Discussion #2 – iPad, uPad, willweallPad?
Actually, I don’t use an iPad – or any other tablet. Never have beyond the aisle of a store. It’s not that I’m not interested in one, it’s just that I don’t see enough personal benefit in them to justify the large pricetag at the moment. What about student benefits, though?
Surely, we can all think of some, and we have seen some in the presentation this week. For myself, here are a couple of situations that pop to the forefront of my thoughts:
Mostly, I think I imagine myself taking advantage of its mobility. I’d carry it around the room and do things like attendance as well as take notes by students’ desks on their student progress in different areas – that I could place right in their own folder. I think something like this could allow me to have faster (and recorded) feedback to students. I may also use it to demonstrate things on the screen / SMART board in my room. I think I would also let students use it at their desks to do the same, as well as use it as a resource device in the room (either research or helping a student at a different level do the work of the day).
That being said, what’s a disadvantage the iPad would bring? Students fighting over using it? I suppose it could happen, especially if I have only one. Really, I see a couple of main “pre-disadvantages” that would stop me from even using one: the lack of WiFi in local schools (not even the device’s fault, really), and the iPad’s incompatibility with Flash / Silverlight. Not to mention that this would eventually happen, which I, the kids, the school, & the district wouldn’t like.
I don’t think I’ll ever own one or use one in school. I think the first tablet I have in school will be a slightly more capable device that can use any programs / file types.
Posted in: Week 09: iPad Apps
bcourey 4:07 pm on November 1, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Any chance of theft of these devices in schools? How do teachers deal with that? Or is it a concern at all?
Brenda
mcquaid 11:05 am on November 2, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
It must be a concern. I wonder if there could be some remote bricking command that could be transmitted to an iPad recognized as stolen…
One story I heard before of a school that got one iPad for every student went something like this:
Someone asked the principal what they would do if one of them broke. The principal said they would replace it. Expensive, but a clear solution!
Angela Novoa 7:23 pm on November 1, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Stephen, I do agree with you about the Flash issue. However, as I mentioned before, there are some tools based on Flash that are working on developing apps for iPad and overcome this issue (e.g. Prezi, http://www.prezi.com).
About the Internet connection (WiFi), you argue that it is not a device fault. Do you have in mind some options that might overcome this?
And, Brenda, theft of these devices in schools is a relevant issue to consider. Educators must inspire a their students of taking care of technologies. However, some precautions must be taken. Any thoughts about what precautions should we take?
bcourey 6:16 am on November 2, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I suppose it is up to each school board as to what policies they have in place for any kind of theft – cell phones, school equipment, iPods etc.
mcquaid 11:03 am on November 2, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I wonder if any schools have students rent them or put damage deposits down on them (similar to the use of instruments in a band program).
mcquaid 11:02 am on November 2, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Angela, I know there are some tools based on Flash that are becoming compatible, but I don’t want some. I want all! I don’t want some device I use to not be able to handle something that is a fairly standard file type, plugin, etc.
As for WiFi, it’s not so much that I am arguing but just saying it in passing – the fact that it needs WiFi to function fully isn’t the device’s “fault” – it just needs it. It puts the pressure on schools or places of work to have the infrastructure in place to do such things. I think that at this time, education / the work world needs to have things like wireless access set up to enable people to do more things. To me, there’s no point in even investigating them / inquiring about them until our school gets such access. The only options I can think of that would overcome that hurdle would be wired network access (talk about annoying on a device like that), or to have large chunks of information stored on it to use it offline.
Deb Giesbrecht 1:42 pm on November 2, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I love the cartoon – that’s great and I agree we all go a little crazy over new technology.
I too have not found a good enough reason to get one. One of my friends have one and they happen to mention they were downloading apps to replace some of the other ‘tools’ in their house – like a calculator, etc. I cannot find good enough reasons to justify the cost – even if I replaced all my calculators, rulers, etc.
I do a lot of word processing and find the touch screen difficult to manage my typing – although you can get keyboards for them now. I still need a better reason to get one though.
It’s great to have a new toy – but lets call it what it is. If we are using it for gaming and videos than it is an entertainment system and depending on how many games you play depends if the end justifies the means.