[Year 12 IT Apps] [OT] Are iPads 'computers'?

Thu Aug 5 12:27:56 EST 2010

All

Interesting conversation. At Nagle we have purchased an iPAD and have freely handed it around trhe staff to 'play' with. Its important to let staff play i think. I have defined it as being a great information gathering tool but not so good at information production.

Also found out, in some cases anyway, that when you buy an iPAD app its actually lic for 20 devices. Thats not bad. A great app on the periodic table for $3.95 and we can use it on a room full of iPADs!

Cheers

Brendyn 

From: Roland Gesthuizen
Sent: Thu 5/08/2010 11:16 AM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Cc: Melvin Wilson Jr.
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] [OT] Are iPads 'computers'?

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.
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILMzuS2qZfc

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.

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. :-)

Regards Roland

On 5 August 2010 09:54, WEIR Andrew <andrew.weir at thomascarr.vic.edu.au> wrote:

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

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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-- 
Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College
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