement technology throughout the core subjects. Our time for the lab was during social studies so, incorporating technology into science, math, and reading curriculums was a challenge. If every student has access this problem will be averted. Although it may not be our first priority, I think that an effort to find a solution that provides computers for each student is important for the future success of our students.
Sarah:
ReplyDeleteYou brought up a really important point! As I read the article, I questioned the appropriateness of iPad ownership for students in early elementary school. My first practicum placement was in a Kindergarten classroom. My students were licking the walls, pooping their pants, and loosing their lunch boxes on a regular basis. Needless to say, this experience provided support for some serious doubts I have about the ability of such young students to effectively use and care for an iPad of their own. Maybe a better option for the early grades would be a small classroom set of iPads used during small group work and centers? This way, they would receive have some understanding of the device before owning one of their own.
Hannah:
ReplyDeleteThe suggestion you made about using information from the schools currently using iPads to gain further insight on their effectiveness in the classroom was great! If it is successful, providig this information may inspire administrations, teachers, and parents of students across the country. There are organizations, federal and state agencies who strive to provide monetary support for school systems with the goal of improving the students experiences and understandings of the content. I'd be willing to bet that documented research and success stories will significantly increase the probability of receiving grants for school-wide use of these devices.
Jillian-
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you mentioned students should be able to have some "play" time with the iPad. I'm an adult and even I enjoy "play" time with my iPad so of course students would too! If they were to receive them and be able to take them home, it would be a great opportunity for them to experience this technology in a fun way.
Jessica-
ReplyDeleteI agree that teachers in a school with iPads should communicate with each other often about the implementation of the iPads. This would allow some ideas to be bounced around, new information to be discussed, and problems to be fixed.
Rachel-
ReplyDeleteThis is a response to one of your comments about being able to lock certain programs. This is a wonderful idea! As of now, I have not seen this done but I can definitely see its benefit. In my current practicum, there seems to be at least one student tempted to find other things to do on the iPad than the task at hand so you're idea would be a great one to explore!