APS: I can't stand iPads

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't like it. I don't want my kid spending school time on an ipad.

That said, I think the purpose of the ipads is at least in part to bring up the abilities of the kids living in poverty to the same technological level as the other kids. But they can't just give ipads to the poor kids, so everybody gets one.

I too have been reading the studies and reports that technology isn't really helping our kids, so I hate that kids in 2nd grade are spending class time on iPads.

At a minimum, why can't APS install an app or other tracker in the iPads that allows parents to track exactly how much time they have spent on them in class and how much time on each app? That seems like the absolute minimum that we should be able to see.

I am going to sound like a jerk here, but I've been surprised to see even children in homeless shelters using more expensive devices than I will buy for my own kids. Certainly this is not true of all children living in poverty, but I think this argument doesn't hold water and that poor kids in particular need more time spent with teachers, not devices-- but of course, good teachers are far more expensive.

iPads are also designed to be ridiculously user-friendly, so that even the greatest technophobes (or youngest toddlers) can use them with an absolute minimum of learning.

I think the people these help most, unfortunately, are actually the kids who already benefit from plenty of rich conversation and interaction with adults in daily life, with plenty of time outdoors to play and explore-- once you have those foundations, online resources are a fantastic tool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ apologies, can't type on a damn phone

Try an ipad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ apologies, can't type on a damn phone

Try an ipad

LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ apologies, can't type on a damn phone

Try an ipad

LOL

I know this was a joke, but honestly, an ipad is not much easier to type on that a phone. They are mostly useful for surfing the internet. Which I don't need my children doing more of thankyouverymuch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like it. I don't want my kid spending school time on an ipad.

That said, I think the purpose of the ipads is at least in part to bring up the abilities of the kids living in poverty to the same technological level as the other kids. But they can't just give ipads to the poor kids, so everybody gets one.

I too have been reading the studies and reports that technology isn't really helping our kids, so I hate that kids in 2nd grade are spending class time on iPads.

At a minimum, why can't APS install an app or other tracker in the iPads that allows parents to track exactly how much time they have spent on them in class and how much time on each app? That seems like the absolute minimum that we should be able to see.

I am going to sound like a jerk here, but I've been surprised to see even children in homeless shelters using more expensive devices than I will buy for my own kids. Certainly this is not true of all children living in poverty, but I think this argument doesn't hold water and that poor kids in particular need more time spent with teachers, not devices-- but of course, good teachers are far more expensive.

iPads are also designed to be ridiculously user-friendly, so that even the greatest technophobes (or youngest toddlers) can use them with an absolute minimum of learning.

I think the people these help most, unfortunately, are actually the kids who already benefit from plenty of rich conversation and interaction with adults in daily life, with plenty of time outdoors to play and explore-- once you have those foundations, online resources are a fantastic tool.

Exactly. The notion that ipads are needed so that kids become technologically literate, it's just laughable.

[Anonymous]

These guys will take them away for you:

https://www.arlnow.com/2016/05/23/police-men-arrested-after-stealing-ipads-from-elementary-school/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This has been our first year in APS and with iPads. I wish they did more paper and pencil writing, just because I feel like my 3rd and 4th graders' handwriting is going down the tubes. I think there is inherent value in writing out ideas longhand-and then editing and typing for a final draft. Also I would like my children to learn to actually type qwerty style and they don't do that so it gets tedious. But overall while I haven't been thrilled, I've been pleasantly surprised.

My 4th grader has horrible handwriting. I raised it from K on and they tins me they won't correct how a child holds a pencil. His writing is completely illegible. Spelling also isn't emphasized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has been our first year in APS and with iPads. I wish they did more paper and pencil writing, just because I feel like my 3rd and 4th graders' handwriting is going down the tubes. I think there is inherent value in writing out ideas longhand-and then editing and typing for a final draft. Also I would like my children to learn to actually type qwerty style and they don't do that so it gets tedious. But overall while I haven't been thrilled, I've been pleasantly surprised.

My 4th grader has horrible handwriting. I raised it from K on and they tins me they won't correct how a child holds a pencil. His writing is completely illegible. Spelling also isn't emphasized.

sounds like a parenting issue.