Reminder: This blog does not represent the official position of my employer or any other organization with which I'm affiliated. And for the record I like and use Apple products everyday. This isn't a rant against Apple.
A couple of days ago I finally got a chance to handle an iPad. As I shared on Twitter, I left the experience feeling underwhelmed. Posting that comment sparked one of the best Twitter conversations I've been a part of in the last few weeks. The conversation revolved around the idea that while the iPad may be a "magical" device for some consumers, it probably is not a good purchase for most schools. On the heels of that Twitter conversation I came into school today and was asked by a colleague if I had heard about another district in our area that is purchasing iPads for its students and faculty. My colleague thought that purchasing iPads for students and faculty is a wonderful idea while I replied with something to the effect of, "they'd be a waste of money for our school."
There's really no denying that the iPad offers some fantastic applications. In fact, if I had a spare $500 (which I don't) I'd be very tempted to buy an iPad because I think it would be a wonderful way to consume information while sitting on my couch or while on a plane (even my netbook doesn't open all the way in most coach seats). And if my school had money to burn (which it doesn't, does any school?) I'd probably recommend purchasing them, as a secondary device, too.
We've just completed our first glitch-filled year of being truly 1:1 school-wide. (I piloted various other laptop and 1:1 systems during the previous two years in my classroom). This year has seen some of our teachers take great strides toward integrating the use of netbooks into their instruction. At the same time, other teachers didn't change a thing other than having students type their lecture notes rather than write in a notebook. Putting an iPad into those teachers' hands isn't going to change that. More time working with me and some of my other colleagues will change that.
What really makes me cringe is hearing about schools that aren't 1:1 plunking-down thouands of dollars for iPads instead of netbooks or consumer-grade laptops. The limitations of the iPad when it comes to creating content makes it a poor purchase if that's the school's attempt to improve their students' learning experiences. Furthermore, if you still have faculty that struggles with fundamental skills like creating presentations or searching the web, how's an iPad going to change that?
Bottom line: I think the iPad is a neat device, but I won't be buying one anytime soon. Nor will I be recommending that schools buy them instead of netbooks or laptops. That said, I think I do understand why schools would buy them as secondary devices for students. What I'm curious about is schools that are buying iPads to be the primary device in a 1:1 environment. If your school is doing that, please leave a comment. Why are schools purchasing iPads instead of netbooks or laptops for 1:1? What am I missing in this picture?
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Buying Stuff Won't Fix Your or My Problems
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16 comments:
I recommended that our school order iPads. My main motivation was to get the most devices into student hands. We piloted some netbooks, but they were awful, and no one in our district can support them.
My challenge now is to find apps that allow the iPad to do more than they are designed to do, like Edmodo or Google Wave.
You've fallen into the fallacy that the iPad cannot create content. While it does allow you to consume content, it also allows you to create content. It's still in it's infancy but apps suchs as Pages, Keynote, Evernote, iDraw, Sketchbook Pro are great for creating on the go.
It's only been on the market for two months, but I can see the benefits of it in the classroom. Instant on and faster than any netbook I've ever used.
While I wouldn't recommend schools using it for a 1:1 program (I think the iPod Touch would be better) once the software gets created and Apple produces software to manage a large amount of iPads it would be something to investigate.
The iPad has made me more productive in so many ways, it's hard to believe it's a 1st generation device.
I agree with your position on the iPad. I think it is a neat device, but schools should not rush out and purchase them - at least not yet. The iPad is too new and from what I have read actually limits what students can do in the classroom. I know someone within Apple that advocates for schools to develop a detailed plan outlining what the iPad would be used for prior to purchasing them. This person also made a point to say that the iPad is a consumer product, which means (in my opinion) it is not ready for the classroom.
Mr. Collins,
I should clarify that I recognize that you can create content with the iPad, but I don't believe that it's capacity for creating content is as great as what can be done on a netbook or laptop. Students cannot record a video with an iPad or take a picture. A lack of multitasking capacity concerns me as well. Most of my students have at least two programs running on their netbooks at all times. I think not being able to run multiple apps simultaneously would offset any added benefit of a faster start-up time.
My other concern, what is the cost for additional productivity apps relative to software costs for netbooks or laptops? I haven't tried to install any of the apps you mentioned, but if they're even $1/each that will quickly add up at a school like mine with 1200+ students.
Richard
I would definitely not buy iPads for our school district even if we had the resources. With grant money we bought some net books (after doing our homework of course!)and they were put to good use right away.
Typically, when some new tech gadget comes out I pause and see what others do with it and what direct classroom benefits we would get out of it. I've seen too many times where educators get infatuated with a new gadget and snap it up right away without seeing if the cost justifies it's use in the classroom.
Understand my view comes from a district that does not have money to upgrade the computer equipment we do have. For the 2009/2010 school year we kept only about 25% of our Windows os licenses and MS Office licenses as we transitioned into using Linux/Ubuntu as our main os. The students took to it like ducks to water, the staff, however, was another story. It was hard for my teammate to get teachers to use technology of any kind in their classroom (to them creating a PowerPoint is about as tech as they get). So even if we could and did buy iPads I wonder how aggressive our teachers would be in using them as tools for learning? I can't justify spending that kind of money to see if would work.
I have to agree with your take on the iPad and the fact that if teachers in your schools aren't currently effective in the use of technology the iPad isn't going to improve that.
I also wouldn't assume that jumping from a failed netbook pilot to iPads is a solution. I think maybe evaluating what went wrong is the first step.
I bought an iPad, Richard, and am fascinated with it and personally enjoying it immensely. But it certainly has many limitations compared to a netbook or laptop for creation.
What made a huge difference to me was purchasing a keyboard dock for $69. Without it, not having a decent input device would be incredibly frustrating. With the keyboard dock, I can efficiently do what I need to do, especially with the addition of Pages at a $10 purchase price.
I'm incredibly satisfied with it as a book reader . . . although I use it only for free books . . .and there is a huge wealth of those. I'm also delighted with the Dragon app which works great without any training. Many other fascinating apps for audio and visual consumption.
I do think that the iPad (or a similar device) has a future . . .but I don't think it is cost-effective or developed to the point of making it a choice for schools with limited budgets . .or schools that value creation. Bring the price down to $200, improve the applications, provide a touch-type keyboard, add a camera . . . and it would be an excellent possibility.
My 2¢
Jim
I do agree with what you are saying about the iPad not being the ideal device for a 1-1 setup for student devices, and there's no way I will be buying 2000 of them any time soon to give to our kids.
But...
I'm also of the opinion that any of the other options available (laptop/netbook/smartphone/etc) as a 1-1 student device also suffer from the same problem. None fits exactly into what students want/need all of the time. There are going to be lessons when an iPad would be great in the same way that in others a netbook would offer the best combination of features.
We're doing lots of measured trials on these devices at the moment (and will be doing with the iPad too), but I'm increasingly thinking that allowing students to choose their own preference for 1-1 device and ensuring we have a good stock of loan kit available to swap between formats is the way forward.
I agree with you Richard. In fact, I wrote a whole article about this when the iPad lauched (http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/apple-ipad-is-it-game-changer.html).
While I see it as a neat consumer device, it is lacking as an educational device. Apps cost money, keyboard is extra, and they are more expensive than netbooks.
I use a netbook a lot and it works great for me (even with my big hands). I can multitask, use tons of software (much of it free), and, this is huge point for education, VIEW FLASH CONTENT on the web. I did a quick check and found that over 90% of the educational web sites I use with my students use Flash. That means that the iPad can not do anything with these sites. That is huge!
The iPad has potential, but it is no where near ready for eduction. No keyboard, no true multitasking (which even my Palm Pre can do), limited apps for education, and no Flash. Maybe as the web changes to HTML5 and there are more educational apps it will be better for education. It also needs to drop in price.
Oh, I also agree about how buying tech doesn't change anything with out the faculty being taught how to use it to improve education, and then actually using it.
Our district purchased a whole bunch of SmartBoards. Too bad most teachers just use them as a very expensive screen for PowerPoint presentations.
I think many school systems fall very short when it comes to professional development of new technology and also in supporting teachers and helping them integrate technology into their lessons to improve teaching and learning.
I think that you are judging a device based on two months of it being "in the wild."
What are most NETbooks used for? NETbooks are mostly used for surfing the net, something that iPads do just fine, thank you. Netbooks are very poor ereaders. iPads excel at that.
Now, in a few months, textbooks will begin to appear for tablets. When texts go digital, what would you rather have your students using? A netbook or an iPad?
It seems as though we are having two very different, yet very important, conversations here.
The first focuses on the implementation of technology. Who uses it? How do they use it? When do they use it? How do they train others to use it. Several of the comments have hit on the key element of this discussion: Will a new technology really change the using habits of those who are reluctant to use it?
The second focuses on the implementation of a specific technology - the iPad. Is it particularly useful pedagogically or pragmatically? Is it worth the investment in capital or human effort?
The problem is that it seems as though some of the arguments related to the first discussion are being used as warrants for the second. In my view, the two issues are separate. It doesn't seem consistent to contend that since some instructors will fail to use any technology, iPads are a bad choice. It seems that in many of these cases, any technology would be a bad choice. Distinguishing between the two would make this conversation a little more helpful, at least in my view...
Tim,
I'd like to see statistics that support your claim that netbooks are used primarily for consuming content in schools. Even if that is true, the fact remains that the potential to create with a netbook is greater than the potential to create with an iPad as it's currently sold.
Given the cost savings compared to purchasing iPads and the fact that you can create more types content with a netbook than an iPad, I'll take the netbooks any day. I'm not opposed to iPad, I just think that given the way that many teachers would use them (or not use them) they would be a poor choice compared to netbooks.
I think Jim Burke summed it up best, when the price drops and the iPad adds a touch keyboard and camera then the iPad will be a good option for schools. Of course if they do that, they'll have essentially built a netbook.
Richard
I think it should be noted that this whole conversation is based on anecdote and speculation. I'd like to see districts actually test tools in classrooms with real teachers and students and well thought out curriculum before anyone makes any district wide purchases.
One specific comment: the fact, if it is a fact, that no one in a district can support netbooks may very well be a function of the district's support and not netbooks. Not trying something because 'our techs don't like it' is letting the tech support department dictate the direction of teaching and learning. This is another argument for having students or non-profit 3rd parties provide the device that students use.
We are working on a 1 to 1 iPad pilot program for first and fifth grade students. What I like about the iPad in the elementary setting as a 1 to 1 device over netbooks is that they are so intuitive to use that the focus isn't at all on using the tool. Students can truly just use them for learning. I disagree that the iPad isn't made for creation. Many applications and web apps allow students to create from anywhere at any time. We are in the situation where we also have a fully stocked iMac computer lab, document cameras in ever classroom, a Promethean board in every classroom, and 2 mobile labs with MacBooks. The labs will be used for more robust projects.
I'll stay out of the direct conversation regarding the successes and/or failures of iPads in the classroom as I haven't had enough experience playing on one...yet.
I was happy, however, to read your fourth paragraph about the (admitted) stuggles (many of) your staff faced with authentic use of new technology. It seems like many schools are throwing around the phrase "21st Century Education" without fully grasping what it means or entails. To support their charge, administrators are electing to spend (major amounts of) money on fancy-schmancy electronics to give to the teachers/students.
Again, it's all in HOW the tool is used. Placing a set of wrenches in front of a person no more makes her/him a mechanic than placing iPads, IWBs, or netbooks in front of a teacher makes her/him a 21st century educator.
Make no mistake, I'm all for new toys in my hands, but I'm also willing to learn how to effectively teach with it, not just look cool placing it on my desk.
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