"Parents 'left hamstrung' by school after it tells them to buy their children iPads"

mrcow

I would HATE for my school to implement such a policy.

I teach in secondary. The thought of all my pupils having iPad access makes me want to shudder.

I want my pupils to learn how to access the information that they need through a range of means. Having the internet is fine, but it's nowhere near the best solution. The applications on the iPad are limited (very limited when it comes to certain subjects!)

I would rather the investment was spent elsewhere to support learning through a range of methods rather than this one blinkered solution.

I work in a grammar school and the standards of literacy/handwriting/spelling there are poor enough with some pupils. It's often even worse in most "standard" schools. I really don't see how this would/could improve the situation. It's far too limited a resource.

Or perhaps it's me who's blinkered on this?

custardy

Carl31 wrote: »

if a raspberry pi needs a tv, how would a child use it in a classroom?

i think the pad suggestion is due to the versitility that pad devices have, kids can whip it out in a lesson access their homework or take notes from class, as well as accessing the web

I think you mean tablet form devices

mrcow

Carl31 wrote: »

if a raspberry pi needs a tv, how would a child use it in a classroom?

i think the pad suggestion is due to the versitility that pad devices have, kids can whip it out in a lesson access their homework or take notes from class, as well as accessing the web

As opposed to having an exercise book that you can "whip out" of your bag and access your homework and make notes on in class?

cost =25p
lasts = 3-6 months
Plus - it's not as heavy for when you've got it in your bag.
Plus - you're less likely to be mugged on a bus for your maths book than you are an iPad.

If pupils need access to the internet for a particular lesson, I've yet to come across a school that doesn't have class sets of laptops that can be booked and used for just that occasion.

It's nuts to expect parents to invest so much on what is, when we get down to it, a completely unnecessary whim.

samnkids

The ipads are insured for loss/damage , cant see how that would create a problem. Many of the children have their own cases and besides all the children have one so why would they want to take anyone elses?

I cant think of any quicker / better way of finding information than going on the internet. A science teacher talking about the planets/moons rotation (for example) can show at the click of a button how it works and the children can see it happening in front of their eyes , insteda of having to imagine it from a piece of text or photo in a text book.

why is it important to have neat handwriting? I very rarely phyisically write anything down in either of my jobs..but use the computer/internet all the time
:T

Treevo

The only people who don't want children learning how to use technology are the same people who thought moving on from slates and chalk was a step too far.

I remember being told, quite condescendingly, that we must all learn our long times tables because no one carries a calculator with them everywhere. This was despite nearly everyone in the class doing exactly that with their phones. And this was long before smart phones entered the market.

It seems to me that iPads are the perfect educational computers for school age children. They're portable and accessible to nearly everyone. A wide range of educational software is available almost exclusively on iOS. Parents can easily monitor what is being accessed and lock down access to certain things when necessary. But more than that - they are traceable, lockable and customisable for whatever use is needed. So even if one 'goes missing', all it takes is a quick check on your phone or another computer and you can find where it is.

This isn't a magic solution, but it's a step in the right direction and should be complemented with other means of learning.

bigmomma051204

Haha - at least the local thieves know which school to hang around outside at breaktime..as soon as the bags are slung down .... better than a see-through pencil case and a reindeer shaped rubber!!

On a serious note - nothing against kids learning about IT but what would happen if everything was computerised and there was *shock horror* a power cut....!!? Perhaps there could be a back up generator powered by the classroom hamster ......

mrcow

samnkids wrote: »

I cant think of any quicker / better way of finding information than going on the internet. A science teacher talking about the planets/moons rotation (for example) can show at the click of a button how it works and the children can see it happening in front of their eyes , insteda of having to imagine it from a piece of text or photo in a text book.

I can and do show my pupils all of that on the whiteboard. They are not missing out on anything.

And they can get up and teach each other as the screen is MUCH more accessable to class teaching than an iPad.

Do you seriously think that teachers just make pupils sit there and learn out of diagrams from a textbook?

[Deleted User]

Treevo wrote: »

The only people who don't want children learning how to use technology are the same people who thought moving on from slates and chalk was a step too far.

I remember being told, quite condescendingly, that we must all learn our long times tables because no one carries a calculator with them everywhere. This was despite nearly everyone in the class doing exactly that with their phones. And this was long before smart phones entered the market.

It seems to me that iPads are the perfect educational computers for school age children. They're portable and accessible to nearly everyone. A wide range of educational software is available almost exclusively on iOS. Parents can easily monitor what is being accessed and lock down access to certain things when necessary. But more than that - they are traceable, lockable and customisable for whatever use is needed. So even if one 'goes missing', all it takes is a quick check on your phone or another computer and you can find where it is.

This isn't a magic solution, but it's a step in the right direction and should be complemented with other means of learning.

Learning times tables is essential.. It's no good relying on technology for the basics.

An tablet is a consumption device. It's a good replacement for a textbook, but a poor substitute for a notepad and pen

Treevo

mrcow wrote: »

As opposed to having an exercise book that you can "whip out" of your bag and access your homework and make notes on in class?

cost =25p
lasts = 3-6 months
Plus - it's not as heavy for when you've got it in your bag.
Plus - you're less likely to be mugged on a bus for your maths book than you are an iPad.

If pupils need access to the internet for a particular lesson, I've yet to come across a school that doesn't have class sets of laptops that can be booked and used for just that occasion.

It's nuts to expect parents to invest so much on what is, when we get down to it, a completely unnecessary whim.

5 exercise books as well as other text books are far heavier than an iPad.

Even if someone is mugged for their iPad - it will be useless to anyone else. They are easily remotely traced (with handy alarms for when you're near) and can be remotely wiped and accessed by the owner. Which is why people don't bother mugging people with iPads.

And parents aren't being expected to buy anything. The school has a number of iPads for use by pupils. Just like it would have a number of laptops - which is apparently completely acceptable to you.

FATBALLZ

What's more concerning is why people who are in a position to teach others (esp. children) are so ill-informed as to consider under-functional, overpriced tablet computers from the world leading producer of over-priced and under-functional junk as the best option.