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

Thu Aug 5 12:51:48 EST 2010

If I can find the circular I will. I could only find the edited piece
after a discussion with our learning and teaching coordinator.

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 11:03 AM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] [OT] Are iPads 'computers'?

Interesting news, Andrew.  Do you have a name for the person who issued
the proclamation (even if it's a CEO rather than a DEECD person)?

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

     <http://www.thomascarr.vic.edu.au/>   
<http://www.thomascarr.vic.edu.au>   <http://www.thomascarr.vic.edu.au>
  <http://www.thomascarr.vic.edu.au> 

________________________________

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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-- 
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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