Tablets in classroom

muinteoirgno · 28-01-2015 9:54pm #1

I know similar questions have been posted but none are exactly what I'm looking for. I am on a committee in my school tasked with investigating tablets to be used in classroom. We are nearly set on iPads and plan for teachers to use them next year and first and fifth year to use them in 2017.

Are there any posters where staff are using iPads (or Surface which is another possibility) when students aren't?

The local ETB has introduced iPads for staff and students. Staff have been asked to contribute between 100 and 200 to the cost of the iPad and Apple TV. Is this common practice? Part timers pay less than full timers.

Are there schools where staff have been tasked with creating ebooks or ibooks for their subject? I understand from reading posts that some teachers have done this but was it voluntary or requested by school?

I have loads of helpful tips about apps an such from reading through the really valuable posts on this forum. Thanks to all of the techie posters.

seavill · 28-01-2015 10:59pm

Just out of interest who then owns those I pads where the teachers contribute a certain amount? is the the school or the teachers? if they break who fixes them I presume the ETP. I've never heard of a similar arrangement. We all got laptops a number of years ago, in a vol. secondary school, no contribution required. I know they are not as expensive as Ipads (well most wouldn't be baring specialist laptops) but I would have taken some issue with being asked to contribute to a work computer

doc_17 · 28-01-2015 11:52pm

muinteoirgno wrote: »

I know similar questions have been posted but none are exactly what I'm looking for. I am on a committee in my school tasked with investigating tablets to be used in classroom. We are nearly set on iPads and plan for teachers to use them next year and first and fifth year to use them in 2017.

Are there any posters where staff are using iPads (or Surface which is another possibility) when students aren't?

The local ETB has introduced iPads for staff and students. Staff have been asked to contribute between 100 and 200 to the cost of the iPad and Apple TV. Is this common practice? Part timers pay less than full timers.

Are there schools where staff have been tasked with creating ebooks or ibooks for their subject? I understand from reading posts that some teachers have done this but was it voluntary or requested by school?

I have loads of helpful tips about apps an such from reading through the really valuable posts on this forum. Thanks to all of the techie posters.

Do the admin staff in the local ETB have to contribute towards the cost of the equipment that they need to do their job? I wouldn't put my hand in my pocket to buy equipment that my employer deems necessary for me to have to carry out my work. What next? Pay for your own board markers? Brink in heating oil to keep the school warm?

On the broader note of tablets etc I'm hearing little buzz about it now. Lots of colleagues are using google docs and forms etc. which I know is something slightly different but they speak highly of it.

muinteoirgno · 28-01-2015 11:53pm

seavill wrote: »

Just out of interest who then owns those I pads where the teachers contribute a certain amount? is the the school or the teachers? if they break who fixes them I presume the ETP. I've never heard of a similar arrangement. We all got laptops a number of years ago, in a vol. secondary school, no contribution required. I know they are not as expensive as Ipads (well most wouldn't be baring specialist laptops) but I would have taken some issue with being asked to contribute to a work computer

I don't know how it works. I don't think we are going to be asked to pay towards our tablet. It was just mentioned in the meeting that a local school asked their staff to pay. As far as we know their staff had no problem with this. What I am a bit worried about is the fact that members of my staff seem to think that our students won't need to buy ebooks to download onto the tablet. It is being suggested that the staff should be able to divide up our subjects and create our own books. I am wanting to know if this works in practice in other schools?

doc_17 · 28-01-2015 11:58pm

muinteoirgno wrote: »

I don't know how it works. I don't think we are going to be asked to pay towards our tablet. It was just mentioned in the meeting that a local school asked their staff to pay. As far as we know their staff had no problem with this. What I am a bit worried about is the fact that members of my staff seem to think that our students won't need to buy ebooks to download onto the tablet. It is being suggested that the staff should be able to divide up our subjects and create our own books. I am wanting to know if this works in practice in other schools?

There's a huge amount of work in creating a textbook. Make sure you know what exactly is being asked of you and your staff over wise you guys could be making real trouble for yourselves. Best of luck with it though

kronsich · 29-01-2015 12:11am

Hey

I use iPad and Apple TV in the classroom. Our kids also have iPads and they love them. I think a teacher with iPad/Apple tv would work well without the kids having access to devices. We often feel guilty that the kids have spent so much on the iPads that too much time is used looking for apps and tekky projects as opposed to completing learning objectives of a topic.

On creating iBooks, I have done inservices with Google on creating an iBook and have seen some great books created by teachers. I even started one last year. However, this is a massive undertaking and will certainly not work for all teachers. I am quite good with technology but with teaching and all the time that school takes up, writing a book is almost impossible.

happywithlife · 09-02-2015 12:57am

jayo76 wrote: »

Our school is planning to introduce tablets for first years next year, we are been told that the board of Management will contribute 200 euro to the cost of the device and we have to pay the rest. Has the potential to become quite controversial as I and a number of other teachers would much prefer if these were school paid for and owned devises. I have no intention of buying a tablet at the moment for my personal use and I do feel that if it something which is deemed necessary for work I should not have to contribute to it.

I agree with you. You should not be asked to finance a tablet school management has decided to implement. It's a big expense to undertake and won't stop at just one either. The lifetime of these tablets are pretty finite given their cost IMO
How will it work for substitute and part time teachers? There's another stumbling block. I wouldn't expect someone subbing a maternity leave for example to have to provide a tablet.

jayo76 · 09-02-2015 1:01am

happywithlife wrote: »

I agree with you. You should not be asked to finance a tablet school management has decided to implement. It's a big expense to undertake and won't stop at just one either. The lifetime of these tablets are pretty finite given their cost IMO
How will it work for substitute and part time teachers? There's another stumbling block. I wouldn't expect someone subbing a maternity leave for example to have to provide a tablet.

My original post was deleted by mistake when I went to edit it. Yeah I genuinely feel we should not have to contribute to the cost. no discussion has taken place on the issue of what teachers who are employed on temporary contracts would be expected to do

katydid · 09-02-2015 5:13pm

muinteoirgno wrote: »

I know similar questions have been posted but none are exactly what I'm looking for. I am on a committee in my school tasked with investigating tablets to be used in classroom. We are nearly set on iPads and plan for teachers to use them next year and first and fifth year to use them in 2017.

Are there any posters where staff are using iPads (or Surface which is another possibility) when students aren't?

The local ETB has introduced iPads for staff and students. Staff have been asked to contribute between 100 and 200 to the cost of the iPad and Apple TV. Is this common practice? Part timers pay less than full timers.

Are there schools where staff have been tasked with creating ebooks or ibooks for their subject? I understand from reading posts that some teachers have done this but was it voluntary or requested by school?

I have loads of helpful tips about apps an such from reading through the really valuable posts on this forum. Thanks to all of the techie posters.

They tried that in our place a few years ago - also an ETB - and the staff refused. This is equipment for work, you should not have to subsidise it. If they want to introduce it, let them pay; and if it's held up because they won't, be sure to let the students and parents know why.

Imagine asking people in an office or a bank or a travel agency to pay towards the IT equipment they use!

Chancer3001 · 17-02-2015 10:05am

We all have iPads.

YouTube is excellent as a resource.

Eportal is useful for attendance.

WebDAV allows you to access all the files you have on your desktop PC through your tanker which is excellent.

Now,

Every room will need a projector, otherwise what's the point, nobody will see what's on your iPad. Try to ensure these are wireless if possible.

You can get most textbooks on your iPad so you'll no longer need to bring a book to class. Very handy.mteachers get them free.

You'll need speakers in every room.

Absolutely don't pay. Also, have it clearly decided who pays if it gets damaged.

You'll need to beef up your wifi

There are loads of apps and games which can be useful in the class.

vamos! · 18-02-2015 1:08pm

How common is it to be asked to pay towards iPad or such? Are teachers in iPad schools covered by the same insurance policy that the students have? I can't imagine being asked to pay for the tools to do my job but I have heard of it happening... generally VEC though. Has it happened in voluntary sec?

mirrorwall14 · 18-02-2015 3:13pm

I'm ETB and we were not asked to contribute to iPads though I bought my own apple tv and heavy duty case

Tablets in classroom

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