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

princessdon

Shrugs we have had to buy them for years - kids get more out of them than a pc and cost less parental contributiions. E books and kindle are more interesting than books etc, maths games etc.

jap200

mrcow wrote: »

At KS3-5, the level of science taught is so fundamental, many of the books aren't out of date at all. You may find one or two concepts which are taught differently for ease of communication given the target audience, but the whole point is that this is then built on as the pupil matures and is able to assimilate more complex concepts.

Sorry, but I don't agree. I am also a scientist, but not a teacher, and have seen for myself some statements presented as 'fact' in basic science text books (my own children's or the ones my teacher-training husband has shown me) that were disproved well before the latest edition of the text book. I am simply making the point that textbooks are not necessarily 'better' than digital sources of information as some people posting in this thread seem to think.

School children and university students need to understand how to use and evaluate all sources of information. Digital is not inferior!

mrcow

jap200 wrote: »

Sorry, but I don't agree. I am also a scientist, but not a teacher, and have seen for myself some statements presented as 'fact' in basic science text books (my own children's or the ones my teacher-training husband has shown me) that were disproved well before the latest edition of the text book. I am simply making the point that textbooks are not necessarily 'better' than digital sources of information as some people posting in this thread seem to think.

School children and university students need to understand how to use and evaluate all sources of information. Digital is not inferior!

No one has said that "digital is inferior". Not sure where you've got that from?

Do you have an example of where a (current) textbook has presented something grossly out of date? Which textbook is it? Perhaps some context would be useful here?

TheDysk

The local newspaper, The Harrogate Advertiser, has also reported on this story giving more details than the national papers.

As I am a new user I cannot post links but take out the spaces from the link below to use it.

harrogate-news.co.uk /2012/12/11/ backlash-after-school-asks-parents-to-buy-ipads-for-their-children/

It would appear that the school has chosen iPads over android or laptop devices and have not communicated with parents adequately.

Personally I am all for using technology in school but have great concerns about this plan by Rossett School. Most parent in these hard times cannot afford to buy iPads not to mention the possibilty of then being stolen or damaged. Kids who don't have one would be disadvantaged and would also be singled out for bullying.

What ever happened to traditional methods of teaching.

[Deleted User]

Here's the link.. http://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/2012/12/11/backlash-after-school-asks-parents-to-buy-ipads-for-their-children/

System

pigpen wrote: »

This has happened at a high school here too for the yr 11's. £280 'donation' from the parents and in June when they finish school they are given it as a gift providing their attendance is 85% or over.

Gift my backside! I'd tell them where to stick their offer.

I must admit, my handwriting has gone to pot since ive been using the computer.

MentalMinnie

I'm a bit baffled why this particular story made national press when Harrogate Grammar School introduced the very same thing 6 months ago?!

mrcow

MentalMinnie wrote: »

I'm a bit baffled why this particular story made national press when Harrogate Grammar School introduced the very same thing 6 months ago?!

Perhaps no-one at Harrogate Grammar made enough noise about it at the time?

Edwardia

My husband just got an iPad from work (already has a laptop) and other than a bigger screen for typing docs and being marginally less heavy than his laptop I can't see what the fuss is about. It doesn't seem to do anything extra that my BlackBerry won't do if used to full extent with apps.

Schools round here give kids laptops. Not sure if parents have to pay or not.

Handwriting along with spelling and grammar went to pot years before iPads !

kelfen

I'd rather a Kindle or similar device to stop the lugging around of textbooks and to allow easier reading in their own time, but not a ipad!

Yes, I use tablets as part of my teaching methods (I'm a private tutor) but it is usually for books or apps that allow development of hand-eye co-ordination, reading books, using apps as rewards (tailored to the child, one is learning the piano so we use a piano app) and the aural identification of phonics and using the touch screen to develop fine motor skills for writing.