The Spread of iPads in Homes and Schools

My children started attending Dayton Grade School this past week and to my surprise my son's class provides an iPad for every student. Even today with the proliferation of mobile technology, classrooms across the US run the full spectrum when it comes to technology. It was refreshing to see such a leap forward, and in a small rural district like Dayton, Oregon.

I spoke briefly with the principle Stephanie Ewing about the grant she wrote allowing for the creation of the technology program. The grant provides many supports including a halftime technology coach and a room available to the rest of the school equipped with iPads. Some of these children are very familiar with devices at home like iPads, netbooks, Android tablets, and Kindle Fires. They are reading ebooks, playing games and using apps as a normal part of their lives. Transferring these activities right into the classroom makes sense. For others it allows for much needed exposure to technology they would otherwise not have.

This Christmas will result in that gap decreasing with the introduction of entry level priced devices like the Kindle Fire and other quality tablets. Nielsen reported in 2010 only 3.5% of households owned an iPad. The Pew Internet and American Life Project reported this year that 1 in 10 households are reported to have some type of e-reader. As access to these learning tools increases, so will their relevance in our children's school day.

What I am finding though, and this was confirmed by Ewing, is that while the hardware is remarkable, there is still a gap when it comes to software and content distribution. Apple limits how many devices can use an iBook or app license. Kindle's policies are still written for the personal user and not for organization or educational use. How hard would it be for Apple to approve a similar policy as Home Share, where each title of iBook or app could be shared on five devices? Thirty devices would be optimal to match a typical class size.

I am sure that these problems will eventually be settled out just as public libraries continue to become more accustomed to and morph ways to integrate digital loans. How much better would it be if these issues were being faced with as much innovation and design as the hardware and software that delivers the content?

In the meantime as a parent I am glad my children have a seamless educational experience both at home and school, in play and education.

 

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Comments

[Tazirai]

08:08 PM on 12/05/2011

Good deal to hear about this. But did the article title have to read IPAD, when you mention other devices? It seems more marketing than truly innovating, but i'm more of a "All in the playground" type, not just for the popular kid (Ipad). But the true test will be with time. To see how Tablets, and smart phones, and such change the way teaching is taught, hollistic or corporate?

[John Bergquist]

01:43 AM on 12/30/2011

Taziral, Right now the in school programs ar predominantly using iPads. They are easy to maintain, easy to use and generally durable. So far I have not found any programs using other tabets. Will this change in the future? Yes, but for now that is not just the case. I agree. I am device neutral as long as it is functional.

[pkohan]

12:29 PM on 12/04/2011

How are the schools dealing with damaged/defective product? If the iPad is damaged does the school provide another? If not, then do they expect the family to pony up for another iPad? If not, then how do they deal with the stigma of of the child being not able to participate in the full learning experience the school provides?

This is a budgetary issue for schools, as well as one of providing equal opportunity to children.

[John Bergquist]

01:46 AM on 12/30/2011

That is a really good question. Right now I believe most of these programs allow for repair and replacement for devices. The children are all using them within a controlled setting.

[Joe man]

11:25 AM on 12/03/2011

That's an excellent start. Now the key is what's done with the devices, and all the technology out there.

That will tell us if we are truly making progress or not.

[umbrarchist]

01:35 AM on 12/02/2011

The problem is what to do with these cheap von Neumann machines and how to cope with companies trying to maximize profit from them. What is the worthwhile FREE content?

HTC Flyer Full Review
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE7pKmlhOKU

A Short History of the World by H. G. Wells (not sci-fi but with a sci-fi writer's perspective)
http://www.bartleby.com/86/

All Day September by Roger Kuykendall
http://www.feedbooks.com/book/2295/all-day-september

The Fourth R by George O. Smith
http://www.onread.com/book/The-Fourth-R-17950/

Eight Keys to Eden by Mark Clifton
http://www.mysterious-strange-weird.com/index-sensational-mysteries.html
http://www.onread.com/book/Eight-Keys-to-Eden-6514/

There Will Be School Tomorrow, by V. E. Thiessen
www.feedbooks.com/userbook/11643.pdf

THE YEAR WHEN STARDUST FELL by Raymond F. Jones
http://www.amazon.com/Year-When-Stardust-Fell/dp/1935774409
http://www.readcentral.com/book/Raymond-F-Jones/Read-The-Year-When-Stardust-Fell-Online

Starman's Quest by Robert Silverberg
http://www.freefictionbooks.org/books/s/9682-starmans-quest-by-robert-silverberg

Black Man's Burden by Mack Reynolds
http://sfgospel.typepad.com/sf_gospel/2008/08/mack-reynolds-on-africa-islam-utopia-and-progress.html
http://www.feedbooks.com/book/4826/black-man-s-burden

The public domain content has increased since 2000.

[Lana Vaughan]

07:03 PM on 12/01/2011

I am encouraged by the efforts Principal Ewing went to to secure the funding for this great opportunity for her students. Having involved teachers and faculty who go the extra mile makes all the difference for these kids.

[John Bergquist]

10:10 PM on 12/01/2011

She is a truly dynamic leader in many ways.