Tennessee private school requires iPad for class

[clobetasol]

http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=13880126

KNOXVILLE, TN:
It's something many children have begged their parents for. Now, for some Tennessee students, it's a requirement. Webb School, a private school in Knoxville, TN is requiring all fourth through 12th grade students to have an iPad for classes next year.
"To be able to use that technology whenever they need it, rather than, as it is now, they have to check out a cart, a laptop cart, or schedule lab time to take a class to a lab," said Jim Manikas, technology director at the school.
A student who doesn't already own one can lease one.
"We're going to make that as easy as possible. We'll offer a lease, a three-year lease for that," Manikas said. "In essence, you're talking about 200 dollars a year, paid over a 10-month school year, you're talking about $20 a month."
Manikas says the school wants the iPad to replace textbooks over time.
"Once I explored it, I was really excited, because there are things we can do better on this than we can on a paper text," said Elli Shellist, an English teacher at the school.
School officials say websites such as Facebook and Twitter will be blocked on campus.

[ZarakiKujata]

Do you get to own the iPad at the end of those 3 years? Cause 600$ that you won't own after is retarded.

[Norellicus]

This isn't necessarily a bad idea, but grades 4-12? What the fuck

[Kaisha]

Hope they supply thick nerf casings with all the ones they sell themselves along with screen protectors.

School would be better off waiting 5-6 more years for limited-colour eBook readers to come out (given the amount of diagrams they tend to pack into them, they wouldn't survive well on shades of grey/black). At least those don't hurt the eyes over time nor require recharging on a regular basis when used.


Can you even upload your own eBooks to the iPad without jailbreaking it btw?

[kareface]

Yes, I have a ton of books on my ipad. Just about any format too.

Edit: I got an ipad to use as an ebook reader and for textbooks and it's great. I usually take it instead of my netbook unless I know I'll need to be typing a lot at school.

[Valkrish]

A small part of me awoke to the sound of hundreds * of screaming parents.

[Correction]

I used to install/maintain computer equipment at schools as a summer job.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL if they think the school can afford this program after the first batch of ipads come back as dust, or at all.

[lathia]

I heard about this on the radio and chuckled at the 4th-12th grade range. I know there are other universities in TN offering iPads as tools but not requiring them. I've yet to mess with one, but, I just don't plain
see any must have feature besides portability. Not a big fan of e-books either. Nothing beats good all heavy books with pages to doodle notes all over them.

[notorious bum]

As if school funds weren't already being pissed away enough lol

ipads are terrible replacements for books on a durability standpoint, holding the bitch and doing your homework without a desk just doesn't work. On an investment standpoint, its a joke for the school, not to mention being a fuck-you to the parents.

u think dem T-town yungins gon lern betta wit dem dare computers??

[tonyg]

As said, nothing new, since most private schools for grades 6-12 here require a netbook now. Same type of program too, lease for the year for 100$ and the kid isn't held responsible for anything. I honestly have no clue how schools think this will be a good idea though, my little brothers are ALWAYS on facebook when they're at school, and that's not even thinking about going on free gaming sites or having stuff like GTA installed on it. In the end, it'll hurt their education more than it will help.

Giving toys to kids when you try to get their attention is OMG SO SMRT

[ZarakiKujata]

Bottom line is, this is a cool route and all but why not get http://www.kno.com instead?

[Pirian]

As if school funds weren't already being pissed away enough lol

It's a private school

[ZarakiKujata]

If it were a public school the administrators would get themselves iPads and tell the students/teachers to fuck off.

[jimbo]

back in my day i had to stuff 40 pounds of text books into my backpack and drag it 10 miles uphill through the rain and snow to get to school

[Fievel]

back in my day i had to stuff 40 pounds of text books into my backpack and drag it 10 miles uphill through the rain and snow to get to school

Up hill both ways?

[Alleya]

This isn't necessarily a bad idea, but grades 4-12? What the fuck

The whole world is going to exist on the internet by the time they are adults. It's a very good idea to get them competent with technology right away.

[Fievel]

The whole world is going to exist on the internet by the time they are adults. It's a very good idea to get them competent with technology right away.

But is it really a good idea in any way to give a 9 year old a $600 dollar device?

[Pirian]

They're going to a private school that requires an ipad. I'm sure they'll put it right next to their psp and 3ds

[Alleya]

But is it really a good idea in any way to give a 9 year old a $600 dollar device?

Is it a good idea to teach a 9 year old responsibility and give them the tools they need to get the best education possible?

Um...yes?

[greenhills]

give them the tools they need to get the best education possible?

it sounds more like giving them toys though. hell, even my ti graphing calculator got turned into a gaming machine when i was in school.