[elearning] elearning Digest, Vol 50, Issue 10

Tue Dec 14 17:48:01 EST 2010

I am definitely not speaking for the DEECD right now, but as the product is such a new form of technology, and it has many vast applications,
the current trend I am observing with iPads is, that users want an iPad, but don't necessarily know what on earth they are going to do with it or how to resolve the technical problems / limitations
that might arise from them. 

On a personal opinion, I like them as a gadget, but their application in mainstream technology is very different in their application of how they are used as a learning device.
I won't disagree, they will make great learning tools, but currently cause the technology is so new, it is best to figure out what the intent of the iPad is, before actually purchasing 
a whole $20,000 / $100,000 worth. I wouldn't be surprised if this is why the NSCCF is not classifying them as a Computer, for the NSSCF.

The "computer", was a device eased into schools over decades, and gradually they made to fit the teaching and learning styles of today.

I find the biggest question to ask yourself relating the purchase of iPads is:
Can the iPad be utilized during every single lesson for any subject, and will this device benefit and improve the education and prospective future of the students in the careers they 
look towards partaking in their future? Will the skill set of being able to use an iPad be a recognized skill within job/university applications?

Hence why the DEECD need to vigorously test their use and application for educational purposes.

Cheers

Malcolm Rivett
IT Customer Technician

Forest Hill College
178 - 180 Mahoneys Road, 
Burwood East 3151
e-mail:      m.rivett at fhc.vic.edu.au
Extension:	#448
Mobile:		0434 188471
Telephone:  	03 9814 9444
Facsimile:   	03 9887 8126

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Sent: Friday, 10 December 2010 1:53 PM
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Subject: elearning Digest, Vol 50, Issue 10

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] [OT] Are iPads 'computers'? (Cameron Bell)

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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:52:59 +1100
From: Cameron Bell <bell.cameron.p at edumail.vic.gov.au>
Subject: Re: [elearning] [Year 12 IT Apps] [OT] Are iPads 'computers'?
To: "elearning Teachers' Mailing List" <elearning at edulists.com.au>
Message-ID: <3DF9238A-0529-4BF0-B993-F1104B5C026C at edumail.vic.gov.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"

I think that it is silly to do the trial anyway. Schools should make up their own minds as to how they do/don't see them fitting in with their local environment. Doing a trial on the assumption that what does or doesn't work at a few schools will apply to all schools is daft.
My daughter is doing the trial and she loves the thing. She has been creative with it and put together presentations about her work which we sit through together. However, I think that there is lots of room for development in how they work with them.
For example, she was doing angles the other day and they did a lot of "on iPad" work, but I downloaded an inclinometer app for her and then we went around measuring angles etc around the house and did lots of "with iPad" work.
Cheers
Cameron

On 10/12/2010, at 1:22 PM, Baird, Anne P wrote:

> Surely the trial is to look at the educational and pedagogical value of iPads in the classroom. It concerns me that many schools are jumping on the iPad bandwagon without looking carefully at the limitations. I think if you asked some of the schools who are trialling them you would find that they see them as a consumption companion device and not something that will replace netbooks or notebooks. Perhaps over time as iPads and other tablet devices develop we will see a change but at this point they are quite limited in their potential for creation.
>  
>  
> Anne Baird | eLearning and Innovation Manager- Ultranet & 1 to 1 Projects
> Regional Innovation Liaison Officer,<image002.jpg> 
> Loddon Mallee Regional Office
> 7-15 McLaren St Bendigo 3550
> Department of Education & Early Childhood Development
> Office: 03 54403107 Mobile: 0429 041792  alt. Mobile 0417 340276
> Connections 2010 https://edugate.eduweb.vic.gov.au/sc/sites/Connections2010
> Netbook Trial wiki- http://netbooktrial.wikispaces.com/
> Wiki: http://teaching-with-technology.wikispaces.com
>  
>  
> From: elearning-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:elearning-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Cameron Bell
> Sent: Friday, 10 December 2010 12:52 PM
> To: elearning Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [elearning] [Year 12 IT Apps] [OT] Are iPads 'computers'?
>  
> You wonder what the point of the trial is when schools are just going ahead and buying them anyway. There are at least two schools I know of that are booklisting them for 2011. So why bother with a trial in the first place?
> Cheers
> Cameron
> On 10/12/2010, at 12:19 PM, Kevork Krozian wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi Folks,
>  
>  This may be topical as I thought Ipads are considered to be computers under NSSCF funding , but apparently they are not.
> The email below ( at the bottom by Andrew Weir ) suggests DEEWR considers Ipads as computers for NSSCF funding, but the following suggests it is not (https://edugate.eduweb.vic.gov.au/Services/IT/ITSupport/Lists/NSSCF%20FAQs/DispForm.aspx?ID=38&Source=https%3A%2F%2Fedugate%2Eeduweb%2Evic%2Egov%2Eau%2FServices%2FIT%2FITSupport%2FPages%2FNSSCF%2Easpx ) ? need an edumail account to view the link :
>  
>  
> Question
> Can schools purchase Apple iPads using funds provided through the NSSCF? 
> Answer
> No.
> 
> The iPad is not an approved device on DEECD's purchasing panels as the iPad does not support the eduSTAR standard operating environment which includes more than 60 teaching and learning applications and tools.
> 
> DEECD is undertaking an iPad trial for middle year levels in 8 Victorian Government schools to evaluate the potential of the iPad as a learning tool. The DEECD iPad Trial will be conducted over the next 18 months and research results will inform any future technology directions that can enhance teaching and learning outcomes.
> Category
> Purchasing 
>  
>  
> Where are we at with this ?
>  
> Kind Regards
>  
> Kevork Krozian
> Digital Learning Manager
> Forest Hill College
> www.fhc.vic.edu.au
> tel: 0419 356 034
>  
> From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of WEIR Andrew
> Sent: Thursday, 5 August 2010 9:54 AM
> To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] [OT] Are iPads 'computers'?
>  
> Mark,
> (See below my rant)
> This was a statement circulated to the CEO schools. (At the end of my bit)
> 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.
> 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.
> 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.
> 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.
>  
> 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.
> Some of the pro?s were ITunes university, Ipad books especially Shakespeare and other novels.
> 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.
> Anyway this is only just the opinion of a teacher getting over a bad dose of flu. So happy to see a healthy discussion.
> Andrew
>  
> *****************************************************************
> iPad
> Many schools have also asked if the new iPad would be approved as a ?computer? under the DER
> funding. Initially, the advice from DEEWR was that it was not eligible. However, the following advice was
> received by us on 23 June:
> Many of you have sought advice about whether the new Apple iPad meets eligibility requirements
> under the National Secondary School Computer Fund. I would like to advise that DEEWR
> considers that the iPad does meet the existing definitions of an eligible computer device under
> the Fund. An iPad is a particular type of tablet computer and these have been considered as
> eligible devices since the implementation of the Fund in 2008.
> A tablet, including the iPad, allows users to input information via QWERTY typing, it runs word
> processing and other efficiency applications and it provides a means of accessing information
> from the Internet. The major difference between a tablet and a conventional laptop is that the
> keyboard is a software generated function on a screen rather than a physical object. The iPad
> runs different applications from other laptops.
> In summary, DEEWR considers that the iPad, as a tablet, can be purchased under the Fund but
> it is a matter for education authorities/schools to decide if the application suite on an iPad meets
> the educational needs of their students.
>  
>  
> Andrew Weir
> Information Technology Co-ordinator
> Thomas Carr College
> 
>        <image001.jpg>
> 
>  
> 
>  
> From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Mark KELLY
> Sent: Thursday, 5 August 2010 9:08 AM
> To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] [OT] Are iPads 'computers'?
>  
> A poser just occurred to me as I plan budgets for next year: if we buy iPads, would they count as computers in the annual school ICT inventory (and therefore count towards DEECD's planned 1:1 ratio of year 9-12 students per computer)?
> 
> -- 
> Mark Kelly
> Manager - Information Systems; Reporting Manager
> McKinnon Secondary College
> McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia
> Direct line / Voicemail: 8520 9085
> School Phone +613 8520 9000, Fax +613 9578 9253
> kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
> 
> Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
> Author - VCE IT Lecture notes: http://vceit.com
> Moderator: IT Applications Mailing List
> 
> Korma: the philosophy that what you get out of a curry depends on what you put into it.
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