Comments on: School appeals for help to provide pupils with iPads

Comments on: School appeals for help to provide pupils with iPads http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/ Guernsey News, Sport, Community & Lifestyle Fri, 24 May 2013 08:10:34 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Fred http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-206629 Fred Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:51:29 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-206629 Please can we bring some sense to this discussion, and less hysteria. The world into which we send our children is enormously different today than it was five years ago, and in another 5 years it will look scarily different to what it does now. The vest majority of people use technology at work. The bloke who arrived to do my plumbing last week prepared the bill on hisntablet computer while he was with me, and emailed into me, and that's just one example of the way the world uses technology to great advantage. I received the emailed bill and paid it online using my tablet computer. Who made his tablet and my tablet is not relevant to this discussion, for the moment. We cannot educate our children using the current model which was designed in Victorian times, and then expect them to go out into the big wide world and do things differently. We need to engage children, and ensure they remain engaged, or the current education culture will become quickly irrelevant for them. Many of them use technology every day in the form of smart phones, tablets and laptops, yet they cannot access thenInternet at school due to some strange suspicion they will access inappropriate material. There are now thousands of schools around the world using tablet computers, preloaded with textbooks, and with restricted access to the Internet. Students cannot download porn, nor use Facebook, nor send abusive email. Wwhat they can access is strictly controlled and monitored, and much more so than most televisions. However, they can do their homework on it, email it to a tutor and get it marked by a computer. In doing this, they save the schools a fortune in paper, they reduce the bill and pollution for paper, and they save on the massive annual costs of textbooks. Most tablet computers also help students (and adults) with spelling and grammar? I do hope there is wide public debate on this subject, but please let's have that debate armed with facts, and not hysterical rants about whether Apple products are better than Samsung tablets. Just because you got your education without a tablet computer it doesn't mean our children need to. Have a look at http://www.naace.co.uk/publications/longfieldipadresearch to see one example of the innovation working well. Please can we bring some sense to this discussion, and less hysteria. The world into which we send our children is enormously different today than it was five years ago, and in another 5 years it will look scarily different to what it does now. The vest majority of people use technology at work. The bloke who arrived to do my plumbing last week prepared the bill on hisntablet computer while he was with me, and emailed into me, and that’s just one example of the way the world uses technology to great advantage. I received the emailed bill and paid it online using my tablet computer. Who made his tablet and my tablet is not relevant to this discussion, for the moment.

We cannot educate our children using the current model which was designed in Victorian times, and then expect them to go out into the big wide world and do things differently. We need to engage children, and ensure they remain engaged, or the current education culture will become quickly irrelevant for them. Many of them use technology every day in the form of smart phones, tablets and laptops, yet they cannot access thenInternet at school due to some strange suspicion they will access inappropriate material.

There are now thousands of schools around the world using tablet computers, preloaded with textbooks, and with restricted access to the Internet. Students cannot download porn, nor use Facebook, nor send abusive email. Wwhat they can access is strictly controlled and monitored, and much more so than most televisions. However, they can do their homework on it, email it to a tutor and get it marked by a computer. In doing this, they save the schools a fortune in paper, they reduce the bill and pollution for paper, and they save on the massive annual costs of textbooks.

Most tablet computers also help students (and adults) with spelling and grammar?

I do hope there is wide public debate on this subject, but please let’s have that debate armed with facts, and not hysterical rants about whether Apple products are better than Samsung tablets.

Just because you got your education without a tablet computer it doesn’t mean our children need to. Have a look at http://www.naace.co.uk/publications/longfieldipadresearch to see one example of the innovation working well.

]]> By: MT http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-206339 MT Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:10:42 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-206339 Interesting that only a few comments here have actually mentioned the actual usage of the device, I.e. the apps. The "in my day" crew really need to get with the times. Would be interested to know what study has been done by the school to inform their choice of the iPad. Chances are it's the only one they've heard of. Reading this would be a good start: http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2012/03/features/classroom-disruptor?page=all Interesting that only a few comments here have actually mentioned the actual usage of the device, I.e. the apps. The “in my day” crew really need to get with the times.

Would be interested to know what study has been done by the school to inform their choice of the iPad. Chances are it’s the only one they’ve heard of.

Reading this would be a good start: http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2012/03/features/classroom-disruptor?page=all

]]> By: Pah http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-206336 Pah Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:04:20 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-206336 Ipads for goal posts Ipads for goal posts

]]> By: islander http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-205556 islander Mon, 26 Nov 2012 21:07:21 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-205556 Teachers.Show pupils basics.Teach them from the exercise book,blackboard. Teachers Use your skills with pupils and show them how to do channel 4 program Countdown. Teachers.Show pupils basics.Teach them from the exercise book,blackboard.

Teachers Use your skills with pupils and show them how to do channel 4 program Countdown.

]]> By: Ed http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-205551 Ed Mon, 26 Nov 2012 20:54:05 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-205551 I'm 16. Don't have an Ipad. Don't need one. These people don't need them and shouldn't be asking businesses to waste that evermore precious of commodities, cash, on such schemes. I’m 16. Don’t have an Ipad. Don’t need one.

These people don’t need them and shouldn’t be asking businesses to waste that evermore precious of commodities, cash, on such schemes.

]]> By: PLP http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-205481 PLP Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:36:42 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-205481 Well said Scarlett. Well said Scarlett.

]]> By: Cousin Vinny http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-205468 Cousin Vinny Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:12:04 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-205468 Oh dear, Apple fan boy alert! If that's the most important part of this discussion to you I think you're on the wrong forum. Oh dear, Apple fan boy alert!

If that’s the most important part of this discussion to you I think you’re on the wrong forum.

Report abuse

]]> By: GCI27 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-205322 GCI27 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:45:10 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-205322 There are cheaper tablet computers out there than iPads. Or would that not be hip enough for the kidz? There are cheaper tablet computers out there than iPads. Or would that not be hip enough for the kidz?

]]> By: Jeff http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-205321 Jeff Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:44:00 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-205321 It's about time people realise there is a world of technology outside of Apple! iPads are unbelievably overpriced and if schools want to push for each student to have one then why not go the Nexus tablet route for well under £200. Also these touch devices don't encourage good keyboard skills as it is virtually impossible to touch type with these devices. It’s about time people realise there is a world of technology outside of Apple!

iPads are unbelievably overpriced and if schools want to push for each student to have one then why not go the Nexus tablet route for well under £200.

Also these touch devices don’t encourage good keyboard skills as it is virtually impossible to touch type with these devices.

]]> By: Scarlett http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-204927 Scarlett Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:05:34 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-204927 *lol*:)))))) How true. I wonder who's supposed to fork out for all this expensive kit, with some families over here on the bread line or rapidly approaching it, apparently. All those cheap loan companies make a fortune out of people who's wants have now become needs, what an unfortunate philosophy to teach the up and coming generations. Had a wonderful philosophy in my house when growing up which has held me in remarkably good stead over the years.It revolved around 'I really want it', followed by the response, 'well we can't afford it, so you can't have it', and that was that. iPads may well be of supreme significance, but whether they are absolutely quintessential depends on what you're comparing them with. *lol*:))))))

How true.

I wonder who’s supposed to fork out for all this expensive kit, with some families over here on the bread line or rapidly approaching it, apparently.

All those cheap loan companies make a fortune out of people who’s wants have now become needs, what an unfortunate philosophy to teach the up and coming generations.

Had a wonderful philosophy in my house when growing up which has held me in remarkably good stead over the years.It revolved around ‘I really want it’, followed by the response, ‘well we can’t afford it, so you can’t have it’, and that was that.

iPads may well be of supreme significance, but whether they are absolutely quintessential depends on what you’re comparing them with.

]]> By: Sara Thompson http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-204870 Sara Thompson Sun, 25 Nov 2012 11:52:10 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-204870 Cheaper, better and not so heavily reliant on a rival manufacturer, Samsung. Cheaper, better and not so heavily reliant on a rival manufacturer, Samsung.

]]> By: IslandGirl http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-204782 IslandGirl Sun, 25 Nov 2012 07:36:16 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-204782 Working in a school which has it's own school collection of iPads, and a Bring Your Own Device policy with students, there are SO many benefits to having the iPads. They are not to you be used ALL of the time in every subject there are fantastic apps which allows students to present and evaluate work in much more creative and accessible ways. For example, if you have a student whose written work is weak, they can use Audioboo to deliver a recorded verbal evaluation which can then be attached to the work (if the work is digital). There are other apps which allows the students to physical link their iPad remotely to the teachers whiteboard so they can show their work... For me, I am currently using them for recording a piece of work in Music - it also provides students with a personal keyboard which they can carry around with them on the iPad. If a suitable useage policy is drawn up with the necessary training given to staff, parents and students they are very vaulable learning resources. The iPads DO NOT replace the traditional learning activities but they enhance them AND provide the necessary links to ensure that our students are fully prepared for the digital world that we now live in. With regards to costing, buying enough for each school for just one class size can solve the problem quicker as these can then be booked out on a rota basis until a suitable funding policy is covered. Personally, I think £11 per month is a worthwhile investment for these for the many benefits that can arise from their use in the classroom and surely if there parents have paid for it then the device belongs to the student after the final payment? Working in a school which has it’s own school collection of iPads, and a Bring Your Own Device policy with students, there are SO many benefits to having the iPads. They are not to you be used ALL of the time in every subject there are fantastic apps which allows students to present and evaluate work in much more creative and accessible ways. For example, if you have a student whose written work is weak, they can use Audioboo to deliver a recorded verbal evaluation which can then be attached to the work (if the work is digital). There are other apps which allows the students to physical link their iPad remotely to the teachers whiteboard so they can show their work… For me, I am currently using them for recording a piece of work in Music – it also provides students with a personal keyboard which they can carry around with them on the iPad. If a suitable useage policy is drawn up with the necessary training given to staff, parents and students they are very vaulable learning resources. The iPads DO NOT replace the traditional learning activities but they enhance them AND provide the necessary links to ensure that our students are fully prepared for the digital world that we now live in.
With regards to costing, buying enough for each school for just one class size can solve the problem quicker as these can then be booked out on a rota basis until a suitable funding policy is covered. Personally, I think £11 per month is a worthwhile investment for these for the many benefits that can arise from their use in the classroom and surely if there parents have paid for it then the device belongs to the student after the final payment?

]]> By: Guernsey121 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-204573 Guernsey121 Sat, 24 Nov 2012 14:29:41 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-204573 Here was a school built for the 21st century and already they need additional technology to improve their teaching? Is this a well thought out pilot scheme to be carried out on behalf of our Education Dept and which may benefit all schools? As an example, have a look here http://www.ipadsforeducation.vic.edu.au/ and specifically at the document "21 steps to ipad success". Elsewhere on the site it reports that preliminary results suggest the best outcomes are from the primary and special needs schools rather than at secondary level. To be effective, technology must significantly add to the learning experience and translate into measurable results. What is it that these teachers cannot now do but which will become possible once these devices are in place? Are there other ways of achieving the same end? Are these truly necessary or just a nicety? If I were being asked to fund this scheme, these are some of the questions I would be asking. I would also ask, if it's such a good idea, why isn't the Minister tabling a motion for more funds to supply all schools with this essential piece of kit. The answer I fear is that these tablets are not vital to improving our children's education. If funded and used, they would bring in some improvement but they are not vital for all pupils. Technology can help but, in the end, education is about having an inspirational and enthusiastic teacher who can motivate their pupils into wanting to learn. We have a lot of these in place already. How about spending any spare money in getting the rest up to this level? Here was a school built for the 21st century and already they need additional technology to improve their teaching?

Is this a well thought out pilot scheme to be carried out on behalf of our Education Dept and which may benefit all schools?

As an example, have a look here

http://www.ipadsforeducation.vic.edu.au/

and specifically at the document “21 steps to ipad success”.

Elsewhere on the site it reports that preliminary results suggest the best outcomes are from the primary and special needs schools rather than at secondary level.

To be effective, technology must significantly add to the learning experience and translate into measurable results.

What is it that these teachers cannot now do but which will become possible once these devices are in place?

Are there other ways of achieving the same end?

Are these truly necessary or just a nicety?

If I were being asked to fund this scheme, these are some of the questions I would be asking.

I would also ask, if it’s such a good idea, why isn’t the Minister tabling a motion for more funds to supply all schools with this essential piece of kit.

The answer I fear is that these tablets are not vital to improving our children’s education. If funded and used, they would bring in some improvement but they are not vital for all pupils.

Technology can help but, in the end, education is about having an inspirational and enthusiastic teacher who can motivate their pupils into wanting to learn.

We have a lot of these in place already. How about spending any spare money in getting the rest up to this level?

]]> By: Disgruntled http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-204547 Disgruntled Sat, 24 Nov 2012 13:17:49 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-204547 You may have a point, at least the 5 year olds would have more common sense and better manners than the 14 year olds. You may have a point, at least the 5 year olds would have more common sense and better manners than the 14 year olds.

]]> By: islander http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2012/11/21/school-appeals-for-help-to-provide-pupils-with-ipads/#comment-204524 islander Sat, 24 Nov 2012 12:06:38 +0000 http://www.thisisguernsey.com/?p=156248#comment-204524 I agree Dee.reading ,writing and maths shown on paper earning a tick from the teacher is more rewarding to the pupil. hang on! some kids mobile is ringing in the classroom.ha ha they have facebook on their phone.no need for ipads I agree Dee.reading ,writing and maths shown on paper earning a tick from the teacher is more rewarding to the pupil.

hang on! some kids mobile is ringing in the classroom.ha ha they have facebook on their phone.no need for ipads

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