L.A. Unified School District Suspends $1 Billion iPad Contract with Apple

[Boomish69]

Apple are going to loose the education market unless they pull their finger out and deal with serious issues regarding pricing, admin and pc biased IT staff . This market is getting bigger & bigger each year and while the iPad's were a lot of teachers first recommendation they are up against wall of criticism form the IT staff and poor support in UK schools. I work on both platforms and feel it would be a shame that schools end up using chrome books everywhere but as Apple don't seem to be addressing any of these issues I think thats what will happen.

School IT systems are stupidly overcomplicated and Apple do have a small chance to show how easy it could be simplified but they are dragging their heels. I feel they won't get a second chance!

 

[nixiemaiden]

If a textbook only lasts 2-3 years due to damage, which I find hard to believe,
1. a glass iPad will last less than 1 year.
2. some of these kids have to start paying for damage. All my books were used for years before I got them, and they should last a very long time.

I believe I read somewhere that the iPads come with 3 year warranties.

Also, the school district where I am, at least for high school students, they are issuing them Macbook Airs. They are doing this because everything is digital now. Kids all submit their homework assignments online, teachers post their notes online, they have discussions online, etc.. At the start of every year each student has to pay $25 for insurance on the laptop. The laptops block most things that teenagers would waste their time with...facebook, twitter, etc. It is a good program to help those that don't have a computer at home.

Also to people who say that books last forever...I guess you never had a college professor who wrote their own text books. They would charge ridiculous amounts for a text book and make them obsolete every semester by coming out with a new book with slightly different material...and they would be sure to include questions on the exams that covered the different material forcing students to buy new and basically making the old textbook worthless. The same types of professors who would ask questions like "During class I showed a video about blah blah blah. Right before the video started there was a commercial. What was the commercial for?" Ugh...I don't miss college LOL

 

[joesuburb]

Buy kids better parents, not better toys. iPads are cool, love mine, but its silly to think this stupid generation just needs better toys to get an education.

 

[foodog]

A book has an 'infinent' lifespan. This software as well as an iPad maxes out at 3 to 5 years.

Obviously you forgot how the text book industry works. Remember back to college where you had to buy this years edition, last years was no good anymore.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

So the school district suspends a legitimate contractual agreement because it is receiving criticism about the bidding process? Sounds like LA may be on the hook to Apple because a contract is a contract. Apple followed the bidding process that was set out by the school district. Apple did not have any control or influence in that, but now LA wants to default on a contract because, why?

 

[joesuburb]

Ah, I love the indoctrinated communists of today. Book publishing is a low profit industry. Editors, marketing, production, and keeping books current takes an actual industry to do so. The authors certainly do a huge portion of the work, but to bring things to market and keep them viable takes a publisher. So, if a book only needs updating every 5 years, how does a publisher stay in business. If they aren't in business, you never move forward.

Obviously you forgot how the text book industry works. Remember back to college where you had to buy this years edition, last years was no good anymore.

 

[BuffaloTF]

Buy kids better parents, not better toys. iPads are cool, love mine, but its silly to think this stupid generation just needs better toys to get an education.

Yes. Let's bring back the abacus. Who needs enhanced tools to improve results, lessen overall cost, and make learning interactive? We should revert to stone tools and carrier-pigeons too.

 

[PocketSand11]

Obviously you forgot how the text book industry works. Remember back to college where you had to buy this years edition, last years was no good anymore.

How would digital books fix this if they can still charge for digital books? They'll pull this crap whether the books are printed or digital. There's no way around it other than forcing policies of keeping old books, unless you count piracy.

 

[bobenhaus]

Chromebook's to the rescue! At least with Chromebook's the admins can restrict access to games and stuff like that.

 

[PocketSand11]

I believe I read somewhere that the iPads come with 3 year warranties.

Also, the school district where I am, at least for high school students, they are issuing them Macbook Airs. They are doing this because everything is digital now. Kids all submit their homework assignments online, teachers post their notes online, they have discussions online, etc.. At the start of every year each student has to pay $25 for insurance on the laptop. The laptops block most things that teenagers would waste their time with...facebook, twitter, etc. It is a good program to help those that don't have a computer at home.

Also to people who say that books last forever...I guess you never had a college professor who wrote their own text books. They would charge ridiculous amounts for a text book and make them obsolete every semester by coming out with a new book with slightly different material...and they would be sure to include questions on the exams that covered the different material forcing students to buy new and basically making the old textbook worthless. The same types of professors who would ask questions like "During class I showed a video about blah blah blah. Right before the video started there was a commercial. What was the commercial for?" Ugh...I don't miss college LOL

$25 is not enough to insure a MacBook Air for an entire year. And if the college has a problem with professors scamming students with these books they make (which my cousin dealt with in a summer class), switching to electronic books won't fix anything if they can still charge for them.

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Chromebook's to the rescue! At least with Chromebook's the admins can restrict access to games and stuff like that.

OK, you can do this with everything, especially an iPad.

 

[69Mustang]

So the school district suspends a legitimate contractual agreement because it is receiving criticism about the bidding process? Sounds like LA may be on the hook to Apple because a contract is a contract. Apple followed the bidding process that was set out by the school district. Apple did not have any control or influence in that, but now LA wants to default on a contract because, why?

I'm sorry but that's not how it works. If the bidding process was found to be rigged, the contract can be voided and re-bid. That's why it was suspended instead of cancelled. A contract isn't a contract if it was won by illegal means. Bid rigging is a no-no.

 

[Ted13]

have there been any crime events (muggings) associated with this?

Not a valid question. Has there been a statistically significant increase in muggings or other iPad related crime? is the correct one. You could say "10 students were mugged! The iPads are dangerous!", but it could turn out that 15 students were mugged the year before the iPads appeared on the scene. You need a baseline to compare to.

 

[bawbac]

Yes. Let's bring back the abacus. Who needs enhanced tools to improve results, lessen overall cost, and make learning interactive? We should revert to stone tools and carrier-pigeons too.

Yes, lets use our HEADS and not DEPEND on technology to ALWAYS do the work for you.

People are becoming so dependent on technology that they need a calculator to determine a 15% tip on a $50 order.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Hey Apple,

Perhaps consider a volume discount in the future. IDK

Why should they? If someone is willing to pay it, they'll take it. The purpose of a business is to make as much money as possible.

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Yes, lets use our HEADS and not DEPEND on technology to ALWAYS do the work for you.

People are becoming so dependent on technology that they need a calculator to determine a 15% tip on a $50 order.

People actually calculate tips?

 

[Suture]

Not a valid question. Has there been a statistically significant increase in muggings or other iPad related crime? is the correct one.

That's exactly what I was asking. Perhaps I could have phrased it better. I'm just saying that I could see where students start getting mugged for their iPads. I'm not trying to change the subject, as just side question.

 

[greenmeanie]

I am glad us TAX PAYERS can help LOL
That is BS way to much money to be blowing.
And I am sure the GOV will try to rescue the program with OUR money.

That seems like a tremendous amount of money for a school district to have.

 

[rish]

School IT

Can anyone with a good knowledge of networking and security help me understand the bias towards Windows based computers? I hear constantly that macs aren't supported or allowed on the network either schools or work.

Are macs a hassle to set up and keep secure?

 

[lowepg]

640K+ students.

640K?

Pfft... thats enough for anyone!!

 

[greenmeanie]

They don't play well with DATA CENTERS you can't run them Virtual because APPLE wants to sell you hardware instead of licenses.

Can anyone with a good knowledge of networking and security help me understand the bias towards Windows based computers? I hear constantly that macs aren't supported or allowed on the network either schools or work.

Are macs a hassle to set up and keep secure?

 

[carlgo]

A billion dollar start is nuts, nothing good could happen. Apple and others could run a demo science and math program in a small but representative district. If it worked, other districts would practically be forced to adopt it and it would obviously would be easier for them to do so with a successful precedent.

It would be very good if this approach could be used to teach English to the non-English speaking kids. It is very difficult and expensive to deal with this in the conventional way.

 

[GeneralChang]

While that may be true about tax players covering some of the bill, but they probably more than make up for it in jobs created(temporary and permanent) in order to main the stadium, concession stands, etc. Not to mention the amount of money that gets spent at the stadium itself and the amount of sales tax that gets collected during each game played. And I can't even imagine the monthly power bill for something as large as a professional football stadium.

All of the stats I've seen have indicated that only the most profitable teams in the nation manage to have a positive influence on the local infrastructure in the ways you suggest. Most teams have such a low rent at their venues that they will never create enough ancillary jobs to offset that loss to the community.

Now, depending on the sport and the type of venue it is, the community can offset some of those costs by using that venue for other events, such as concerts, motocross events, or Disney on Ice. Basketball arenas are especially useful for this as they are indoors and can be used with any weather. Football stadiums (while overkill on the size usually required) can offset some of the cost that way as well, though that may be harder in northern climates unless they're enclosed. It's much harder to do with something odd shaped, like a baseball diamond.

The situation isn't simple, is what I'm saying, and there are probably a lot of communities where the local sports venue is nothing but a tax drain on the population that doesn't contribute to the local economy at all.

 

[nixiemaiden]

$25 is not enough to insure a MacBook Air for an entire year. And if the college has a problem with professors scamming students with these books they make (which my cousin dealt with in a summer class), switching to electronic books won't fix anything if they can still charge for them.

Well that is how they are doing it here. They started the program last school year. Students had to pay $50 for insurance to get a macbook air and then turn it in at the end of the year. A lot of parents complained that $50 was too high and this year they dropped it to $25 per student.

Of course they are going to charge for the books...why else would they change them every semester. I would much prefer the book to be digital because at this point all of the college books I couldn't sell are sitting on a bookshelf in my home untouched and taking up space because I feel guilty and wasteful throwing them out.

 

[GreenPixel]

How would digital books fix this if they can still charge for digital books? They'll pull this crap whether the books are printed or digital. There's no way around it other than forcing policies of keeping old books, unless you count piracy.

Google "open textbook" and begin reading.

 

[BuffaloTF]

Yes, lets use our HEADS and not DEPEND on technology to ALWAYS do the work for you.

People are becoming so dependent on technology that they need a calculator to determine a 15% tip on a $50 order.

Who said anything about that? That would be plagiarism, and/or cheating, to do so in an educational setting.

Complex math, being introduced into the high school setting more and more, requires enhanced tools. Basic math is being taught in an altered way to show relationships to numbers instead of doing simple equations.

Modern history has been recorded, what a better source of information than actually witnessing the first-hand account, and applying the scientific method - as should be done with history - to interpret it.

Proper Sciences would easily benefit from digital learning. Atomic weights, something I used to have memorized back in the day, could be referred to at will. Formulas can be swapped on the fly. Dissections in biology could be done digitally. Certain labs could be performed digitally as well.

English... well that's a no-brainer. In addition to digital books and instant access to a digital library; learning the language with a tool that has instant access to dictionary and thesaurus tools; something whose input requires reading teaches reading. They've dropped various tablets off in remote areas, and without teachers they've taught themselves to read and speak English...

Those are the big 4 subjects. None would "do the work for them"... just replace items already in use at a lower cost. The list could continue to other subjects easily as well. I'd even stretch to include Phys Ed, since apparently stacking cups is the new thing in gym... stacking cups. If stacking cups is physical education because of hand dexterity required, then a keyboarding class is gym as well... and Fruit Ninja should be too. (that phys ed part... it's a joke, based in reality tho).

And I tip 20%...

 

[NDRes]

If a textbook only lasts 2-3 years due to damage, which I find hard to believe,
1. a glass iPad will last less than 1 year.
2. some of these kids have to start paying for damage. All my books were used for years before I got them, and they should last a very long time.

You should believe it. Students are pretty rough with their issued textbooks and those books in turn get passed on to the next student. After a few years, it really is not uncommon for schools to discover that the most fortunate position is to have students tape up the binding and put on covers, while they scramble to find textbooks for students that have to return ruined books to the instructor. It was also fortunate that over the past several years, textbook companies issued DVDs with the textbook on them, but this would also be of limited use for those students who came from families with limited technological means.

That is not to say I am not skeptical of Chromebook and/or iPad programs for many of the same reasons, but scores of physical textbooks do get damaged rather quickly.