The big iPad in schools deception

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My child's school recently introduced iPads for all parents, effectively eliminating traditional textbooks and paper worksheets in favour of a fully digital approach. While I understand the move towards digital learning, I'm concerned that the costs are being transferred to parents in a private education setting. The school seems to raise fees but with this digital move they are also saving, a lot of money. I paid for the iPad. It seems that the school is heavily relying on digital technology, which I believe might not necessarily improve the quality of education. I'm skeptical about the idea that increased screen time will genuinely enhance the learning experience.
Are we inadvertently turning our children into screen-dependent individuals by providing them with iPads around the clock? iPads offer numerous distractions, and I'm concerned about the potential consequences of these constant digital engagements on our children.

Any opposing views?

Our secondary school, introduced ipads 8 years ago it's a state grammar. We paid for them but on a monthly payment over 3 years. They don't use them solely, they are an aid.

I see some people are asking what happens if people can't afford it. Our school worked with a company which aims to allow access for all so the costs include an amount which purchases ipads for those who are struggling financially so that all children get one whatever their family income.

the local private school has just introduced them (compulsorily) for year 7 and 8.
You can only buy through them, and they charge a few hundred more than if you bought it elsewhere, so they're making a tidy profit. The cost comes with the first term's fees.
The parents say the kids don't get to know each other and make friends because every break and lunch time they've got their heads buried in their screens. Nobody has done their due diligence on screen/technology addiction.

The first couple of GCSE's are due to go digital around 2026. Other subjects and A levels will take Longer. Fully digital classrooms but paper and pen exams is a recipe for trouble. Schools that are going fully digital now are jumping the gun. Also ipads are the wrong technology, unless you're an apple shareholder.

Re: "improved executive functions" someone alluded to upthread. Executive functions are when your brain does the organizing, not when automatic reminders do all the organizing. If anything, over-reliance on technology to do things we formerly did for ourselves will lead to under-developed executive functions.

That's great. But education is meant to be free so parents ( regardless of income) shouldn't have to pay for ipads. Calculators, pens etc are expensive enough.

Bless the kids that need to underline and physically write, I read and make notes on an iPad and it doesn’t touch pen and paper!!

I don’t disagree. My original response was really in regard to it’s not a new thing and they are used as an aide rather than a replacement of traditional methods in our school.

I'm dreading this being the case when my child starts school.

I REALLY don't want her looking at an iPad all day

Dd1's secondary school used to do this but lots of the parents complained about the cost when she started. It was 3 years ago just after covid and loads of people where I live are freelance or were furloughed so had no money. The school said you had to buy them through them and had to be iPads so far more expensive than e.g an android tablet. The school ended up cancelling the scheme, and haven't reintroduced it. I'm glad about this although I guess it does mean you need some other device to do your homework on. But at least it can be a family device and doesn't have to be made by a specific company.

I have heard the exam board planning to go digital ( in some minor subjects) have dropped the idea but are “pushing back” to 2030.
I don’t think it will happen then either, there is no way to ensure reliability equivalent to pen and paper.

Schools jumping ahead will have a lot to answer for,

My sixth form college are rolling these out. iPads are free to students so that’s not an issue. However I’m now in the situation where one year group has them and one doesn’t and boy can I see the difference! The y12s simply hide behind them. They don’t like to speak or join in discussions. I end up pratting about with apps and word clouds and bullshit like that when I would have just had a group discussion before I order to get them to actually contribute.

Interestingly we do a student survey every year. I teach the same subject to both year groups. The y12 do their work on iPads and submit through Teams where I give feedback. I mark their work more often in all honesty. The y13 do probably less assessed work but they do longer handwritten pieces and get handwritten comments. The y13 felt like they had MORE useful feedback than the y12 even though they actually get less. I think one handwritten comment is worth about five typed ones to a student, even when I’m writing the same stuff!

I’m far from a Luddite and have always embraced technology but I dislike the iPad trend. They’re just not adding anything to my teaching - I already have a suite of computers which are far more versatile and useful to me in my subject.

DDs private school has them as compulsory for Yr 7 and above. No issues with kids not interacting etc because they have built in very strong security so the kids can't access You Tube or download apps without teacher security code. The kids aren't spending time in breaks/lunch glued to the devices.
They spread the cost over 3 years @ £100 per term and you then upgrade at the end of those 3 years. From out pov it was a good deal.
The school have a blend of using the device plus handwriting work in books so I think it is a good mix.

My kids school has been an official Apple school for 10 years (not entirely sure what that means) they all have their own iPads. Junior school ones stay at school, senior school can bring theirs home.
They have very tight controls and really only have educational apps and uses available. They use some textbooks and still have exercise books for everything. They do plenty of writing.
The iPads were an absolute game changer in lockdown. They were up and running with full time school provision from the get go.
So far I think they’ve been a positive thing. It all depends on balance and how they’re used.

I think there’s research that shows you process information more effectively when hand writing. I agree, OP, I would be very unkeen.

@twistyizzy What happens for children where the parents can’t afford £100 a term - very expensive particularly if you have more than one child at school.

Doesn't tend to be an issue in private school. My reply was to 1 specific poster who was talking about devices in private schools. My comment wasn't about the affordability of devices in state education.

I hate the idea of it and it has been a factor in choosing a secondary school for my daughter. The school she has chosen doesn’t use them heavily and very little at school, although expects students to have some form of access to online learning at home. Others we looked at made a feature of the fact all students had one and everything was on there. One school we looked at had students with their heads bent over them in every single lesson we witnessed, and we had a dilligent student guide who showed us every classroom. That’s a huge amount of screen time per day, as they’ll also do homework on it, and it doesn’t feel right to me. And it doesn’t seem to be a state/private thing. Some friends with children in state and private are iPad heavy and others not.

New research shows that children learn better on paper than on screens:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/jan/17/kids-reading-better-paper-vs-screen

Yet most schools still assume that the use of iPads and computers necessarily enhances education.

This hasn't even been peer-reviewed yet!

Not quite right. It's designed to be accessible to all regardless of income but that doesn't mean everything is free. While state education in the UK is funded by the tax payer there are still some costs such as for uniforms, school trips, equipment and extracurricular activities.

I don't think wearing uniform is legally enforceable, is it?

As for charging for tablets ( and school trips, equipment etc) the rules can be found here:( I think this is the latest guidance)

www.gov.uk/government/publications/charging-for-school-activities

From this guidance:

Q.Can a school ask parents to contribute to (or pay in full) the cost of a tablet or
computer?
A. Sections 451 and 454 of the Education Act 1996 prohibits schools from charging for
education and the supply of materials, books, instruments or other equipment (this would
include tablets), during school hours. However, there is no prohibition on asking parents
to make voluntary contributions. Additionally there is a specific exception in the legislation
which enables schools to charge for materials where the pupil’s parent wishes them to
own the materials. All contribution requests to parents must make clear that the
contributions are voluntary and that, if a parent cannot make or refuses to make a
contribution, their children will not be treated any differently and will not be excluded from
taking part in any activity or related equipment

@surreygirl1987 Yes, it is a preprint, but this is normal, I think. Peer-review takes some time and authors publish preprint while it is pending. It is not a sign the study is not good. The lead author is professor of Neuroscience and Education at Columbia University. But, of course, it is just one study - so it is too early to draw definitive conclusions. Enough though to urge caution.

Children skim read a lot more on screens.
I have seen it myself with my kids.

Schools promote iPads as Big Tech firms penetrate education, benefiting financially. For school leaders the substantial savings from reduced printing, exercise, and textbook costs are offset by transferring iPad expenses to parents. This raises concerns about sending children to private schools, where hefty fees, coupled with parent-funded iPads, may not directly benefit the child. Despite claims of a hybrid model, in some schools, the underlying agenda in private schools often revolves around cost-cutting, impacting the educational experience. Also children are tasked with charging devices at home, again cost save for the school.

Why would anyone not hold private schools to account for this, the fees paid at private schools in particular are exorbitant.

My better half works with a big tech company.

There are a few schools that use iPads. It's definitely forward thinking as textbooks and paper are phased out. Take Langley Grammer in the SE as an example, they are an Apple Distinguished school and one of the top performing in the country. Exam boards are also looking how to move away from paper based exams with first exams in some subjects bring trialed by computer soon.

They always were performing well, since it is a grammar school.
Their ranking has dropped to 27th though.