Thaks Andrew and Mark. We are one of the iPad schools and yes, they are a consumer device but having said that .. these eBooks have a huge potential to leverage change and most of the issues that you raise are solvable. Check this OLPC XO3 video out about the open mode linux model due for release. Don't hang around waiting for stuff to happen, you can get some
learning traction with this stuff now using Apple iPads.<br> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILMzuS2qZfc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILMzuS2qZfc</a><br><br>First thing is to get one for yourself and school administration team. Then you will learn first hand what how where what etc. Don't skimp on the docking station. It is also wise to consider kicking off with a class set too. I hope to put something together to talk about these tablet computers at the VITTA conference .. if nobody else is already (hint??). The EdTech Crew have also been reviewing them in their podcasts. You can always return it to the library for loans etc when you have had
your fill of tablet computing.<br><br>Like other schools, we are in the same boat .. holding over the residual funds left from the NSSCP grant for further iPads instead of netbooks or considering wider deployments across entire year levels. Kind of glad we purchased Macbooks on trolleys with our first stage. I also have a good contact we are working with called Mel Wilson who has
a tonne of experience (details above) who can answer some of your
questions. I have had a few "aha!" moments myself so feel free to call
for an honest chat about where this stuff fits in. I'll share my phone number off list. :-)<br><br>Regards Roland<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 5 August 2010 09:54, WEIR Andrew <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:andrew.weir@thomascarr.vic.edu.au">andrew.weir@thomascarr.vic.edu.au</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
<div link="blue" vlink="blue" lang="EN-AU">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Mark,</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">(See below my rant)</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">This was a statement circulated to the CEO
schools. (At the end of my bit)</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">We looked at the ipad; they are a nice
media consumption device but we were a bit concerned about getting data on and
off the device IE USB connectivity, student file space and printing.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Also word processors and presentation
tools are not included in the package so we had to add another Approx $40 to
the cost of the device to purchase those apps, I am not sure about site and
volume licensing from apple for ipad apps.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">I know things like Google docs could
replace the need for the apps such as pages, but with the wireless running at
all times battery life gets shortened and the ipad does not charge from a
standard charger, it actually requires a 1 amp usb port and I believe most computers
max out a 500 – 700ma. So the availability and OHS requirements for the
power need to be considered.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">There was also the issue of support and
Jail Braking. There are pro’s and cons for custom OS and other things but
what then happens to the security of the network. Should schools support
devices that have been jail broken and how can we stop students Jail braking
the device especially if we let them take the devices home.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">From a LOTE, Humanities and to some point
English point of view we did find some major benefits and have not ruled out
purchasing two class sets but as the main stream student device we are not totally
convinced of version 1 of the ipad. Let’s see what apple says for second
generation.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Some of the pro’s were ITunes
university, Ipad books especially Shakespeare and other novels.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Also at this point we are actually taking
a step back from technology and really look at the curriculum so that it is
supported and enhanced by whatever “device” we choose.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Anyway this is only just the opinion of a
teacher getting over a bad dose of flu. So happy to see a healthy discussion. </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Andrew</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">*****************************************************************</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">iPad</span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Many schools have also asked if the
new iPad would be approved as a ‘computer’ under the DER</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">funding. Initially, the advice from
DEEWR was that it was not eligible. However, the following advice was</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">received by us on 23 June:</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">Many of you have
sought advice about whether the new Apple iPad meets eligibility requirements</span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">under the National Secondary School Computer Fund. I would
like to advise that DEEWR</span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">considers that the
iPad does meet the existing definitions of an eligible computer device under</span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">the Fund. An iPad
is a particular type of tablet computer and these have been considered as</span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">eligible devices
since the implementation of the Fund in 2008.</span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">A tablet,
including the iPad, allows users to input information via QWERTY typing, it
runs word</span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">processing and
other efficiency applications and it provides a means of accessing information</span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">from the Internet.
The major difference between a tablet and a conventional laptop is that the</span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">keyboard is a
software generated function on a screen rather than a physical object. The iPad</span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">runs different
applications from other laptops.</span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">In summary, DEEWR
considers that the iPad, as a tablet, can be purchased under the Fund but</span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">it is a matter for
education authorities/schools to decide if the application suite on an iPad
meets</span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;">the educational needs of their students.</span></font></i><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font color="navy" face="Lucida Calligraphy" size="4"><span style="font-size: 14.5pt; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; color: navy; font-weight: bold;">Andrew Weir</span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Information Technology Co-ordinator</span></font><font color="navy"><span style="color: navy;"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: navy;">Thomas</span></font><font color="navy"><span style="color: navy;"> Carr
College</span></font></p>
</div><p><br> <a title="" href="http://www.thomascarr.vic.edu.au/" target="_blank"></a> <a title="" href="http://www.thomascarr.vic.edu.au" target="_blank"></a> <a title="" href="http://www.thomascarr.vic.edu.au" target="_blank"></a> <a title="" href="http://www.thomascarr.vic.edu.au" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="cid:tcc_email_footer63cb.jpg" border="0" hspace="0"></a></p>
<p><font color="#00c024" face="Arial" size="2"><b></b></font> </p><br><div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;" lang="EN-US">
<hr align="center" width="100%" size="2">
</span></font></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-US">From:</span></font></b><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-US">
<a href="mailto:itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank">itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au" target="_blank">itapps-bounces@edulists.com.au</a>] <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of </span></b>Mark KELLY<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Thursday, 5 August 2010 9:08
AM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> Year
12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [Year 12 IT Apps] [OT]
Are iPads 'computers'?</span></font><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
</div><div><div></div><div class="h5">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A poser just occurred to me as I plan budgets for next year: if we buy
iPads, would they count as <i><span style="font-style: italic;">computers</span></i>
in the annual school ICT inventory (and therefore count towards DEECD's planned
1:1 ratio of year 9-12 students per computer)?<br clear="all">
<br>
-- <br>
Mark Kelly<br>
Manager - Information Systems; Reporting Manager<br>
McKinnon Secondary College<br>
McKinnon Rd
McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia<br>
Direct line / Voicemail: 8520 9085<br>
School Phone +613 8520 9000, Fax +613 9578 9253<br>
<a href="mailto:kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank">kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au</a><br>
<br>
Webmaster - <a href="http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank">http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au</a><br>
Author - VCE IT Lecture notes: <a href="http://vceit.com" target="_blank">http://vceit.com</a><br>
Moderator: IT Applications Mailing List<br>
<br>
Korma: the philosophy that what you get out of a curry depends on what you put
into it.</span></font></p>
</div></div></div>
</div>
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