ipads issued to school children..

Mr. Rager · 29-08-2011 06:33PM

bijapos wrote: »

You'd soon stop once the teacher has called you up to the board a couple of times to explain something.

Well, I could explain something else to him/her, but I wouldn't think it would be appropriate

Doylers · 29-08-2011 06:35PM

Morlar wrote: »

These are non-backupable aren't they ? What happens to the student when one of these crashes the week before exams, whole terms everything gone. It looks like a good idea but isn't it also a massive single point of failure ? Not to mention them being dropped, stolen, damaged, lost, frisbeed across the room etc.

What happens if you lose your notes or school bag a week before the exam?

pragmatic1 · 29-08-2011 06:36PM

snooleen wrote: »

My secondary school geography teacher made books of notes for us, more like example answers as he found that the massive textbooks (of which we had to have 2 due to geography having different options) didn't explain in any way how to write an actual answer or outline what was required of you to do so, they just had easy to follow diagrams. The rest of the information was in random articles.

We just studied his books of notes. The information was that from the books, it was just put in a way that was easy to understand and exemplary of what was being asked of us in the exam paper.

My old teachers did the same thing. Far easier than going through the text book yourself.

FTGFOP · 29-08-2011 06:36PM

Gilldog wrote: »

If I’m trying to explain about volcanoes, they can push a button and watch one erupting on screen now.

Interesting example.

merengueca · 29-08-2011 06:38PM

Where I work there are plan's to issue iPhone 4's and iPads to all front line staff - appx 20,000 people:eek: - in the next 3 months.
Industry specific Apps are being created at the moment.
Just read that a local council over here is also planning to do the same.

Morlar · 29-08-2011 06:39PM

Doylers wrote: »

What happens if you lose your notes or school bag a week before the exam?

If the bag contained EVERYTHING then pretty much the same thing.

Bags can be lost, however far less likely to get stolen. Also bags don't crash and give you a bluescreen of death (or whatever the apple equivalent is).

kirving · 29-08-2011 06:46PM

A Windows, OSX or even Android tablet would suit far better than an iPad. Hardware wise, they're behind.

Swapping notes/pictures via USB or memory card? Stuck using iTunes? Very limited and controlled software? It's a stupid idea from someone who thinks they're being modern.

If it's just a weight issue, then use an e-reader instead of paper books. If they want to introduce more technologhy into the classroom, an open source, or more common/customisable OS(windows) should be used.

Also, I never had an issue with the weight of my schoolbag, because I used my locker, and the teachers didn't make us bring in every book every class.

mikom · 29-08-2011 06:51PM

Surely fanny pads would be more suitable at that age.

yoyo · 29-08-2011 07:00PM

What a stupid idea. The system will also end up being more expensive than books due to ipads being lost, stolen, broken etc. Why do I think its stupid?
Mobile phones are banned in most schools as they are a distraction, an Ipad is pritty much a a large mobile phone with all of these distractive possibilities, Games, Texting (Plenty of apps do online texting) bar talking.
I assume they will be using Ipad 1 revisions as could a camera not be used as a bullying tool?
If there is a way for these ipads to be locked down, fair enough but as with everything there will be simple ways presumably to revert them back to normal.
This sounds like a great idea on paper, I remember back in secondary school the heavy schoolbag and it can't be good for this kids back. Also having everything in one place (Although I find it hard to believe content for all subjects will be available in electronic form), but I don't think secondary school kids are responsible enough for minding and using such a tool properly. I'm all for technology being brought into the corriculum (It is ridiculous that there is not a mandatory module in leaving cert years dedicated to technology) but I don't think this is a smart move at all, Laptops, Tablets are fine for college students but have no place in a classroom imo

Nick

Sky King · 29-08-2011 07:03PM

Tablets are fine for college

OH yeah!

CrazyRabbit · 29-08-2011 07:04PM

Well it will certainly improve sex education in classes.

"Right lads. I want you all to open the following website.
www.pornhub......"

tricky D · 29-08-2011 07:08PM

Mike 1972 wrote: »

So that Steve Jobs can commercialise the classroom in order to create a nice little monopoly for his $hitty company

iPupil™®

kincsem · 29-08-2011 07:10PM

What is the world coming to?
/takes pencil stub from behind ears, and licks it.

Parsley · 29-08-2011 07:11PM

are they going to replace teaching kids to write with pencil and paper with teaching them how to type on touch screens soon? i can see it happening at some point.

minidazzler · 29-08-2011 07:14PM

yoyo wrote: »

What a stupid idea. The system will also end up being more expensive than books due to ipads being lost, stolen, broken etc. Why do I think its stupid?
Mobile phones are banned in most schools as they are a distraction, an Ipad is pritty much a a large mobile phone with all of these distractive possibilities, Games, Texting (Plenty of apps do online texting) bar talking.
I assume they will be using Ipad 1 revisions as could a camera not be used as a bullying tool?
If there is a way for these ipads to be locked down, fair enough but as with everything there will be simple ways presumably to revert them back to normal.
This sounds like a great idea on paper, I remember back in secondary school the heavy schoolbag and it can't be good for this kids back. Also having everything in one place (Although I find it hard to believe content for all subjects will be available in electronic form), but I don't think secondary school kids are responsible enough for minding and using such a tool properly. I'm all for technology being brought into the corriculum (It is ridiculous that there is not a mandatory module in leaving cert years dedicated to technology) but I don't think this is a smart move at all, Laptops, Tablets are fine for college students but have no place in a classroom imo

Nick

How incredibly condescending of you. Kids aren't stupid, they will have all this explained to them. And regarding the whole distraction thing, read here. Given we are in a world where you are more likely to be using a computer of some sort than a pen and paper this is a great idea.

My biggest worry is thieving bastards around the place, other than that it's a good idea, well, and fcuk apple, they should have gone for something less restrictive.

hatrickpatrick · 29-08-2011 07:21PM

Why oh WHY are they using iPads?

Seriously, there are any number of tablets out there which don't come with the ridiculous amounts of proprietary restrictions Apple put on theirs. A modern computing device which explicitly refuses to run Flash? Come on!!!

I'm an Apple user but they seriously dropped the ball with the iPad and I can't stand to see it being promoted. Do we just have to stick a lowercase "i" on to any product now to make it automatically better than the competition which has better features?

Would an iToilet be better than another Toilet even if it didn't have the ability to flush and you were only able to use iLooRoll in it?!

EDIT: I apologize, I forgot my main beef with the iPad. Forget Flash, why the HELL would you give students a machine with no standard USB port?
Now THAT'S lunacy.

Professey Chin · 29-08-2011 07:25PM

I do love my tablet for that :pac:
*sticks in USB key*

Capt'n Midnight · 29-08-2011 07:29PM

alex73 wrote: »

School here in Mayo already issued them. Its the way to go really if we are to position ourselves to be the leaders in information technology.

It won't teach them much about IT apart from using an easy to use interface.

mikom · 29-08-2011 07:31PM

alex73 wrote: »

School here in Mayo already issued them. Its the way to go really if we are to position ourselves to be consumers of technology.

Fixed your post

yoyo · 29-08-2011 07:32PM

minidazzler wrote: »

How incredibly condescending of you. Kids aren't stupid, they will have all this explained to them. And regarding the whole distraction thing, read here. Given we are in a world where you are more likely to be using a computer of some sort than a pen and paper this is a great idea.

I never said kids are stupid, But thinking back to when I was that age I don't think its the age where technology should be replacing the old fashioned way of things, certainly not with the curriculum as it is. Do you seriously think a kid playing Angry Birds on his/her ipad will be paying any attention and will be learning at the same time? I doubt it and its obviously going to happen.
As I said I think technology should be introduced into the classroom, with mandatory modules for the leaving and junior cert but thats about it, even doing computer science in college did I find writing down stuff on pen and paper was more beneficial than using a laptop (very easy to get distracted using such :rolleyes:).

Nick

JONJO THE MISER · 29-08-2011 07:32PM

Gilldog wrote: »

]His classmate Pamela Gleide (13) was already at work, saying: “It’s whopper, there’s loads of apps on it.
(

Its whooper

, maybe she should of stayed in primary school because she clearly cant speak english.

ScumLord · 29-08-2011 07:42PM

Sky King wrote: »

Surely even cheaper again would be to issue the notes in PDF format and let each kid (or parent) get them printed and bound themselves.

Each 'book' would cost about a fiver. I can't understand why they don't do this.

Sorry but that's just daft. Printing out your own books would require the ability to actually print them out which is a big and expensive assumption to make about everyone.

Itsdacraic wrote: »

It's grand until they go to sit their junior cert and realise they have forgotten how to write.

That's happening to me. :mad: The rare occasions I do have to write publicly is a pure embarrassment.

This is inevitable and necessary. I don't mind them using iPads as a first run, it's reliable and well made, probably customised to be highly restricted to school work. It's the world these kids live in, sticking with paper just won't cut it with them, they need more information flying at them to hold their attention.

Down the road I wouldn't like to see Apple monopolise the education system but I don't think that would happen anyway.

DelBoyCORCAIGH · 29-08-2011 08:36PM

Itsdacraic wrote: »

It's grand until they go to sit their junior cert and realise they have forgotten how to write.

I think they still use copybooks for writing and homework, it's just the textbook that'll be on the ipad.

PogMoThoin · 29-08-2011 09:10PM

Its a retarded idea to give kids a tablet with no usb port or card reader. The Ipad is a locked down piece of crap, even the cheapest "no-brand" other OS tablet would be a better choice, even one with Windows. Itunes is possibly the worst POS software ever made. Whoever made this decision knows fcuk all.

Guy:Incognito · 29-08-2011 09:18PM

Doylers wrote: »

What happens if you lose your notes or school bag a week before the exam?

How often do you go to your schoolbag and it wont turn on, or has crahsed and wiped itself? I also personnally never lost a schoolbag full of book. It's quite a big heavy yoke to misplace. Plus all my books and notes were never in it at the same time.

omah · 29-08-2011 09:19PM

I think its a great idea!

Guy:Incognito · 29-08-2011 09:23PM

kincsem wrote: »

What is the world coming to?
/takes pencil stub from behind ears, and licks it.

Fecking modern kids, dont know yer born. /opens pot of ink and dips feather/

Cuddlesworth · 29-08-2011 09:24PM

yoyo wrote: »

Mobile phones are banned in most schools as they are a distraction, an Ipad is pritty much a a large mobile phone with all of these distractive possibilities, Games, Texting (Plenty of apps do online texting) bar talking.

There is empirical evidence that says texting in class isn't such a bad thing.

Aside from that. There are a few issues.

Ipads are not great for actually reading something on a screen. That's why ebook readers such as the Kindle go down a storm. They have been specifically designed and developed to make reading for more then a minute bearable through decent DPI and non glare screens.

Battery life for a entire 8 hour day is going to be interesting. Especially considering schools are not set up to supply power to the desks. The battery life itself will die in 2-3 years guaranteed if not sooner. Its the life cycle of a Li-on battery. So new battery needed in a device that doesn't let you change it unlike every other competitor.

This while a great step forward that I applaude, stinks of a badly thought out idea allowed through a lack of any industry trials or experience. Or any basic technical knowledge on the subject.

chicken fingers · 29-08-2011 09:39PM

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

It's whooper, maybe she should of stayed in primary school because she clearly can't speak English.

Ok I hate the "grammar nazis" as much as the next person...

But, she actually said "whopper".
For your reference, here is a definition of "whopper".

whop·per (hw p r, w p -). n. Slang. 1. Something exceptionally big or remarkable. 2

Rather, it is you who "clearly cant speak"[sic] English, not this 13 year old child.
I've taken the liberty of highlighting and correcting the five mistakes you made in your single sentence.

Dravokivich · 29-08-2011 10:09PM

When I were a lad the word "Whopper" was only used for emphasise to describe how bad something smelled.

ipads issued to school children..

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