what i want to know from the standpoint even seeing it be done with computers while i was going through school, is not IF but WHEN the kid(s) break it because they drop it and shatter the screens? being the school just GIVES them out they will not at all take care of them and will literally beat them to the brink of being semi-functional expecially if the kits are under the age of 16.
The town I grew up in schools' makes the students and parents sign a contract, if the computer is or returns damaged they have to pair the repair costs up to $250 or whatever the replacement cost of the ChromeBook. The computer is expected to last a few years and non-damage-induced issues are covered under a standard warranty. Various insurance policies can be purchased depending on how much you want to spend/get covered. Families who cannot afford the insurance are provided assistance (though this wouldn't apply to many in this town).
Do schools no longer have libraries or computer labs? Could they not as simply just goto the computer lab and do all their research on them?
Most research now is now done on a computer. Books are not regularly updated. It's easier/cheaper to pay for internet databases than buy print books. There are some hospitals that have banned print medical reference books due to the risk of disseminating outdated information.
they should get it in a mobile "lab" format say 30 or so per classroom (or somewhere near the volume of kids in the class) and then they can use "Check Out" these iPads if they need them for homework
Scheduling can be in issue with labs, i.e. multiple teachers want to use the lab(s) or cart(s) simultaneously. Most schools have space constraints to build more labs. Chromebooks are cheaper than building additions.
(reading a digital textbook for homework) and the teacher just hands them out to use IN-CLASS for use of textbooks or other such purposes (wouldnt it just be cheaper or easier to have the textbooks on PDFs so they can be viewed on literally every device be it computer, phone, tablet?
There are a lot of digital textbooks now. If they're still using print books, its likely because they're paid for and they will use them until they can afford to upgrade to newer eBooks. That's one of the benefit of laptops. Given that most students (at least when I was in school) had daily homework out of textbooks, especially with multiple classes, lending out devices would be impractical. Yes most kids already have computers, but there is a liability for them to bring them into school (theft), less security, less control over what they can do on it during class.
I think giving them to every kid to keep is a bad idea it should be assigned to classrooms.... NOT students, Where they have a system in place that if needed, they can simply check them out like a book....
It is assumed that they will be utilized regularly, so checking them out would likely not provide enough devices per student. Additionally, if a device "belongs" to a student, then there is a greater sense of responsibility instilled and expected. Kids will be less likely to trash their "own" ipad/chromebook rather than a "rental" one.
That is what my school did for the Yearbook and Video classes, I was able to check out a Handicam, was suppose to record some footage (can't remember what) than take it back, transfer the video to the eMacs and edit the clips in iMovie to make it into a short video and we were graded based upon what we filmed, how we edited it together
A camera has limited use, a chromebook/iPad can be integrated into most class curriculums, as computers already have been.
i personally dont think grade-school or middle-school aged children have the level of responsibility to actually be given one of these rather pricey devices.
This very well may be the case, but I know my 10 year old cousin has an iPad, iPad, and a laptop. It's not uncommon for kids to have computers at young ages these days. Back when I was young, computers were so thousands of dollars so everyone had a "family computer". Now computers are cheap and considered a personal device.
And what IF a kid already has one or has a DROID tablet? shouldnt they be allowed to use their own device (or reject one completely) if they so wanted?
They might be against this. It may not be able to connect to the schools network, they probably don't want to deal with theft of personal property (the CB's or iPads belong to the school), and the biggest problem is kids playing games. As far as I know, iPads and ChromeBooks in education have a lot of restrictions in place to prevent distractions in class from occurring.
----------
exactly my standpoint.... Why not use ChromeBooks? they are cheaper, rather limited software library AND rather limited storage= less distractions AFAIK ChromeBooks have no games...... i have seen them in real life they are literally no bigger in size than a iPad and probably weigh AT MOST a few ounces more. The Mayo Clinic uses iPads and iPhones for the same thing you do. Yet EVERY exam room (whatever they call them) and every patient room (in the hospital) all have computers a few presses of the keys doctors, nurses and whatnot can be logged in, and access the patients file within the matter of SECONDS. So honestly why Mayo Clinic uses iPads and iPhones for patient records seems rather moot since like i said there is a computer at every desk and in every hallway where patients are seen on every floor and in every building...... Patient/Visitor computers are not as frequent usually between 1-4 and unlike staff computers, are NOT in every waiting room or every floor.
Well currently ChromeBooks are outselling iPads in education or at least they're neck in neck. I imagine iPads are still used because they were first to the market and grandfathered in, already contracting with apple for school computers, or just the fanboyism by the department/bragging rights.
Not every room in a hospital has computers. Most exam rooms typically have computers at this point (though not necessarily), but in patient rooms there are never computers. Different hospitals have drastically varying amounts of technology. Due to software licensing issues/costs (hundreds of thousands in a larger hospital), it's not practical to load software onto every computer that doesn't need it, and in an emergency you can't waste time logging into web based browsers and such. The psychiatrist or clinical/counsulting pharmacist doesn't need radiology software, the nurse doesn't need the same pharmaceutical databases I use, I don't need anywhere near the level of diagnostic references doctors use. There aren't many easily accessible in psych wards too, as it can be used as a weapon.
Edit: Also in an emergency if a nurse is looking up the patients medical history, another needs to look up his medication history, and I need to find out if I can mix a specific drug with an IV already inplace, we cannot all be using the same computer. Computers mounted in the open hallways are not connected to patient information in some places do the HIPPA privacy issues and are more for reference.
Edit 2: Doctors also like iPads because of their high-res screens for radiography images (X-rays, CAT scans, MRI's, etc)