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

Treevo

ringo_24601 wrote: »

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

I can't remember the last time I needed my 23 times table. Far more efficient to use my phone's calculator.

An iPad has the luxury of being what you need it to be. It's replaced my notebook and pen quite easily.

[Deleted User]

FATBALLZ wrote: »

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.

Whilst I would argue against such technology in the classroom - the iPad's a perfect choice. Simple to support. No chance of viruses. Simple to use. Schools don't care about the price either

I shudder to think how much classroom time will be wasted by kids playing angry birds though

Treevo wrote: »

I can't remember the last time I needed my 23 times table. Far more efficient to use my phone's calculator.

An iPad has the luxury of being what you need it to be. It's replaced my notebook and pen quite easily.

Never had to estimate calculations quickly in a meeting where it would be unprofessional to bring out your phone (plus you would appear a bit stupid)? I guess not

Treevo

mrcow wrote: »

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?

Yes. Quite a few of the teachers I've seen do exactly that.

I'm surprised that you can't see the benefits of this. Bad teachers will always be bad teachers, no matter what they have at their disposal. But good teachers will do wonders with them.

I think this is just a classic case of some people not wanting to adapt to new technology. It happened when people moved from blackboards to interactive white boards. And now it's happening because people are moving from laptops to tablets. Tablets being far more suitable for school children.

[Deleted User]

I also guess you've never been a parent told to fork over money by a school for something you think is quite stupid...

moomoomama27

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.

Totally agree! The thought of my children having their own iPads at such a young age makes me cringe! They are tech savvy enough for their ages, but still very much source information from everywhere. I would hate for them to power on and put no effort into the world around them.

Treevo

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Whilst I would argue against such technology in the classroom - the iPad's a perfect choice. Simple to support. No chance of viruses. Simple to use. Schools don't care about the price either

I shudder to think how much classroom time will be wasted by kids playing angry birds though



Never had to estimate calculations quickly in a meeting where it would be unprofessional to bring out your phone (plus you would appear a bit stupid)? I guess not

No. In fact not doing that would make me look far more stupid. Accuracy and precision is required in my job, rather than guestimations.

Treevo

ringo_24601 wrote: »

I also guess you've never been a parent told to fork over money by a school for something you think is quite stupid...

No, I haven't. And nor have the parents at this school.

skintchick

Treevo - no-one is saying they don;t want children to learn how to use technology; they are saying they don;t think children need to have expensive computers in place of a text book in a classroom situation, and also saying that the school asking all parents to buy one for all children is out of order and inappropriate.

My DD knows very well how to use technology even aged 3, but I have no intention of buying her a phone or a computer.

samnkids

mrcow wrote: »

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

No , i dont think that at all ... whiteboards were in use when i got out of teaching 15 years ago..i'm sure this old technology still has a place somewhere :rotfl:

365days

moomoomama27 wrote: »

Totally agree! The thought of my children having their own iPads at such a young age makes me cringe! They are tech savvy enough for their ages, but still very much source information from everywhere. I would hate for them to power on and put no effort into the world around them.

Bit off topic but isn't the internet a collection of information from everywhere? A broader 'everywhere' than any school could ever offer.