05-23-2016, 08:18 PM
my district has been pushing iPads for a few years. Next year was suppose to be the final rollout going to all upperclass high school students (about 5000) but a few weeks ago it was announced that only ninth and tenth graders getting them (essentially that means those that had them will get them, but no new users).
Since it started the high schools have been arguing against them, and asking for chromebooks. The district IT director and one school board member have pointedly ignored and downplayed the teachers arguments. To make it even worse, some newly adopted textbooks are flash-based and won't run on the iPads.
This year was interesting as many students and parents refused to take them. I expect there will be even more refusals next year as the replacement costs are high for damage or loss (a lost lightning cord is $20).
The district took this route and are somewhat trapped as they did not upgrade any desktops, which are now six years old, 2mb RAM and 32-bit - definitely showing age.
IMHO - iPads were a huge mistake at the upper levels.
Since it started the high schools have been arguing against them, and asking for chromebooks. The district IT director and one school board member have pointedly ignored and downplayed the teachers arguments. To make it even worse, some newly adopted textbooks are flash-based and won't run on the iPads.
This year was interesting as many students and parents refused to take them. I expect there will be even more refusals next year as the replacement costs are high for damage or loss (a lost lightning cord is $20).
The district took this route and are somewhat trapped as they did not upgrade any desktops, which are now six years old, 2mb RAM and 32-bit - definitely showing age.
IMHO - iPads were a huge mistake at the upper levels.