Reading devices aside, any school system that is paying textbooks at this point is robbing the taxpayers. It's all open source, and has been for some time.
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L.A. School District Cancels iPad Pearson Curriculum, Asks Apple for Refund
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It's a compromise for the lower cost than a notebook. Students need to enter texts for essays amongst others, so a notebook is still essential. Writing on an iPad, even with an external keyboard, is still less than ideal.
The iPad has been deemed useless for a school? No surprise there. The tablet market has been declining, mostly due to Apple's failure to innovate with the iPad. If they don't do something soon - and they likely won't - the market Apple created will also be killed by them. 
Problem with initiatives such as this is that they are often in the hands of individuals that like a combination of smarts, technical knowledge, and business acumen. You can bet the house that very little planning and risk management went into the decision to go through with this investment.
1.3 BILLION DOLLARS - And Apple could not manage to make it work?
Apple doesn't design curricula
This project was a joke from the start.
I worked at Pearson here in the Bay Area building a lot of the classroom content for the app.
Things were rushed to the point that we didn't have time to polish almost anything, and a lot of this b grade material ended up in the hands of students.
Project managers were pushed by their superiors higher up the ladder to adapt a quantity over quality approach to content creation and delivery. It made it a hard environment to work in, as if you were to point out flaws or inconsistencies to anyone your cry would go unnoticed.
They were rushing because they over sold the scope of the product then tried to cover it up by overloading the school district with an over delivery of sub par content. It smelled a lot like a premeditated scheme in the sense that they were getting very large checks written for concepts and products that didn't even exist yet.
On the day they launched with LAUSD, I could literally crash the app on demand in over 10 different ways by simply tapping in certain areas.
LAUSD got played hard.
I worked at Pearson here in the Bay Area building a lot of the classroom content for the app.
Things were rushed to the point that we didn't have time to polish almost anything, and a lot of this b grade material ended up in the hands of students.
Project managers were pushed by their superiors higher up the ladder to adapt a quantity over quality approach to content creation and delivery. It made it a hard environment to work in, as if you were to point out flaws or inconsistencies to anyone your cry would go unnoticed.
They were rushing because they over sold the scope of the product then tried to cover it up by overloading the school district with an over delivery of sub par content. It smelled a lot like a premeditated scheme in the sense that they were getting very large checks written for concepts and products that didn't even exist yet.
On the day they launched with LAUSD, I could literally crash the app on demand in over 10 different ways by simply tapping in certain areas.
LAUSD got played hard.
Sadly this type of rush rush rush work environment is spreading like the plague in the US. Companies are no longer interested in doing good work, just finish this project and move on to the next one.
In the UK Pearson own an exam board called edexcel and they regularly have mistakes or lose papers etc it's pretty funny really as a teacher myself.
The iPad has been deemed useless for a school? No surprise there. The tablet market has been declining, mostly due to Apple's failure to innovate with the iPad. If they don't do something soon - and they likely won't - the market Apple created will also be killed by them.
Although you spell doom & gloom...I am no Apple Fanboy. But I generally agree with you. The iPad and tablet market hasn't done anything innovative since the iPad's original release in 2010. Sure, CPUs have gotten faster and there are 1.3 trillion apps and the screen is clearer/crisper and the devices (like anything electronic) are skinnier and lighter...YAWN.
Where are all the killer apps/functionality promised 5 years ago that described:
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Serious business apps (IBM is partnering now but who knows how far that will go)
Siri is bad and I think still in beta....but it would be awesome if it really, really worked. The autocorrect is a hindrance...I can't believe how many times I type a correct phrase like "bank fund" and it turns it into "bank find". The ability to get an iPad-created movie off the iPad IN FULL QUALITY is almost impossible unless you buy/download a 3rd party app. Apple's relentless tie to iTunes (and the absolute latest and greatest I might add) is bothersome.
I enjoy the iPad (we have several) but we use them primarily for basic email (meaning not replying with more than 10 words), fair web surfing, and Facetime once a week.
I just don't see any real innovation....just Apple's goal to make it lighter and thinner and the hardware guts technically faster (yet the OS just chokes it) which are expected from this industry...thus I am always left with the "and that's all Apple can think of?" every iPad refresh. When you really look, what's the difference between the iPad 2 and iPad 6 other than hardware guts, iOS version, and a fingerprint reader?
I've followed this story only occasionally, but I will say this:
I support iPads in an educational environment, and it's a nightmare. It has, thus far, been very poorly-handled by Apple and by third-parties. The Apple Configurator software is buggy (I mean, you *still* have to purchase an extra license of every single app you buy through their VPProgram because the software can't count and and the work-around is more time than it is worth). Also, Apple has yet to provide a way for users to easily transfer documents back and forth to their network accounts on Mac OS X servers. The whole WEBDAV functionality is too complicated for users to remember, and it's additionally extremely buggy in implementation. So it's pretty much useless.) It's really a mess. Now it looks like Apple Configurator is already being abandoned in favor of MDMs, which is OK, I guess, in the perfect world where education is funded like professional sports! But in reality this is just another expense on the already beleaguered education system (since this means additional IT labor costs). All that the education sector really wants is something that works well, is easy to keep working, and which doesn't change every year or two so drastically that it continually eats precious $$$$.
Anyway, I didn't really want to get into specifics (but I did anyway) because I'm sure you can find them said eloquently elsewhere, but I can definitely see how this program would fall apart. iPads in education, used for anything beyond web-browsing and other forms of content-absorption) are incredibly time-consuming to configure, administer, and maintain. (Most of the schools in my area have had such poor luck that they are not buying any more iPads, but intend to move back to laptops of various types.)
I support iPads in an educational environment, and it's a nightmare. It has, thus far, been very poorly-handled by Apple and by third-parties. The Apple Configurator software is buggy (I mean, you *still* have to purchase an extra license of every single app you buy through their VPProgram because the software can't count and and the work-around is more time than it is worth). Also, Apple has yet to provide a way for users to easily transfer documents back and forth to their network accounts on Mac OS X servers. The whole WEBDAV functionality is too complicated for users to remember, and it's additionally extremely buggy in implementation. So it's pretty much useless.) It's really a mess. Now it looks like Apple Configurator is already being abandoned in favor of MDMs, which is OK, I guess, in the perfect world where education is funded like professional sports! But in reality this is just another expense on the already beleaguered education system (since this means additional IT labor costs). All that the education sector really wants is something that works well, is easy to keep working, and which doesn't change every year or two so drastically that it continually eats precious $$$$.
Anyway, I didn't really want to get into specifics (but I did anyway) because I'm sure you can find them said eloquently elsewhere, but I can definitely see how this program would fall apart. iPads in education, used for anything beyond web-browsing and other forms of content-absorption) are incredibly time-consuming to configure, administer, and maintain. (Most of the schools in my area have had such poor luck that they are not buying any more iPads, but intend to move back to laptops of various types.)
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My guess is this would be less of an Apple problem, if at all, and more the schools shi**y IT department. I have never met a school IT person that didn't either suck at their job, or didn't care about anything. If it was an Apple problem, then schools should be dropping like dead flies.
This was a silly idea from the start.
In many 3rd world countries kids are required to buy their own textbooks in grade school. A textbook gets more than three or four years of use for a fraction of the cost of an iPad.
They should've allowed students to download regular eBooks and bring in their own tablets; keeping some on hand for the few students that wouldn't have been able to afford one.
If they wanted to go all out, they could've built their own software for much less and made it web-based, closed networked, and cross platform.
In many 3rd world countries kids are required to buy their own textbooks in grade school. A textbook gets more than three or four years of use for a fraction of the cost of an iPad.
They should've allowed students to download regular eBooks and bring in their own tablets; keeping some on hand for the few students that wouldn't have been able to afford one.
If they wanted to go all out, they could've built their own software for much less and made it web-based, closed networked, and cross platform.
What should they have? All I hear others ask for is split screen multitasking (I wouldn't mind that) and front facing speakers (not that big of a deal.) (No, it really isn't. You're kidding yourself if that's a deal breaker.) I always hear how the iPad isn't innovative anymore but never hear what WOULD be innovative. "Other than the hardware guts, iOS version and a fingerprint reader?" That isn't enough? What do you want??
Also, you can download your recorded movies in Image Capture, built into your Mac. Don't have a Mac? Guess it's a good thing Windows flat out offers to import your videos and photos automatically when you plug your iPad into it.
The iPad is fine, you're just being contrary for contrary's sake.
30,000 iPads is a tremendously large size for a pilot program. Seems like they tried to go way to fast with this initiative. And it just doesn't seem like a great fit for grades K-12. Not everyone is a tech person. Hate to say it, but seems like good old fashioned books are still the best way.
I've worked with many of Pearson's products, as a consultant for the IT staff of a couple schools.
Pearson is an incredibly difficult vendor. Their products are spread out all across the board. Some of the products are good, some are absolute trash. They all seem to have conflicting requirements and they've had a horrible time keeping up with java security updates. One product may require firefox and and old java while another requires IE and java 1 minor version back. You can imagine the nightmare of a single IT person that's also generally just a teacher with some basic IT background. Any company that could get in there and do it right, while avoiding buyout by Pearson, will make a fortune and be loved by all involved with education IT.
Also, keep in mind that schools are punching bags for the political right, so their funding changes nearly yearly, forcing long term commitments like these fall apart on the funding side as well.
I hate the LAUSD, IM NEVER GOING THERE AGAIN, what is it? Anyway it's going on my hate list, right beside teenagers who don't buy the Apple Watch and Bose, I'm not sure about Bose, do we still hate them.
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The iPad has been deemed useless for a school? No surprise there. The tablet market has been declining, mostly due to Apple's failure to innovate with the iPad. If they don't do something soon - and they likely won't - the market Apple created will also be killed by them.
such a sad remark. I use mine daily and so does my GF. For her it replaced her laptop completely.
I use Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Photos (extensively), iMovie, Reeder 2, and numerous other apps daily almost.
I use my iPad more than my iPhone 6 Plus or my 2012 iMac. I use my iMac for Final Cut Pro and for more in depth image editing and when needed Office 2016 but that's typically it.
I would agree with this. Our schools have a 1:1 program for kids from 5th through 12th. But the teachers use such a wide range of apps/products with varying levels of quality that it seems like it's more trouble than it's worth. We only see the back end of the support issues and it seems like a mess.
The kids actually enjoy working on Google Docs and using chromebooks more than their iPads.
I completely agree. I have a friend who just switched from an Android to an iPhone and iPad and he too was arguing about how difficult it was to get media on and off the devices. I've never had an issue at all and iCloud Photo Library just makes it that much easier and even without that there's always dropbox or just connecting it to a mac or windows computer.
Some people out there literally hate their tech (regardless of who makes it) and blame companies when sometimes (and often most likely) the issue is user education.
My friend never bothered to google anything or look at the manual or check out the settings within iTunes. As time goes by more things become more obvious as tech matures however some people will just get fed up before they ever even try to seek an answer.
I too would love split screen and truly believe it's coming THIS YEAR. Probably didn't last year due to all the issues needing ironed out and I'm assuming split screen and how it is implemented along with how it could affect OS Gestures for iOS is something they don't want to rush.
Front facing speakers? I personally could care less and if it was included in this years devices it's not innovative and never was to me.
If they innovate the thing too much more it won't be what it is today, it'd be a different product. Maybe the iPad Pro if real will quail all the hate but I secretly believe most people who argue it's not innovative don't know how to use it well or are trolling.
I've written dozens of letters (10 paragraphs or more) on my iPad without issue. I've created movies over five minutes long that were edited, I've created soundtracks and even my own ringtones, I've created spreadsheets for my work, created numerous documents, and recently did three presentations within Keynote, I've edited around 500 photos recently, Traded over $100,000 in stock on my iPad, Created several automated workflows with "Workflow" and even create my workouts that sync to my iPhone on my iPad.
And oh yeah I've also bought and read over 30 books and do the typical movies and music on there as well.
PS nothing like editing a photo with Snapped on a 70 inch 4K TV from my iPad Air 2 using screen mirroring.
To each their own but when I use my iPad the only thing I find lacking is sometimes using four fingers to swipe back and forth between things isn't as nice as having two apps side by side. That's my ONLY issue. I Literally can't think of anything else I want or need it to do except maybe allow me to run OS X for times I need FCP X or a more detailed photo editor (Adobe did show full blown Photoshop running on an iPad Air 1 last year BTW) and even then it's a matter of time when I may not need to even do those things on my iMac.
But as an aside sometimes it is nicer to be in front of a computer but as I've said before my iPad is the best Apple device I own.
Thanks for the link, it sounds like this was somewhat of a disaster from the get go but ultimately the software didn't deliver what was promised.
No, he's being realistic. I've used the iPad since 2010 and see the same limitations and lack of innovation. The lack of handwriting input and no precision pointing device limits the iPad for education. Apple has ignored this gap and pretends that finger painting and watching animations are sufficient. Microsoft's new Surface tablets are going to shake up this market and might actually spur Apple into making a tablet product useful for business and education.
As a 2nd grade teacher i see the use in using iPads in he classroom. I use iPads with my students often. However they are not good for everything. Young children still need pen and paper to learn how to write. Typing can be quite difficult for children and will take time for them to type up a simple sentence.
I think it is too ambitious for a school too try and eradicate pen and paper from a school.
Technology isn't always reliable for classroom use. I've had to change whole lessons before because the server in my school decided to act up and took hours to fix. So that day my students did textbook work out if a paper book and pen and paper
iPads aren't really suited for something like this. What textbook publishers should do is come up with their own tablets so that it is dedicated tablet for their publisher.
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Yup the same thing happens at my school as well. I keep on praying my bulb never goes out. Because I know I won't be able to use it for a really long time.
I think it is too ambitious for a school too try and eradicate pen and paper from a school.
Technology isn't always reliable for classroom use. I've had to change whole lessons before because the server in my school decided to act up and took hours to fix. So that day my students did textbook work out if a paper book and pen and paper
iPads aren't really suited for something like this. What textbook publishers should do is come up with their own tablets so that it is dedicated tablet for their publisher.
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Yup the same thing happens at my school as well. I keep on praying my bulb never goes out. Because I know I won't be able to use it for a really long time.