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L.A. Unified School District to Give Students 640,000 iPads by End of 2014
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Most kids are fascinated by technology, the iPad especially, and there is a boat load of educational software in the App Store. Anything that encourages kids to show up to school and feel inspired to learn is a good thing.
myrtlebee
macrumors 68030
I don't understand your comment, but, no, I am serious. It is not cheap to live in LA, and I would assume most homes have an iPad by now. Total waste.
Funny - taken in sarcasm of course - but it does make me think that those who designed and developed all these new electronic devices learned how by reading those physical textbooks.
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And do they have internet access at home if they don't have a computer and a router?
Seriously, who let those filthy vagabonds in the building with civilized people?!
OrangeSVTguy
macrumors 601
So you think it's better for kids to carry around a 40lb. bookbag with Multiple books in it?
You sound bitter because you got nothing.
An epic waste of taxpayer funds. Like all initiatives in public education that only live to serve the parasitic public employee unions and are meaningless in terms of actual education.
Chupa Chupa
macrumors G5
Absurd to GIVE these to students. Loan them like normal text books, yes, but for the school system not to reuse them (as normal text books are) is an insane waste of $. If I were an LA property taxpayer I'd be a bit incensed.
And what happens to these iPads when a student drops out, gets expelled, or has a persistent pattern of not doing their homework, reading, etc. If they don't need the iPad b/c they aren't doing the work they don't need the iPad. It shouldn't be an unqualified gift for doing nothing.
Also when a student breaks or loses the device, what then? Is it replaced gratis and ad infinitum? So many questions to be answered.
And what happens to these iPads when a student drops out, gets expelled, or has a persistent pattern of not doing their homework, reading, etc. If they don't need the iPad b/c they aren't doing the work they don't need the iPad. It shouldn't be an unqualified gift for doing nothing.
Also when a student breaks or loses the device, what then? Is it replaced gratis and ad infinitum? So many questions to be answered.
Shrink
macrumors G3
GIVING them iPads?! This is exactly why I never trust them when they ask to increase taxes for school. This is just retarded.
Aragrist
macrumors newbie
The LA unified school district is a failure of a system. How about taking that $30,000,000 and using it to acquire more teachers. I'm guessing that more than half the free iPads will be sold for drugs and the other half will be used for viewing porn in the school bathrooms during class.
Of course I didn't see anywhere in the article if the kids actually get to take the iPads home and keep them or if they are simply going to be available during class time and be kept in the classroom. One would hope for the latter or like I said, most will be sold.
Of course I didn't see anywhere in the article if the kids actually get to take the iPads home and keep them or if they are simply going to be available during class time and be kept in the classroom. One would hope for the latter or like I said, most will be sold.
I somewhat agree that it's a waste of resources, but I think you're confusing LA with Beverly Hills if you think most people will own one. Begin your journey of discovery by reading about the city's varied demographics here: http://maps.latimes.com/neighborhoods/
So according to you, so-called 'poor' people don't know how to treat property with care? I've got news for you, the financial situation of a child's parents has absolutely nothing to do with the care and respect they give their children and what kind of responsibilities they pass on to their kids.
I happen to know kids who come from both the 'poorer' financial situations and kids whose families are well-off. From my experience kids who have nothing are much more respectful of 'things' simply because they don't have much. Kids who are given a lot of 'things' simply expect their parents to replace anything they misuse.
Please try to understand, you cannot and should not paint every person with such wide brushes. That's the biggest problem in our country right now. People simply have stereotyped those not like themselves. Labeling them as 'others' all the while not even knowing any of them personally. People have siloed themselves with others who they see as 'like themselves' and refuse to see that the stereotypes they think exist simply do not. People are far too different and each one should be judged on their own. MLK said it best, we all should judge others by the "content of their character and not the color of their skin". Seems we need to add their family's financial situation to that statement too.
As for the expense, well apparently the voters of LA voted for this plan. It's 'the will of the people' and frankly it might work out well. I'm sure some kids will not treat the iPads with respect but I'm just as sure that those kids will come from every type of family situation imaginable. But writing them off immediately, before even giving them a chance, certainly doesn't give them any help so that they may actually improve their lives and move up in the world. If we as a society, don't provide that support then we are simply creating and sustaining a social order of perpetual second-class citizens.
myrtlebee
macrumors 68030
Sigh. My point was that in any major city in the US, chances are most households have a computer or an iPad already, hence no need to "give" any to students. I can see a case being made to lend them to students during class time, but to give them to keep or to being home is foolish and is basically buying a $500 toy for these kids.
are teachers ready for technology?
Colleges, universities, and industry are pushing blended and online education. Publishers(Pearson comes to mind), are responding by putting their various titles online (e-textbooks). 9-12 education is going that way as well. Ipads (& other tablets) are merely tools for use in the classroom. K-8 is already using them (laptops, touches, etc) with "cows" in each classroom. All great ideas with potential. However, the issue is whether or not districts & teachers are ready for this new type of teaching. Furthermore, all districts across the country are transitioning to Common Core. Curriculum is being altered as I type this. 90% of teachers are not ready for this new technology as districts do not know, either. So, the issue is who will be the first district to take the plunge, try, and create the new curriculum for this technology? Why LAUSD. They are the litmus test on how districts across the country can make use of this technology. My district, two hours north of LA is already watching LAUSD in how they implement and distribute the Ipad. So, give LAUSD a break, let us see what happens, and hopefully positive changes will occur in the classroom. 😀
p.s. I am a current H.S. teacher who has taught from standard to AP. So, yes, I do know what I am typing about. 🙂
Colleges, universities, and industry are pushing blended and online education. Publishers(Pearson comes to mind), are responding by putting their various titles online (e-textbooks). 9-12 education is going that way as well. Ipads (& other tablets) are merely tools for use in the classroom. K-8 is already using them (laptops, touches, etc) with "cows" in each classroom. All great ideas with potential. However, the issue is whether or not districts & teachers are ready for this new type of teaching. Furthermore, all districts across the country are transitioning to Common Core. Curriculum is being altered as I type this. 90% of teachers are not ready for this new technology as districts do not know, either. So, the issue is who will be the first district to take the plunge, try, and create the new curriculum for this technology? Why LAUSD. They are the litmus test on how districts across the country can make use of this technology. My district, two hours north of LA is already watching LAUSD in how they implement and distribute the Ipad. So, give LAUSD a break, let us see what happens, and hopefully positive changes will occur in the classroom. 😀
p.s. I am a current H.S. teacher who has taught from standard to AP. So, yes, I do know what I am typing about. 🙂
gnasher729
Suspended
Have you heard of iBooks Author? Makes it quite easy to create electronic textbooks that are actually superior to real paper textbooks.
kilcher
macrumors 65816
Just wait until the thugs get wind of this, bunch of little kids walking home from school with what is basically $500 in their backpack.
Hopefully they'll have to leave them at school. And hopefully the school will secure them. Hundreds or thousands of iPads in one place is going to be a big temptation for someone.
Hopefully they'll have to leave them at school. And hopefully the school will secure them. Hundreds or thousands of iPads in one place is going to be a big temptation for someone.
yeah, and then the student will install chat apps and chat during class, great!
i so wanna be there!
i so wanna be there!
myrtlebee
macrumors 68030
OK, I don't wish to get bogged down in this, but your point has sublimated from 'most homes own an iPad' (stated twice) to 'most households in large cities have access to a computer of some sort'. Not a subtle difference, and entirely sidesteps the issue that the iPad is being used for specific education purposes that a home desktop PC shared with the rest of the family cannot meet.
Anyway moving on... meanwhile, in the UK:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/jul/28/ipad-tablet-computer-school-parents