Scott - Makes since I agree with you but how do you ensure that students do not bring in undesirable things like porn on their tablets? What does this do to CIPA compliancy? Since students today are growing up in a media rich environment perhaps it is time to look at how restrictive we are and if it is really important to nail systems down tight to protect kids from experiencing some aspects of life @ school. When they walk out the school doors they are unprotected. Thanks, Tony Richardson, Technology Coordinator Humboldt Community School District trichard...@humboldt.k12.ia.us
________________________________ From: info-tech-ow...@aea8.k12.ia.us on behalf of Scott Fosseen [Prairie Lakes AEA] Sent: Mon 2/1/2010 3:16 PM To: info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us Subject: Re: [info-tech] iPad pro/con Sorry for the delay in my post. I do think in concept the iPad is a potential "Tool" that could be used in a 1-to-1. Would it replace a 1-to-1 Laptop project? If you are going to be having students doing things like video editing I don't see it. But thinking "Outside the box" in concept I see that it could be a lower cost alternative to a laptop project. Used in conjunction to Moodle, or similar web based solution the "Pad" could be used to work in the class electronically. The pad could be used in a Moodle course to view/review content, take quiz/tests, and participate in Chat/Forums. This would become more of a pen/paper replacement than a "Computer" for the class. With electronic rights to Textbooks the students would only have to take home 1 device weighing less than 2 pounds instead of a backpack full of textbooks. But it does not have....., Is it that big of a deal, Just don't think of it as a "Computer" or "Laptop", but a whole new class of device. As a Palm Owner since the original units were released I saw it as a great technology. A device to supplement the computer, allowing me to take the computer data I use the most with me on a small handheld. It was never designed to "Replace" the computer, and I think that was the secret to its success. Although the Palm is on the verge of extinction I still see the concept as a good one. The "Pad" type of device I see as a similar technology. Not a computer replacement, but a supplement. With technology moving to "The Cloud" I guess I don't see a big deal with the lack of USB/SD/Firewire or other jacks, plugs, or holes in the device. I would think with no moving parts, maintenance should be minimal compared to a laptop. The cost also would/could allow you to purchase 2-3 "Pads" to one Laptop. Of course the bad news is that a district would probably still have to maintain traditional computers for higher end processing such as Video/Photo editing, CAD, and such. I guess what I am saying is don't look at this as a traditional computer, but as a new different kind of tool, then think about the problems it could solve. From: Timothy A. Limbert <mailto:limbe...@newell-fonda.k12.ia.us> Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 9:17 AM To: info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us Subject: RE: [info-tech] iPad pro/con Kurt, Yes, I actually agree with you that this is probably not a good 1:1 device, at least not if you expect students to really be able to create and produce. I feel the same way about netbooks. They have a place, and are useful for certain things, but if I'm going to base a full-time take-home 1:1 program around a device, it would be a real fully-functional laptop. I can see some educational uses of the iPad (or a netbook, or an iPod touch, or...), but I'm thinking of certain specific applications, not as general purpose machines. My feeling is that its main benefit is to push technology in a certain direction that might really develop into something. I mean, remember the Apple Newton? It didn't amount to much on its own, but it sure pushed technology in a direction that's become very important today. I'm looking for these 'slate' devices to morph quickly into the next generation of handheld computing devices. --- Timothy A. Limbert Technology Coordinator Newell-Fonda CSD
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