tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post1806493107918327670..comments2023-10-25T04:33:31.333-05:00Comments on The Digital Down Low: Some critical questions about iPads and 1-1 learningMatt Montagnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043255947997478607noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post-22872654019821760982012-05-30T18:25:07.488-05:002012-05-30T18:25:07.488-05:00Thank you so much for this post ( I am bookmarking...Thank you so much for this post ( I am bookmarking it). <br /><br />As someone who majored in computer science and is a big fan of Open Source and tinkering, I have a lot of reservations about a mass adoption of something that is a closed/proprietary device and something that is not capable of more technical/creative activities. I see the iPad as a great device to consume and interact with information and media, but definitely not the greatest device for creating and coding - this worries me. <br /><br />The access/equity issue concerns me, too. I am watching the funding of web-based academic resources getting pulled because "we are going to iPads." But, unless those iPads go home with students, the apps stay on the iPad. <br /><br />Another thing that disturbs me that I haven't seen addressed much are the free apps that display ads while you are using them. Our districts are strapped for cash, so they are buying iPads but not apps and telling teachers to "find free ones." Unfortunately, the free ones usually come with ads. Pair this with an Apple TV and you are basically running a constant stream of advertisements to a captive audience of children. This seems extremely unethical to me.<br /><br />I would love to hear what others think about this. I really do want to get excited about iPads, but I share a lot of the concerns you wrote about here. Thanks again for shining a light on the questions I am not seeing enough of us asking right now.<br /><br />-KristenKristen Walkerhttps://twitter.com/#!/kwalkersbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post-48070808129053170392012-05-25T14:20:48.244-05:002012-05-25T14:20:48.244-05:00Hey Bill,
We have 30 faculty members who are up fo...Hey Bill,<br />We have 30 faculty members who are up for a computer replacement this summer - they were all given dell tablets four years ago. What we've seen is that only a handful ever made use of the tablet functionality (it sort of parallels what I've seen in schools with smartboards, actually). We're keeping the tablet as an option because 1-2 of our users have really invested time in making that platform work for their needs. We're offering two different dell clamshell options based upon personal preferences - some users want the larger screen and don't mind the extra weight, while some users desire a smaller form factor for better portability. <br /><br />Regarding the specs: we are choosing these specs due to budgetary constraints. On average we are targeting ~1300/computer, including the three year warranty.<br /><br />And yes, there certainly are disadvantages to this approach as you suggest and I share those concerns. We really wanted to shift toward pure BYOD and real end user ownership via a technology stipend, but we just weren't able to make that happen for this replacement cycle. <br /><br />While we didn't get the full ownership model that we intended, we think that by providing choice are users will feel a greater sense of agency and empowerment with their devices. <br /><br />We'll see what happens. I acknowledge that there is a risk with this model.<br /><br />Thanks for the comment!Matt Montagnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043255947997478607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post-60539264844799525432012-05-25T13:27:05.319-05:002012-05-25T13:27:05.319-05:00Hi Matt,
Thanks for your post and opening up the ...Hi Matt,<br /><br />Thanks for your post and opening up the conversation here. At my school, we are starting to think about what the iPad platform might do as opposed to the Tablet PC platform we are already using for our student 1:1.<br /><br />I have a somewhat tangential question. Having a menu of options for faculty to choose from is an interesting idea so I took a look at the choices you are offering. I suspect the ability to choose between and Mac and Windows platform is appealing to teachers. However, I'm curious as to why you are offering both the traditional (Dell) laptops and the (Lenovo) Tablet PC when the later does everything you can do on the former. What do you think is the difference for teachers? Is it just the option of a slightly larger screen (12.5" vs 14")? From the specifications you posted the traditional laptops are also a little less powerful on the processor spec (i3 vs i5) and have smaller hard drives.<br /><br />One disadvantage to hardware choice is logistical efficiency in repair (such being able to stock common parts) and maintenance (such as managing disk images). There is no way around that for the Mac/Windows choice, but I'm curious about the reasons for choice on the Windows side.Bill Campbellhttp://about.me/bcampbellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post-60992236712784154772012-05-24T17:32:59.631-05:002012-05-24T17:32:59.631-05:00Flaurie, such a great question. It leads me to ask...Flaurie, such a great question. It leads me to ask the question, "How do closed and sealed systems impact our willingness to tinker, explore, break, and fix stuff?" Clearly in the area of automobiles closed systems have facilitated a more passive approach toward end user maintenance and tinkering. I presume that closed computer systems have a similar effect. Thanks for the comment!Matt Montagnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043255947997478607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post-33253569991944974292012-05-24T17:27:09.056-05:002012-05-24T17:27:09.056-05:00Hey Colette, thanks for the comment. Have you cons...Hey Colette, thanks for the comment. Have you considered giving faculty the opportunity to choose? We're actually heading in the direction of giving our faculty members a stipend every four years to purchase the technology mix that best fits their needs. We weren't able to get the for the coming year, but we are offering faculty a menu of options to replace their old Dell tablet laptops. The options that we're making available are posted at: http://goo.gl/qPEZ1.Matt Montagnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043255947997478607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post-1445013921101278302012-05-24T17:20:06.185-05:002012-05-24T17:20:06.185-05:00Hey JN, my bias is toward a user 'BYOD,' s...Hey JN, my bias is toward a user 'BYOD,' so it won't be a surprise that your comment resonates with me strongly. I think that an iPad could be an effective device for *some* users, as long as they have something that runs a full OS for engaging in pedagogically rich experiences like creating code, programming physical devices, digital fabrication, etc. I see it as a limiting solution for one size fits all 1-1 learning models.Matt Montagnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043255947997478607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post-76212854008675856512012-05-21T23:27:59.014-05:002012-05-21T23:27:59.014-05:00Matt,
We've been tossing around these same con...Matt,<br />We've been tossing around these same concerns at La Salle Prep this whole school year and are on the verge of making some type of iPad vs. laptop decision for faculty. While I agree the iPad isn't a perfect solution -- it might be the transitional device to give to teachers to move them towards embracing technology for eBooks, classroom management tools, content creation, and collaboration -- all wrapped up in a quick access mobile device that they can claim as their own. The teachers at our school are tied to desktop machines and with enrollment growth we need to transition to department classrooms & offices. I wish that other companies had the same caliber apps and academic support as Apple does but it just isn't there yet.<br /><br />Once we transition our staff with a personal device we will then consider the 1:1 option for our students. Hopefully by the time we are ready for this -- students will have multiple BYOD options.<br /><br />Thanks for the discussion - ColetteColette Cassinellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08565801826972348637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post-73476663410208490712012-05-21T22:19:48.269-05:002012-05-21T22:19:48.269-05:00Sad to think all the 1:1 iPad deployments you visi...Sad to think all the 1:1 iPad deployments you visited didn't roll it out as one good new tool among many - a hybrid ICT approach with a range of devices that students then choose from is perhaps the best model I have ever seen. Having said that, its also useful to consider that the iPad is less a computer replacement than a whole new device that can do new things not available before - are schools identifying and implementing these? Or just trying to shoehorn it to fit into traditional pedagogies...jnxyzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16045218239617681441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post-65477186558708846902012-05-21T19:59:23.552-05:002012-05-21T19:59:23.552-05:00I think that this post answers the question of why...I think that this post answers the question of why you might not want to go with an iPad for 7th and 8th graders. It's the great, still new thing, but it just can't accomplish what a computer can. I believe there are tablet computers that are more suitable, if you must have one. I don't use one myself, but I have helped a friend or two use it; my sister only does email, web browsing, and watching videos so (the entry level) it's perfect for her. But if you want to do some real computing, as Matt mentions, it lacks a lot, and gets pretty expensive. Moving up to a laptop, as you move up into MS, sounds like it's the better way to go.<br /><br />Great post Matt.. lots to think about.Lynne Baileyhttp://www.lynnembailey.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post-36428534024109128432012-05-21T19:46:12.306-05:002012-05-21T19:46:12.306-05:00Great post Matt.
A few things stand out for me. F...Great post Matt. <br />A few things stand out for me. First, we need the right tool for the job. Just like we don't use a ruler to write on paper, there are some tasks that are better on a tablet and some jobs that are simpler or better using a computer. Like you, I find some of the day to day things that I do in multi-task mode easier on a computer than an iPad. I do worry about how creative students can be, and right now I feel like students have more options to create on the computer. Tom mentioned all the ways the iPad has changed in a very short time, and I do imagine they will be very different machines in the future. One thing to note is that iPads were designed as personal devices, so I think that the regimentation of rolling them out in a school environment has sort of gone against what the iPad stands for as a device. <br />I love what you say about the adults making the decision. I hope that students are sitting on school technology committees! I recently asked our high school students (we have had 1:1 laptops for 8 years) and they feel pretty strongly that the iPad would not meet their needs. They voiced that they thought it is much more suitable for elementary students. At the moment, I am taking their advice.Alice Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16091030500622147795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post-56948825440065223552012-05-21T12:36:09.076-05:002012-05-21T12:36:09.076-05:00Matt,
I cannot tell you how much I appreciated you...Matt,<br />I cannot tell you how much I appreciated your blog post this morning. Honestly, many of the questions that you raised have crossed though my mind time and time again. So thank you...two questions that really stuck out in my mind were: iPads as teacher's everyday devices - granted it is hard to use the device as a stand along piece. However, with strides just in the past year the iPad has come along way. Not having to marry to a computer for updates, using iCloud to sync documents across many mobile devices and I view that as only getting better and better. The more time that teachers and administrator spend with the iPad, the more comfortable they will become. As for students...one thing that I really do not like hearing is that the students get it. And then we think that we as teachers can rely on the kids to solve all the problems. That is not true. I am not saying that the teachers need to be the master of the ipad...impossible. <br />The second question is the ease of use question: No, it is not easy to use...and I have been telling my faculty that we need to "un-learn" somethings. I feel that we are taking the easy way out if we stick with laptops. Learning new ways to come up with solutions in a very creative and inexpensive way is what I think the iPad is all about. Granted if you add in all the extras like a keyboard, case, and other add ons, it isn't cheap any longer. We are in this thing for 2 years. 5th and 6th graders using iPads for 2 years. 7th and 8th graders using MacBooks. Already teachers in 7th and 8th grade are coming to me asking why didn't we go with iPads for them. From the time that we made the decision last spring to now this platform has evolved and I don't see it stoping.<br />I love you, man!Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638738638917551773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post-32755845586083745432012-05-21T07:44:50.190-05:002012-05-21T07:44:50.190-05:00hi Matt, you raise so many important questions. w...hi Matt, you raise so many important questions. would love to discuss together. another fundamental question that i grapple with often is, "how do one's habits of mind and practices influence one's use of devices and vice versa?"flauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03204122384785701407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23288864.post-79522007025700065722012-05-20T22:51:01.441-05:002012-05-20T22:51:01.441-05:00Sorry I did not see you at the Maker Fair. we had ...Sorry I did not see you at the Maker Fair. we had a Castilleja booth with projects from our fab lab. Good questions, i don't have answers, but I do think there are opportunities as well as risks with tablets. We will see!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com