APS parents -- are you happy about the MacBooks and iPads? Unhappy?
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Anonymous
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http://www.arlnow.com/2014/08/27/aps-to-give-hs-freshmen-macbooks/
I find it galling that after parents said they didn't want iPads for second graders and the school board voted against it, Murphy went and and spent that money anyway. There is no option to opt out, and if something happens to a device, you have to pay for it before your child can get a diploma. |
Anonymous
Some parents said that. Many people think it is a great idea. The teachers who did the pilots last year (one in each school) were able to do all kinds of customized/tailored instruction. It is a great way to support differentiation, which is important in APS because they don't pull out gifted kids and try and mainstream kids with IEP/504 plans as much as possible. I think it's great and am glad they decided to prioritize their IT budget to do this. |
Anonymous
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One teacher in each school liked them, so they decide to make the purchase in July and have yet to announce anything publicly? That seems like a well-thought-out, transparent process to you?
I'm all for providing technology to kids who need it, but spending all that money when they don't have a plan for how to make full use of it is ridiculous. |
Anonymous
Just because you don't know the plan doesn't mean there isn't a plan. They did a year-long pilot across several dozen classrooms. They are doing in-service this week. I don't know what textbooks they pick out, or when they get new ones, or much else about the specifics of what and how the teachers teach. People are just getting worked up about this because everyone knows what an iPad is and therefore feels entitled to an opinion about how they should be used in schools. |
Anonymous
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I don't think the devices are supposed to come home - they stay in school but there are enough for each kid to have one and the teachers can load them with custom material.
I think it's mildly wasteful, but I also think that if you're going to require a specific type of device (as opposed to general internet access), it should be supplied. I could afford to buy my kid an iPad or MacBook, but I'd rather put the money elsewhere and don't really want my kid having his own device. I've got a locked down desktop that he uses. It's one thing to ask me for pencils and notebooks, but the public school should not be committing big $$ of my personal funds. |
Anonymous
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I learned about the iPad plans for our school today, Jefferson...each school can choose how they structure their own pilot. The 6th grade use is considered a whole-grade pilot and there is a plan to eventually have all studentS in the district have a device by 2017. For Jefferson, the kids will be bringing the iPads home so they can use them to complete assignments. They will go back and forth to school daily just like other school materials.
I'm of two minds about it....I'm very interested to see how they use them and how they can support more differentiated instruction. At the same time I wonder what other important areas may be shortchange to make this happen. |
Anonymous
| As the parent of a child with an IEP starting middle school in Arlington, I'm delighted that they are doing this. DC was using an old iPad (1st generation) of ours last year to type assignments and read e-books paired with text -- we attended a meeting at DC's middle school and they indeed are going to use the devices to "push" assignments and readings to the students. APS used to give kids clunky basic word processors with small screens that were not ideal for students with learning disabilities (even though this was who they were intended for) - the iPad is going to be a huge improvement. It was explained to us also that, at least in middle school, families are NOT liable for replacement cost and that in the pilot last year, there was next to no damage/loss -- no surprise because kids think iPads are great and will be protective. |
Anonymous
I support it 100%. The are great learning tools and consistent with the way people work and interact today. I find the hysteria over screens to be antiquated and shortsighted |
Anonymous
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WTH. As a taxpayer in Arlington with two kids, I find this plan really wasteful and short sighted. I do not think that my young kids need something that I or my husband have managed to live w/o. They could have easily purchased a much more cost effective device/computer but for some insane reason went w/ Apple.
We purposely have chosen not to expose our kids to these type of gadgets and now one person decides every kid in Arlington "needs" one. |
Anonymous
The rest of us keeping up with the times should not have to suffer for your peculiar outlook on this. What kind of parent "purposefully chooses not to 'expose'" children to technology? You almost sound as if you think this is virtuous or something. |
Anonymous
Exactly why is it peculiar? Because it's different from yours? Kids today get plenty of exposure to technology; schools don't need to be teaching it to them in the early grades. If anything, schools should be focused more on traditional skills like reading and writing, which kids aren't doing as much of because they're so busy playing on various types of screens. To me, this whole iPad thing sounds like someone's vanity project. |
Anonymous
| Boondoggle. |
Anonymous
| Vote Murphy out if you don't like it. |
Anonymous
why does it have to be an air book? Those are way more expensive than a traditional PC lab top. I would never buy one and would not want my kid asking me for one just b/c they are handed out at school. and what do you mean "the rest of us keeping up with the times?" my husband actually works in technology and has the most up to date software, etc. on his personal home computer which again is a PC. You don't have to have a MAC. most offices still use windows at work. |
Anonymous
| Can you buy something more expensive, I want my kid to have an advantage |