Tablets and iPads in schools

[bobinsky]

Am currently doing the rounds of open evenings with my eldest and whilst he's getting all excited by the offers of iPads and tablets in just not sure that it's such a great thing, but more of a hook to attract pupils to the school. Can anyone persuade me otherwise??!

Thanks for that Fiddler, if the iPads and tablets are all centrally linked to the school it would be hard for any kid to get up to funny stuff I'm sure! Does your daughter have to carry it everywhere with her? The way kids throw their bags around, I can see they'd get a bit of a bashing! I'd also be concerned that people would know the children from X school had iPads and it would make them a target for muggings on journeys to and fro from school......

DD got her first school iPad in year 4 and is now in year 7 with same iPad that has gone back and forward to school everyday. They have survivor cases and I have had heard of a single school iPad being damaged ( there are about 300 now).
Both the children and the parents had to sign a contract for use, the IT department can't monitor every single iPad so as a parent you need to take responsibility as with any other device.
It has had a very positive impact on learning and is combined with traditional techniques too.

I read a report the other day which showed a graph of the amount of IT used in secondary schools around the world versus achievement. The conclusion is that it does not improve standards. It is an Australian article but the graphs are interesting...www.theage.com.au/victoria/are-ipads-in-schools-a-waste-of-money-oecd-report-says-yes-20150914-gjmnqf.html

Yep we have that too except that we are supposed to buy the b**y thing. There is also very little provision to ensure that the ipads aren't broken (eg where to store your bag at lunh time)( cue for many ipads who have had a broken screen or bent etc...

Im absolutely not sure it improves standard in any way. If anything it teaches them to be even more reliant on technology.
However, a lot of parents are convinced that technology is GOOD and not using the latest technology is BAD so it keeps arents happy. and Apple happy too seen the number of ipads you end buying

And yes the children are supposed to have their ipads with them all the time, bags are getting thrown around, walked on etc...

However, I'm not aware that there has been any instance of ugging, even though it as a worry for some parents I know.

Ipads are linked with the school website. A lot if not most of the homework is on there as well as evaluation from the teacher, documents used in the classroom and website to support learning.
We can choose if we are happy to have the ipad 'open' ie you can put whatever you want on it as long as it is within the school guidelines or if you want it 'closed' ie yu can only access the school stuff.

Thanks everyone, interesting reading. There is a mixture of having to buy it and having it provided at the schools around us. Also, some have iPads, some Microsoft tablets. Interestingly, the Grammar school provides Microsoft office, but no tablets in any way. I'm still not convinced it's a good thing to be so reliant on technology for learning - we have tablets/games consoles/home computer in the house, but limit screen time and ensure that they do other things. My eldest thinks it's fab that he'll be able to do all his school and homework on tablets and never write again - an exaggeration I know, but can see future battles over the time spent on the devices with him saying he's doing school work .
I suppose I'm still not convinced it's for the best!!

We pulled DD out of a school where they were given iPads.

She turned into a zombie.
Handwriting standard declined.
Teachers became facilitators but she was too young for independent learning.
There was been numerous security issues.

When broken (it will get broken) there are no text books (outdated as soon as printed apparently, kids were using Wikipedia FFS!) so work cannot be done.

I could go. On and on.

Telling thing though was that the forward thinking, amazing, revolutionary Head who brought system in left before the first kids who would have had the tablets since year 7 sat their GCSEs!

DD is now at a normal school where they use pens and paper and text books. Has learnt to communicate again and passed 2 GCSEs a year early with a*s.

Twinkie1 you have voiced my concerns, I just can't see the good in being so reliant on technology for learning and homework. Though the expression - good old fashioned - makes me cringe, I really feel that concentration levels will suffer and that is not a good thing.

I agree they are a pain in the neck, however education is about preparing children for the world of work, and being completely at home with modern technology is a large part of that.

it isn't the whole story though, there should still be plenty of school work done the old fashioned way!

My daughter had a tablet in S1 and S2 and then an iPad last year and this.

It's cut down on photocopying and she downloads her home work and uploads it back. The staff know which pupils have downloaded the homework and had increased pupils doing homework.

It was handy when she was off after surgery as they sent her the work and she kept up with her course work.

They are restricted to what they can download. And no social media allowed on it.

They still have to write their exams. Those who have no regular practice in writing for extended periods of time will be at a disadvantage. I was recently discussing this with a teacher friend who is not convinced of the benefits of doing everything on an iPad and this was one of the points she made.

That is a very good point Harriet, they will find it very hard work in exams a few years down the line - unless all exams become computerised I'm all for the use of technology, but think you can have too much of a good thing and it will have a detrimental effect if overused. It will be interesting at the next open evening we attend to ask the teachers their view on the matter and to what extent tablets are used on a day to day basis.

Dds has them, however they aren't used instead of traditional methods. They're used for the same things as in any classroom, they just get one each instead. Homework again is the traditional type, the pad is just used for the same reasons they'd be expected to use technology at home for some work anyway.

unless all exams become computerised

I'd never want to rely on tech for major exams. What if the system falls over on the day? And it's not recommended to sit looking at a screen for two hours at a stretch, is it?

I'd never want to rely on tech for major exams. What if the system falls over on the day? And it's not recommended to sit looking at a screen for two hours at a stretch, is it?

We had computerized exams in university in the 90s. Many many exams are computer only. And many of us sit looking at a screen for the entire working day.

I would say they do 85% of their work in jotters and most exams are on paper too. It's different for technology subjects.

It was a question my husband kept asking at the very first meeting about their writing skills being used.

Lots of interesting views and experiences on this thread, food for thought! Next open day is next week and I'm mentally listing all the questions I need to ask about this. I'm not saying banish all technology, but I just want to ensure there is a good balance going on and the tablets are not just gimmicks to entice children or too much of a replacement of essential skills.

Actually I prefer children to use pen and paper just because it's a cheaper and more reliable solution. I believe a lot of people are under the misguided believe that by using technologies, we are equipping our children to the high tech future. I think a lot of technology using in the classroom is unnecessary. For example, my 4yo is getting ICT lessons in YR for using the mouse? Whatever we do to teach the children, it'll be obsoleted before they graduate. What we need is actually the basic skills. The maths, english, etc.

My response is simply that taking a computer aided test isn't a problem (provided IT support exist), nor the fact you have to work on a computer for 2 hours. By the way, the department I was in that uses computer aided tests is electrical and computer engineering. So Groovee is right it being a technology subject.

It would be interesting to hear from any teachers out there who have experience of this please!!!

I work for a charity that has done over 3 years research on how schools can use technology to transform learning in the classroom. There are definitely challenges but there can be massive benefits to using mobile devices in schools. Take a look at the research here and see what you think: techknowledge.org.uk/research/

Thanks for that T4schools, have had a brief glance this morning, but why do I have to sign up to view the full info? This is one reason why I'm still not 100% about a lot of tablet use in schools - how much personal information is kept and used, is it necessary for your website to have my details to view your information?

Ds goes to an independent school where every child has to have either an iPad or a Hudl. It's great. They don't do a huge amount of work on it (Ds does more than most as he has ASD & the iPad has helped him)

Mainly it's revolutionised his organisation. His timetable, homework tasks, club & sports info & other messages are on there & parents can also log on to get the info too. The actual homework is given in a traditional way eg textbooks, worksheets, excercise books but the ap acts instead of a planner.

It's great. I wish dds school had it.

Hi bobinsky like most charities and companies we collect data partly to ask people if they would like to receive regular updates from us so that we can build a following and keep you informed on latest developments in education and technology. I hope you find the information on our website useful.