One school district is doing away with textbooks and has assigned all of its students iPads. At first when I heard this I assumed that it was to replace having to lug heavy books to and fro. But they mean to use no textbooks in any format as a cost saving measure. No more assigning a class to various chapters in the same textbook. Each teacher will decide how the iPads are to utilized. I found it a little alarming but I also agree things need to change in how classes are taught. Views?

when i see the backpacks some of these kids carry

i'm all for the idea, minus a few of the apps they don't need

and some kind of governor on it that keeps it strictly for

educational purposes.

and as the kid moves up in grade so does the info supplied

by the pad... THIS COULD WORK

And what happens when students misplace, break, or have their iPad stolen? Will the public school replace them at $400.00 plus a pop? If the responsibility is on parents to replace them, will they all be able to replace them? I see some advantages but see some disadvantages too. There's nothing like a hard/soft cover book cover to underline/ highlight important info. I see a bit of a disadvantage if you need to flip back and forth from a page or pages. The other thing if teachers assign homework and their work has to be sent via email or to a teachers school box, some are assuming everyone has intent access. Hmmm I'm not sure.

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on of these day I'm going to learn how to type dammit.

[Edited 3/23/12 20:55pm]

TD3 said:

And what happens when students misplace, break, or have their iPad stolen? Will the public school replace them at $400.00 plus a pop? If the responsibility is on parents to replace them, will all be able to replace them? I see some disadvantages but see some disadvantages too. There's nothing like a hard/so cover book cover to underline/ highlight important info. I see a bit of a disadvantage if you need to flip back and forth from a page or pages. The other thing if teachers assign homework and their work has to be sent via email or to a teachers school box, some are assuming everyone has intent access. Hmmm I'm not sure.

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[Edited 3/23/12 18:47pm]

wouldn't they be insured like ones phone.

havin a pad that's just designed to do school work

and a specific individual school program

set to the pad it seems not woth stealin

For the purposes of cost, green sustainability, technological literacy and preserving the spines of our youth , I totally support the idea.

Don't iPads cost a lot of money?

From what I understand the school district has insurance to cover damages. They are compenstating by not buying any textbooks, as most college students know textbooks can be quite expensive, so at maybe 4 per student they save. They are also doing away with computer labs since there would technically be a computer lab in every class room.

What was a surprise to me was the change in curriculum that the old standard is being done away with. For instance, a teacher can assign different groups in the class to gather a specific information from whatever source they find. Of course, then the teacher proceeds to show them which sources have the most accurate information and which sources do not,

morningsong said:

From what I understand the school district has insurance to cover damages. They are compenstating by not buying any textbooks, as most college students know textbooks can be quite expensive, so at maybe 4 per student they save. They are also doing away with computer labs since there would technically be a computer lab in every class room.

What was a surprise to me was the change in curriculum that the old standard is being done away with. For instance, a teacher can assign different groups in the class to gather a specific information from whatever source they find. Of course, then the teacher proceeds to show them which sources have the most accurate information and which sources do not,

Hmm interesting...

Timmy84 said:

morningsong said:

From what I understand the school district has insurance to cover damages. They are compenstating by not buying any textbooks, as most college students know textbooks can be quite expensive, so at maybe 4 per student they save. They are also doing away with computer labs since there would technically be a computer lab in every class room.

What was a surprise to me was the change in curriculum that the old standard is being done away with. For instance, a teacher can assign different groups in the class to gather a specific information from whatever source they find. Of course, then the teacher proceeds to show them which sources have the most accurate information and which sources do not,

Hmm interesting...

I know I find it interesting too. I think it would be pretty cool in addition to saving the schools costs, but I also see TD3's concern as well with the disadvantages...aside from the school having the insurance to cover damages.

"Suzi what's the question to #4?" Suzi answers, "I don't know". Teacher asks "Well where's your iPad?" Suzi answers, "at home, forgot it". Teacher asks "how could you forget it when that's the only thing you have to bring to school?" Suzi answers "I don't know".

[Edited 3/24/12 6:06am]

TD3 said:

And what happens when students misplace, break, or have their iPad stolen? Will the public school replace them at $400.00 plus a pop? If the responsibility is on parents to replace them, will they all be able to replace them? I see some advantages but see some disadvantages too. There's nothing like a hard/soft cover book cover to underline/ highlight important info. I see a bit of a disadvantage if you need to flip back and forth from a page or pages. The other thing if teachers assign homework and their work has to be sent via email or to a teachers school box, some are assuming everyone has intent access. Hmmm I'm not sure.

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on of these day I'm going to learn how to type dammit.

[Edited 3/23/12 20:55pm]

I totally agree with this. when I was in school we were taught to be " active readers", and highlighting/making margin notes was a huge part of being able to identify key points and help you retain information from the class lesson. I still do that today in random studies I take in my free time, and can't see an iPad being able to work for me in that regard.

Ottensen said:

TD3 said:

And what happens when students misplace, break, or have their iPad stolen? Will the public school replace them at $400.00 plus a pop? If the responsibility is on parents to replace them, will they all be able to replace them? I see some advantages but see some disadvantages too. There's nothing like a hard/soft cover book cover to underline/ highlight important info. I see a bit of a disadvantage if you need to flip back and forth from a page or pages. The other thing if teachers assign homework and their work has to be sent via email or to a teachers school box, some are assuming everyone has intent access. Hmmm I'm not sure.

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on of these day I'm going to learn how to type dammit.

[Edited 3/23/12 20:55pm]

I totally agree with this. when I was in school we were taught to be " active readers", and [b]highlighting/making margin notes was a huge part of being able to identify key points and help you retain information from the class lesson[b]. I still do that today in random studies I take in my free time, and can't see an iPad being able to work for me in that regard.

with the pad bein whut it is (higher tech) it would seem that makin key notes to things read

would be even easier and storin the different notes in a mannor where one can point and click

right to the info and references seem a hellova tool.

i write (physicly write, by hand) all my notes because i'm VERY OLD SCHOOL and have no

ability to do everything on pc, but kids today (8/9y/o) i see them typin like 110 wpm like it ain't shit, WHILE DOIN OTHER SHIT AT THE SAME TIME. if i had the copacity to do the same at this point, i too would bennifit from a pad

missfee said:

Timmy84 said:

Hmm interesting...

I know I find it interesting too. I think it would be pretty cool in addition to saving the schools costs, but I also see TD3's concern as well with the disadvantages...aside from the school having the insurance to cover damages.

"Suzi what's the question to #4?" Suzi answers, "I don't know". Teacher asks "Well where's your iPad?" Suzi answers, "at home, forgot it". Teacher asks "how could you forget it when that's the only thing you have to bring to school?" Suzi answers "I don't know".

[Edited 3/24/12 6:06am]

Right. It wouldn't be fair on that regard. Notebooks and iPads are too different. I don't know, I refer to write by hand. Call me old fashioned, I don't give a damn lol