Tuesday 10 August 2010

iPad or laptops? A whole school inquiry.


At Fendalton School, we like to make sure that our children are given great opportunities to use technology. We believe that technology is an integral part of children's lives and will continue to be so as they move into the workforce in the years to come.

Each year we spend some money updating our hardware so that it is useful and effective. This year, we have a choice to make. The new Apple iPad has a great deal of potential for education and we have decided to explore this potential with our children. However, the children are already very familiar with laptops so these might be a better option.

We have an iPad in school and it is being tested by all the classes to see what works and what the problems are. We will use the feedback from the teachers, children and community to make our final decision on buying new laptops or iPads.

This is a great opportunity for our children to take part in some authentic and purposeful writing. So, if you have an opinion on this and would like to have your say, please visit our new blog and present your ideas!

10 comments:

  1. I like the ipad but it does not open 2 things at once
    Ben H

    ReplyDelete
  2. Will work quite well if you have apps which will be useful or are using cloud software for programs. If not I think the MacBook is a better option

    ReplyDelete
  3. As the iPad is still an unknown as far as durability goes would it not be wise to maybe acquire a mixture to test the water. As the children are already familiar with the MacBook and the school has the relevant software the financial investment could be spread across both, while knowing that the MacBook is good for 3 years.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am an avid iPad user. It is my view that iPad is a nice toy but is of limited value in a School setting. I fundamentally disagree that it has potential amazing educational value vis a vid a laptop. Can't see it sorry.

    Pro iPad:
    Interface is nice
    Whizzy & cool

    Con for iPad:
    Unless you have a good, well designed wireless network the iPad will drop the signal constantly which renders it useless for many tasks

    School already has investment in software etc for Macbooks

    Macbooks are far more robust. Drop an iPad on the screen and it will bust

    What can't be done on an iPad than a macbook?

    iPad can't multitask

    Talk of creating apps for iPad? - does the school create content/programmes for macbooks?

    Sorry Paul, stick with macbooks, let's focus on ensuring the children can make full use of & be able to invent/design technologies of the future themselves by equipping them with the ability to read, write well, do maths, think critically & creatively and articulate their thoughts confidently. Anything other than this focus really is a distraction...

    ReplyDelete
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