APS parents -- are you happy about the MacBooks and iPads? Unhappy?

[Anonymous]

Dredging this post back up. I received the draft aps tech policies in my email this am. I have recently moved to this town and knew nothing of the planned tech rollout - yikes. I'm really upset about it. I don't want my 2nd grader to have an iPad!! Is this a done deal? Argh!!

[Anonymous]

Yup every 2nd grader in Arlington public schools gets one I think. The second graders at our elementary school really seemed to like them (of course! What kid wouldn't!) but it does seem like a lot of instruction time was spent playing around trying to get the different apps to work and do what you wanted them to. Still, the ability to push individualized assignments to each kid and receive back the completed work for review is a big convenience I think, sort of revolutionizing the way teaching is going to be done over the next decade. And the kids do learn neat tech stuff and create things you will be impressed they can do at 8 years old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yup every 2nd grader in Arlington public schools gets one I think. The second graders at our elementary school really seemed to like them (of course! What kid wouldn't!) but it does seem like a lot of instruction time was spent playing around trying to get the different apps to work and do what you wanted them to. Still, the ability to push individualized assignments to each kid and receive back the completed work for review is a big convenience I think, sort of revolutionizing the way teaching is going to be done over the next decade. And the kids do learn neat tech stuff and create things you will be impressed they can do at 8 years old.

You people are a bit overworked. Would you rather them down scantron worksheets and bubble in their answers? If you want the teacher to review if answers are CORRECT and help give individual attention to your child's needs in a class of 25 kids you need to automate grunt work of checking and grading the work. There are lots of options and this is not a terrible one.

[Anonymous]

That's what my "Still" meant, dude -- the ipads do seem to make it easier for teachers to individualize assignments and look at completed work. I laid out some bad stuff first and then some good. But hey have a big scorn party if you really just need to get all of your feels out tonight.

PS: Beginning a comment with "You people" is a signal, and it's not a good one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

It was so well thought out that they couldn't answer liability questions last August. And just this week, the refresh crashed machines.

[Anonymous]

We were told, in writing, that there would be no costs to us for breakage, loss, theft. Turned out not to be true after the charger "vanished" at school. The new one was frikkin' expensive and on my dime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dredging this post back up. I received the draft aps tech policies in my email this am. I have recently moved to this town and knew nothing of the planned tech rollout - yikes. I'm really upset about it. I don't want my 2nd grader to have an iPad!! Is this a done deal? Argh!!

It is a done deal in that there are no plans to evaluate the distribution of devices and the benefits of going 1:1.

However, if you want to limit your child's exposure, don't sign up for an Apple ID, and if your school has a form like the one in the draft handbok, check the box for No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dredging this post back up. I received the draft aps tech policies in my email this am. I have recently moved to this town and knew nothing of the planned tech rollout - yikes. I'm really upset about it. I don't want my 2nd grader to have an iPad!! Is this a done deal? Argh!!

It is a done deal in that there are no plans to evaluate the distribution of devices and the benefits of going 1:1.

However, if you want to limit your child's exposure, don't sign up for an Apple ID, and if your school has a form like the one in the draft handbok, check the box for No.

Yes, it is a done deal, but there's plenty of room still to push the schools into offering some decent insurance/loss theft policy and to pay for some teacher training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I limit the use of technology at home because both my kids turn into assholes and zombies when they are on devices and I don't want them staring at a screen all day long.

There's no substitute for a good teacher.

And if your child had dysgraphic dysfunction and needed to type, your attitude would change REAL FAST.

[Anonymous]

The following was written about my best friend, a teacher in Irvine, by one of her students. This boy, all the way up until 5th grade, was handed teacher to teacher with near failing grades and a "good luck with THIS one". Then they said that to my friend, Freddi-Lynn. Wrong person.

She observed him for a week or so in her classroom, called me up, and asked me if I could send her an iPad for him. I did. It turns out the child had undiagnosed disabilities AND a slight case of Tourettes, something else that had been missed. The parents did not speak much English and were very distraught that their son had been doing so poorly. She literally turned this family's life around, because she did not have the dinosaur attitude of many about technology, and what a gift it is. Imagine the years of self-esteem lost because teachers never thought to observe this kid like my friend did. She, herself, has a learning-disabled son with a very high IQ, which is why she did not just give up on him. Here is his letter for the B&N contest:


Mrs. Siegel comes into the classroom, and sets up everything. She wants everything to be perfect for her students. When everyone in my class comes in, they are all up to the exploding point with eagerness for learning. Even the kids who used to hate school, like me, are ready. We are all ready with our minds hungry for learning like the way Mrs. Siegel is eager to try everything out.
Best of the Best
Student: Daniel S. Bae Teacher: Freddi Siegel School: Brywood
If there’s one thing that Mrs. Siegel is good at it, it’s making work fun. She uses humor in all her lessons. During the project on Egyptian monuments, I was imagining myself in the monuments while we made a scaled model of it, and even pretend to go back in time as an archaeologist and send postcard about the temple of Hatshepsut, the Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx in ancient Egypt! Why does she do this? Well, I think that if you have fun learning something, it sticks in your mind. It’s like tape. The more fun you have, the stickier it gets, until it’s stuck permanently in your mind.
Mrs. Siegel uncovered abilities in me that I didn’t even know I had. She had been using devices to make life more interesting for her, more efficient, and better for the class. Her greatest feat, in my opinion, was fixing my homework problem. At first, everyone could depend on me to be the only kid who didn’t have his homework. I was named the most frequent user of detention in my school and the disappointing grades were following even though I enjoyed doing homework. It had been going on for three years. Ever since I was in third grade, I had no confidence in my ability, any expectations of my grades. My mom and I even cried, because she didn’t know how to help me and I thought I was a failure. Then, I met Mrs. Siegel, who trusted and encouraged me even though I couldn’t. She fixed the leak that was rowing bigger in my life and patched up the holes in the screen. She and I learned that by computer, I get homework done. I even think that she started the whole device thing for me! Sure it was partially for the class enjoyment, but when she learned that I’m a digital person, she started finding good websites. And asking people to bring their devices to school. Now, I’m not the person I used to be. Now, I see myself as a responsible person who can do anything.
If there’s any teacher I’d like to thank, it’s Mrs. Siegel. Believe me, she’s the teacher for the job. She improved the quality of my life, and helped me in many ways. She solved my three year homework problem, and made everything possible and seem more interesting. Thank you, Mrs. Siegel! You’re the best!

[Anonymous]

If you think 1:1 is an indicator that APS is finally going to get its act together and start providing assistive technology to kids who really need it, brace yourself for heartbreak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you think 1:1 is an indicator that APS is finally going to get its act together and start providing assistive technology to kids who really need it, brace yourself for heartbreak.

I know. I put my kids in private a long time ago. My first is learning disabled, and despite paperwork, etc. they were more concerned (like a lot of parents here) about other kids whining and wanting the same technology. I put my kids someplace where technology was embraced.

[Anonymous]

Macs over PCs:

There are so many viruses written to infect PCs that firewalls and software needs constant attention. Macs simply do not have that issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The following was written about my best friend, a teacher in Irvine, by one of her students. This boy, all the way up until 5th grade, was handed teacher to teacher with near failing grades and a "good luck with THIS one". Then they said that to my friend, Freddi-Lynn. Wrong person.

She observed him for a week or so in her classroom, called me up, and asked me if I could send her an iPad for him. I did. It turns out the child had undiagnosed disabilities AND a slight case of Tourettes, something else that had been missed. The parents did not speak much English and were very distraught that their son had been doing so poorly. She literally turned this family's life around, because she did not have the dinosaur attitude of many about technology, and what a gift it is. Imagine the years of self-esteem lost because teachers never thought to observe this kid like my friend did. She, herself, has a learning-disabled son with a very high IQ, which is why she did not just give up on him. Here is his letter for the B&N contest:


Mrs. Siegel comes into the classroom, and sets up everything. She wants everything to be perfect for her students. When everyone in my class comes in, they are all up to the exploding point with eagerness for learning. Even the kids who used to hate school, like me, are ready. We are all ready with our minds hungry for learning like the way Mrs. Siegel is eager to try everything out.
Best of the Best
Student: Daniel S. Bae Teacher: Freddi Siegel School: Brywood
If there’s one thing that Mrs. Siegel is good at it, it’s making work fun. She uses humor in all her lessons. During the project on Egyptian monuments, I was imagining myself in the monuments while we made a scaled model of it, and even pretend to go back in time as an archaeologist and send postcard about the temple of Hatshepsut, the Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx in ancient Egypt! Why does she do this? Well, I think that if you have fun learning something, it sticks in your mind. It’s like tape. The more fun you have, the stickier it gets, until it’s stuck permanently in your mind.
Mrs. Siegel uncovered abilities in me that I didn’t even know I had. She had been using devices to make life more interesting for her, more efficient, and better for the class. Her greatest feat, in my opinion, was fixing my homework problem. At first, everyone could depend on me to be the only kid who didn’t have his homework. I was named the most frequent user of detention in my school and the disappointing grades were following even though I enjoyed doing homework. It had been going on for three years. Ever since I was in third grade, I had no confidence in my ability, any expectations of my grades. My mom and I even cried, because she didn’t know how to help me and I thought I was a failure. Then, I met Mrs. Siegel, who trusted and encouraged me even though I couldn’t. She fixed the leak that was rowing bigger in my life and patched up the holes in the screen. She and I learned that by computer, I get homework done. I even think that she started the whole device thing for me! Sure it was partially for the class enjoyment, but when she learned that I’m a digital person, she started finding good websites. And asking people to bring their devices to school. Now, I’m not the person I used to be. Now, I see myself as a responsible person who can do anything.
If there’s any teacher I’d like to thank, it’s Mrs. Siegel. Believe me, she’s the teacher for the job. She improved the quality of my life, and helped me in many ways. She solved my three year homework problem, and made everything possible and seem more interesting. Thank you, Mrs. Siegel! You’re the best!

Just wanted to say this was an amazing write up of an extraordinary teacher. As a parent to a SN kid who is falling through the cracks, I'm crying over here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The following was written about my best friend, a teacher in Irvine, by one of her students. This boy, all the way up until 5th grade, was handed teacher to teacher with near failing grades and a "good luck with THIS one". Then they said that to my friend, Freddi-Lynn. Wrong person.

She observed him for a week or so in her classroom, called me up, and asked me if I could send her an iPad for him. I did. It turns out the child had undiagnosed disabilities AND a slight case of Tourettes, something else that had been missed. The parents did not speak much English and were very distraught that their son had been doing so poorly. She literally turned this family's life around, because she did not have the dinosaur attitude of many about technology, and what a gift it is. Imagine the years of self-esteem lost because teachers never thought to observe this kid like my friend did. She, herself, has a learning-disabled son with a very high IQ, which is why she did not just give up on him. Here is his letter for the B&N contest:


Mrs. Siegel comes into the classroom, and sets up everything. She wants everything to be perfect for her students. When everyone in my class comes in, they are all up to the exploding point with eagerness for learning. Even the kids who used to hate school, like me, are ready. We are all ready with our minds hungry for learning like the way Mrs. Siegel is eager to try everything out.
Best of the Best
Student: Daniel S. Bae Teacher: Freddi Siegel School: Brywood
If there’s one thing that Mrs. Siegel is good at it, it’s making work fun. She uses humor in all her lessons. During the project on Egyptian monuments, I was imagining myself in the monuments while we made a scaled model of it, and even pretend to go back in time as an archaeologist and send postcard about the temple of Hatshepsut, the Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx in ancient Egypt! Why does she do this? Well, I think that if you have fun learning something, it sticks in your mind. It’s like tape. The more fun you have, the stickier it gets, until it’s stuck permanently in your mind.
Mrs. Siegel uncovered abilities in me that I didn’t even know I had. She had been using devices to make life more interesting for her, more efficient, and better for the class. Her greatest feat, in my opinion, was fixing my homework problem. At first, everyone could depend on me to be the only kid who didn’t have his homework. I was named the most frequent user of detention in my school and the disappointing grades were following even though I enjoyed doing homework. It had been going on for three years. Ever since I was in third grade, I had no confidence in my ability, any expectations of my grades. My mom and I even cried, because she didn’t know how to help me and I thought I was a failure. Then, I met Mrs. Siegel, who trusted and encouraged me even though I couldn’t. She fixed the leak that was rowing bigger in my life and patched up the holes in the screen. She and I learned that by computer, I get homework done. I even think that she started the whole device thing for me! Sure it was partially for the class enjoyment, but when she learned that I’m a digital person, she started finding good websites. And asking people to bring their devices to school. Now, I’m not the person I used to be. Now, I see myself as a responsible person who can do anything.
If there’s any teacher I’d like to thank, it’s Mrs. Siegel. Believe me, she’s the teacher for the job. She improved the quality of my life, and helped me in many ways. She solved my three year homework problem, and made everything possible and seem more interesting. Thank you, Mrs. Siegel! You’re the best!

Just wanted to say this was an amazing write up of an extraordinary teacher. As a parent to a SN kid who is falling through the cracks, I'm crying over here.

I'll let her know. She is indeed, extra-ordinary! She says she loves to teach, but even more, she hates it when teachers label She loves to take all the kids that teachers say are 'bad' or 'not too bright' and prove the teachers wrong. I've seen her do extraordinary things over the 22 years she's been teaching. And when she retires, she intends to create a sanctuary for old dogs who are abandoned/given up so they can live the rest of their lives in peace and love. Honestly, she's a gem.