In your comments, I want you to challenge a student who argued the OPPOSITE of what you argued. And when your blog is challenged, you must defend your position. ALL BLOG ENTRIES AND COMMENTS MUST BE POSTED BY SUNDAY AT 9PM. YOU HAVE UNTIL TUESDAY TO DEFEND THE CHALLENGES POSTED UNDER YOUR BLOG.
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Sales Pitch
In this exercise, you'll practice deliberative rhetoric. You should try and (a) persuade the audience to buy your item by offering its advantages, or (b) dissuade them from buying it by detailing its disadvantages. Your audience is the ECCSS Schoolboard, your item is the iPad. Half of you should persuade the school board to invest in a 1:1 ratio for the high school, the other half should discourage the board from making the investment. DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!! You must have evidence to persuade or discourage the purchase of the iPads. You all have some experience with the iPads, but in regards to cost and statistics, get your numbers right. Also, be sure to establish your authority (ethos), appeal to the audience's emotions (pathos) and also appeal to your audience's sense of logic (logos). As always, this is first come first serve. Half of the class must persuade, half must discourage.
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Personally, I believe that iPads are an extremely useful and worthwhile purchase for the Elk County Catholic High School. As a student, I have been able to experiment with this technology hands-on and understand just how beneficial it is. Assignments can be handed out more easily, less paper is used, emails are checked more frequently. When we did not have iPads at our disposal, teachers had to attempt to schedule times to use the computer lab and take their entire class there; iPads give us the ability to find information in the classroom at the touch of a screen and write essays anywhere at any time.
ReplyDeleteFrom an administrative standpoint, it may seem unnecessary to a faculty member who does not frequently use this technology. With sites like TurnItIn and PlusPortals, tasks are simplified for both teachers and students alike. As to the question if the investment is worth it, I strongly believe that it is. A fifth generation iPad costs $329; with a one-to-one cost ration, the board would contribute the cost for fifty percent of each individual iPad. The cost for these tablets would then be lowered to $164.50 per party per iPad. Studies have shown that students were more than sixty percent efficient and productive when iPads were at their disposal. With statistics like this, it is easy to understand why iPads are so essential to the day-to-day function of ECCHS students.
In my experience, I feel that my education has been greatly enriched by having a chance to learn about new technologies that I will need to be able to utilize in my future. Not many schools offer the their students the chances that we are given. We never take our iPads for granted, and we use them every single day in the classroom to learn something new and exciting. Every chance that our teachers have to utilize this advanced technology, they make sure to make the most of it and give us the fullest, most enriched experience that they can. I feel very lucky to attend a school that provides so many opportunities for growth and learning, and I hope that, with your support, we can expand even more.
Emma, I tend to disagree with much of your argument. First of all, you mention that students can find information “at the touch of a screen.” However, as I mention in my blog, I do not feel that this proves beneficial to students, as it does not allow for connections to be made, nor does it allow for the development of critical thinking skills. This is entirely contrary to the purpose of education, and, in my opinion, does not, as you say, “enrich” our education or provide “opportunities for growth and learning.” It simply does the opposite.
DeleteAlthough this was an great approach to this argument, I disagree with some of your statements. Yes it is great to have the iPads at our disposal, but it can also be the worst thing as well. If we always have our iPads, we can be tempted to misuse them. We have a larger opportunity to play games or watch tv on them. Also, some people do take their iPads for granted so it would be incorrect to assume that everyone is grateful for them. Another statement I disagreed with was when you said that we get to use them everyday. Most days we are only allowed to use them in s free period because most teachers do not necessarily trust students with the iPad because they know we will play games on them.
DeleteSadly, I do not agree with any of your statements. I feel like you repeated yourself in your first and last paragraphs. As Isaac mentioned, having information at the touch of a screen is not beneficial. I feel like this could easily lead to cheating in the classrooms because many answers are found right online. Also, there’s always that small handful of students who just like to copy and paste information. Also, I feel like saying less paper is used is almost incorrect because I am still required to print out every single one of my assignments.
Delete“More distractions in the classroom? That’s a fantastic idea! More students performing poorly on exams? That’s a fantastic idea!” said no teacher ever. Within the past five to ten years, many schools have chosen to integrate technology into the classroom; our school system, as you, members of the school board, know, is attempting to do the same, specifically by providing each individual high school student with an iPad. However, what you have not been provided with are the unintended consequences surrounding this issue, those consequences which, I fear, will have a negative impact on the students of Elk County Catholic High School and cost an unnecessary price.
ReplyDeleteAs a student who was provided with an iPad that is intended to be used “for educational purposes only,” I can tell you that, for many, this is just not the case. Because many teachers have more important tasks to complete on a daily basis, they are unable to monitor how students use these devices; this ultimately leads to students abusing the privilege that has been provided to them by the school system, causing major distractions within the classroom. In many high schools and universities, this theory has been proven time and time again. In a study published by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, students at West Point Academy who were permitted to use technological devices received lower scores on their exams than students who were prohibited from their use. This occurred in a rigorous educational environment where students are exceptionally disciplined; when in an environment where all students are academically disciplined are still susceptible to the negative effects of technology within the classroom, is it not even more likely that students within our high school would experience these negative effects?
Oftentimes, many argue that the use of technology in the classroom is imperative, as it provides a way for everything and anything to be at the disposal of students. However, is this idea not entirely contrary to the purpose of education? The purpose of education is not to give students a device that will answer any question, but rather, it is to allow students to formulate new ideas to solve problems, so, in essence, to think critically. However, as research has shown, technology in the classroom does not allow for this. It does not allow for students to tie complex ideas together to make connections for themselves. It does not allow for independent thinking or true understanding. Anyone can enter a formula into an Excel or Numbers Cell, but not everyone can understand the math behind the formula. The former statement, then, is the fundamental nature of education: understanding, not completing for the sake of completion.
I implore to you, members of the school board, that you do not follow through on the idea to purchase an iPad for each student. To provide the current $329 iPad for each individual student with an average class size of forty students over the next ten years, the total cost would be $131,600. Because of the numerous disadvantages to purchasing these devices outweighs this tremendous cost, I ask that you please reconsider the allocation of funds for the benefit of all students.
The way you speak of the iPads, it is almost as if they are nothing more than a “Google Box,” a quick and easy way to find the answer to any problem. As I explained in my blog, a program much like Kahn Academy would prove to be the best way to bring change to learning. Kahn Academy does not give you the answer, it makes sure you know the concept, and reinforces the concepts you are not as strong in. As for the MIT study, in September of 2016, MIT published their technology aptitude test, for individual teachers and donors to evaluate how well the technology will blend with their classroom, and even they admit that technologies which are implemented well help develop learners. They do point out all the ways technology can be implemented poorly, and Elk County Catholic, as it is, matches with this poor implementation almost one for one. Very little forethought, teacher disinterest in the technology, and funding issues. There do need to be changes to the system we are using for these iPads, but that change is not the elimination of these iPads. It is a high price tag, but if it helps students become better than they ever could have, is there a price too high?
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DeleteDominic, I must say — your approach to your argument is rather naive. If not used properly, the iPad is much like, as you call it, a “Google Box,” as students, at the touch of a button, can simply find an answer. Take Quizlet, for example. Yes, it is a great educational tool, but it can be used to find answers to various assignments given, which, as I state in my argument, does not allow for students to make their own connections to truly understand what is being learned. Also, at home, if a student feels they are behind their peers in their work, they could easily use Khan Academy or a similar program at home by looking up the answers to any problem posed. This is the mindset of many students, which I agree, has been imposed upon them and must be undone. However, this cannot happen in the matter of mere years. Such a drastic change in education could pose major negative consequences. Furthermore, the logic behind your discussion of the MIT study isn’t so logical. You just stated that teachers have a severe disinterest in implementing this technology. You also state that it would be a great idea to continue to purchase iPads. How does it make logical sense to place a financial burden on our school system when the device/expense in question will be used to a minimal extent? Exactly, it doesn’t.
DeleteIsaac, you seem to be missing my point, as you just repeated the first half of it. The iPads, as they are right now, do not blend with ECC. They fail the MIT technology aptitude test, they drag down students, and they are tucked away by teachers in the classroom. You say that is enough, that because of this, they should be taken away. I ask why this is the case. Why do we fail the aptitude test, why are we dragged down by these iPads, why are teachers not using them? Take a step back, and you can see that there is only one reason the iPads are not helping: it is the poor enforcement of the iPad policy. That paper everyone signed at the beginning of the year has turned into nothing but that, a paper. Nothing is behind it, there has not been an iPad crackdown school-wide for two years, leaving the only enforcers of the policy to be the teachers. Hiding a game from one person is easier than hiding it from a tech team that can look at your screen from their office. Using the “Google Box” as opposed to to the “Digital Aristotle” is easier when nobody checks your search history every so often, or better yet, a computer that scans for certain keywords that would signal a broken rule every time you make a search. There is no threat of punishment, freshman are given their iPads and the tech team, now that there are no more update days, never see them until the end of their senior year. This is the infant trying to stick a fork into the electric socket, we shouldn’t throw out all the forks, never use them again, and resort to using our bare hands at the dinner table, we should make it clear that it is not ok for forks to be used like that, and show them the proper way to use the fork. This backing needs to return, stronger than it once was if we are to see these “Google Boxes” become the “Digital Aristotles” they were meant to be.
DeleteDominic, there is more to education than monitoring, monitoring, and even more monitoring, and punishing, punishing, and even more punishing. My argument is not so much about iPads, as it is about education. No positive correlation exists between the use of any technological device and student improvement. Also, you seem to believe that breaking a habit — no, actually, a mindset — that has been within our students for YEARS is as simple as enforcing a policy. Well, I hate to tell you, but it’s actually not. You can give students detention, revoke their technology rights, the list is endless. But, detention is useless, possibly the most ineffective punishment, and simply leads to, oftentimes, further “rebellion.” Revoking technology rights is almost just as useless, as, if we were to change our curriculum to one that uses more technology in the classroom, taking away an iPad would entirely destroy the basis of your argument regarding the “digital Aristotle,” as a means of learning. Also, as a side note, you make it sound as if our “tech team” has nothing better to do than sit in their office and ensure that students are using their iPads correctly. Mrs. Stubber teaches multiple classes and serves as a cheerleading coach and main adviser to FBLA. She, along with Mr. Peterson, also coordinate the technology programs at all three elementary schools, adding to a longer list of their duties. If they spent all of their time focusing on, oftentimes, minor infractions of the iPad policy, they would be unable to fulfill any of their other obligations. Furthermore, if this duty was placed in the hands of our teachers, they would have little time to actually focus on what is most important in this argument: education. To even slightly suggest that they should have to monitor iPad usage while also teaching is completely ABSURD, and poses a danger to our school system. And, as for your analogy to a child sticking a fork into a socket, this is not an effective comparison. Generally, this is addressed before the child is able to do this. However, after years and years of misusing technology, both inside and outside of the classroom (even prior to receiving our iPads), it is far too late to change this mindset in the matter of weeks.
DeleteWhat past attempts to use the iPads, or any technology, fails to realize is that they are heralding a different type of education. Not the “sage on a stage” way of learning, where the one-on-one devices get relegated to the background, but a situation where the one-on-one is brought to be a primary part of the classroom. Paper and pencil compliments sage on a stage just as technology compliments one-on-one learning, and as the work of Doctors Scott Freeman and Eric Mazur attests, sage on a stage does not work as well as one-on-one. The rules exist so that we can learn, so that we can use these tools to their full effectiveness. The regulations and punishments are there to make sure that students are actually using the devices to be educated. There is a difference between the tech team and a computer scanning iPad searches for keywords that suggest a broken rule. It is a code so simple, I’m sure even the programming class, with less than half a year of experience, could make the system with a few weeks of putting their heads together. When a potential infraction is detected, send a notification to the teacher that “Isaac is using his iPad to play games,” how long does it take to tell a student to get off the game? Seconds. I hate to tell you, but a single rule, or set of rules, actually can change a mindset. “The iPads are a tool that will be used properly, or face the consequences,” is a rule that, if backed up with a willingness to actually follow up on infractions, can change a mindset. It might not be instantaneous, but it will happen if we actually put merit behind the rules.
DeleteI’m not saying that I disagree that there needs to be a severe reform of the policy regarding the use of technology and the enforcement of it. However, I strongly disagree that this will change the mindset of students. Many have been punished for breaking the dress code and school policy in general, and despite further discipline, continue to break these policies. Enforcing such a policy will never even come close to fully ending the misuse of these devices. I’d also like to return to the original argument of whether iPads would be beneficial to our educational system. At the present time, there is not a single program that would allow for students to create and submit any and every type of work that may be assigned. In this way, there is no possible way, at this present time, that our school system could alter its curriculum to turn teaching entirely away from our current instructors. Technology, in its present form, can only be supplemental to our curriculum.
DeleteElk County Catholic school board members,
ReplyDeleteAs a student here at ECCHS and an iPad owner, I strongly disagree with the current iPad policy. I believe iPads should not be given to each student for educational purposes. iPads can be considered distractions, a waste of money, and just a toy to play with. I strongly suggest that, as members of the school board, you relocate the funds for the iPads to something more supportive to our classes or sports.
If you google “most used apps”, you will find nine out of the ten shown are either social media apps or messenger apps. This is just what teachers and faculty at the school would like to see while teaching a class. Most social media apps are blocked by the technology administration, but the messenger apps are not. Some extremely intelligent or tech savvy students even found a way to unblock these apps without anyone knowing. Although most teachers do appreciate the iPad in the classroom and use it frequently, they cannot control what the students do on them. They could be doing what they are told, but with the new double screen adaptation, they could be texting, playing games, or doing other homework when they should be paying attention.
The current rate for the iPad Air 2 is about $500. Now take that price multiplied by each person in a class, which is about 40, and then multiply that price by 4 grades. The approximate price for each student in the school to receive an iPad is about $8,000. Now this is expensive. With this money we could build a new weight room to strengthen our athletes in a cleaner and safer environment, a decent heating system or central air conditioning, or to fix anything or better our school in any way. As a student, I have also seen that every 2 years, we buy the newest iPad at the time. With this, the price will go up each time a new version comes out. That means the cost will be more than $8,000 a year. The cycle never ends.
iPads not only can be seen as distractions or a waste of money, but as a toy as well. If you have ever used an Apple product you will see an App Store. In this application you can buy games. Most of these games are not restricted on our iPads. That means that the students can freely play games or watch tv on their devices as long as the teacher lets them pull out their iPads. As some have seen, teenagers can be very sneaky when it comes down to a study hall to work or just play games.
Some would say that the iPads are great educational tools to have easy and fast access to the internet and an open document to write an essay, yes this is true, but there are two sets of high school computers that are almost always available. Also, to cut down the cost, you could buy one set of iPads to be signed out for a class. To show that this works we can look at the middle school for example. They have a set of Chromebooks and iPads for educational use. iPads, although the great when used properly, can cause such chaos in the school setting.
$8,000 would be incredibly cheap. If we bought 40 iPads for each student at $500, that alone would be $20,000. If it was $20,000 for every grade, then it would be $80,000 for the whole school. If we could get iPads for the whole entire school for $8,000, that would be one heck of a deal. Now sure, them being $80,000 would strengthen your argument, but if I was a school board reviewing your proposal and saw that your cost was 10 times off of what it should have been, it would really hurt your credibility.
DeleteI feel as though you’re placing a lot of emphasis on the student with the iPad and perhaps ignoring the authority the school has over them. There is a policy in place, but honestly, it’s rarely enforced to its full potential. Some teachers don’t check or (I daresay) care if students are using them correctly. I believe this, and the other lenient policies in place, are the problem. Not the iPad.
DeleteThe amount of people in our school using iPads added the the amount outside of school (i.e. the rest of the world) is obviously going to influence the most popular apps to be for social media purposes. What would an adults reasoning be in downloading something like Desmos? Also, the computer lab could not cater every class when the amount of essays written are taken into account.
DeleteErik, I seem to have made a typo in my blog entry, but if I were to be presenting this in front of people I would have caught the error while memorizing this proposal which would not hurt my credibility. Since you only refuted my entry by reflecting on my typing error, I am to assume that you liked, and dare I say, agreed with my perception and analysis of the iPad policy since you did not say anything about the concept of my speech. Thank you for paying close attention to my blog and pointing out the typing error which will help me next time proof it with more care.
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DeleteEmma, I just used the most used apps for defense to what apps our students are most likely to be using. Many apps downloaded on our school iPads are indeed educational, but they can also purchase gaming apps along with social media apps and messenger apps. Would most teenagers rather play a game or play with a calculator or any other educational apps offered on the iPad? I believe that questions is one where the answer is clear. Also, I mentioned having a classroom set of iPads for the reason that there are too many essays to be written in a computer lab. Although in middle school we did not have as many essays, but we all wrote them at home on paper or on our home computer. Also, St. Mary’s Area does not have any sort of iPad at the students disposal. How do they write essays? Most likely with paper or a computer. Thank you for putting time into your comment.
DeleteLuke, I like how you placed your refutation on my blog on how I showed a student using the iPad. This is precisely why I chose to disagree with the iPad policy because the people who are using the iPads are students. Like you said the policy is rarely enforced to its full potential so that leaves the students to freely use the iPads to possible hurt their education by not using them correctly. I do agree that the policy is the problem, but having the iPad on-hand at all times can also lead to problems as well.
DeleteDear Elk County Catholic School System Schoolboard,
ReplyDeleteIt was once said, “You can’t do big things if you’re distracted by small things.” If students are given the chance to use iPads in school, they will be prevented from doing bigger and better things with their life. For the past four years, I have been given the opportunity to have access to an iPad. Since I have been using this product for quite sometime, I was able to learn many different ways to use my iPad. I believe iPads are not a necessity in our school to help students learn. Also, this new technology is extremely expensive. The money used to buy iPads could be used in so many other, smarter, ways.
Prior to purchasing iPads, many ways were talked about as to how these iPads were going to improve a student’s everyday life. Students were told they would be able to access ALL textbooks on their iPad. Also, everything would be electronic including all handouts and homework. At Elk County Catholic High School, everything that was said to happen never did. In every single one of my classes, my textbook is an actual book that I have to carry around every single day. Also, teachers still give student plenty of assignments on paper. If teachers are all about “saving the environment” then why haven’t they switched over to everything being electronic? So much paper is being wasted when it could be save if teachers would switch from paper to electronics.
Since iPads have to be purchased for every single student and teacher in the school, it can become very expensive very quickly. At the start of every school year, the school will have to spend roughly $16,450 just to purchase something that is not necessary at all. In a matter of five years, about $82,250 will be spent on iPads. However, this price may increase greatly if the price of an iPad were to increase. Now, since the school will need to be able to afford the new iPads, the cost of tuition is going to increase. Some families already struggle to send their kids to this school, now it may become even more of a problem because the tuition keeps increasing every year. If needed, however, slightly increase the tuition but instead of buying iPads air conditioning should be bought and placed in the school. Some days, inside of the school reaches extreme heat because outside tends to reach over 85°. Basically, money is almost being thrown away when iPads are bought.
These devices are also just a great way to distract kids during class. Yes, there are policies made to keep students off of social media in school, which works for the most part However, students are told not to play games or text on their iPad, but when you’re bored sitting in class you will be very tempted to disobey the rules. There is nothing that can truly be done to make the iPads ONLY be used for educational purposes.
Overall, the purchasing of iPads is just a waste of time and money. Serious considerations should be made prior to completely deciding whether or not iPads would truly be useful in the class rooms. I also ask that it is better evaluated as to what else the money that would be used to buy iPads can purchase.
You agreed that there are policies made to keep students off of social media in school and that they work for the most part. Let's say they restrict the ability for student's to download games or use iMessage. What else would be left to distract them? They are certainly capable of doing that, they proved that when they turned off iMessage temporarily when students were sending that code that would shut their iPad off to each other, and when they removed Game Center. Yes students can still do that stuff now, but with proper restrictions and discipline, they surely could eliminate the problem. And they have no way to bypass the blocks without the tech team knowing either. They are notified when you delete your Meraki profiles off of your iPad, or when you use a VPN app to use social media.
DeleteErick, those are all if statements, if they remove iMessage, if they restrict downloading games. However, not allowing any apps to be downloaded could cause a problem if teachers would need their students to download a certain app. Also, what is considered a game then? Would you consider Quizlet a game because users can “play games” on the app in order to help them memorize or learn terms. Yes they can apply restrictions, however, those restrictions could end up making matters worse. Also, using a VPN isn’t the problem. The problem is that students still know how to work their way around following the rules. If we have iPads, we might as well just be allowed to use our phones during school because it is pretty darn close to the same exact thing. Therefore, iPads are just a giant waste of money.
DeleteDear School Elk County Catholic Board Members,
ReplyDeleteAs a junior at Elk County Catholic, I have been in possession of a school purchased iPad for tree years. Throughout these three years I have learned that these iPads are useful for three reasons: games, typing, and texting. These expensive iPads that are being purchased for the incoming freshman every year are not living up to the original purpose of having iPads in school.
The iPads that are purchased ever year cost an average of $649 for a 64gb iPad Pro. I understand that our iPads are purchased in bulk, but that money could be put elsewhere. For example, the school’s clubs or student council could have more funding to host more school related events. Also, the price of the iPads could always increase and the school could end up spending more than expected. This money could also be put towards helping parents. The tuition for Elk County Catholic may be the cheapest in the diocese, but it is still expensive. The money could be put towards those students whose parents have trouble sending their kids to the school. Another downside to the iPads include the inability to decrease the number os textbooks for students. I imagine that in the original idea to have iPads for the students was to have textbooks on the iPad, but this has not happened. I have yet to be in a class where a 5lb book has been put on the iPad to reduce the weight in my book bag.
The iPads are also an open opportunity for the students to participate in gaming. Now, playing games such as Madden, Candy Crush, and social media apps are acceptable at home, but students are playing them during class. For example, if a teacher were to allow students to have the rest of a period as a study hall, more than half of the students are going to pull out their iPads and play games. Students are not doing their work when they are given opportunities to do it. I understand that the iPads include wonderful apps similar to Microsoft’s Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and that students do use these, but in the future will they still use an iPad to produce a paper. In college, the majority of professors request that Microsoft Word be used and that it can be sent by email. Eliminating the iPads and forcing students to use the computers in school will increase two skills needed for college. The students will perfect their typing skills and get comfortable with the applications. The students do participate in a computer class as a freshman, but they will not remember these skills if they used an iPad the other three years of high school. Forcing the students to use computers, because that is what will be used in the future, is beneficial and will reduce participation in gaming during school.
The iPads have been proven to be used in the incorrect ways due to its’ very limited purposes. The price of the iPads could be put towards school related events and tuitional aid. The weight of the many books that students have to carry around has not been decreased by the use of the iPad. Students are playing games instead of doing their work. I strongly disagree with the iPad purchase every year, and I believe it needs to be reconsidered for the future of Elk County Catholic.
Dear ECCSS Schoolboard,
ReplyDeleteIn today's day and age, we always seem to be striving for greater things. Along with that drive for greatness comes other motivations such as efficiency and success. It seems that technology is always improving to help us with these tasks. However, I use the term "help" very loosely. While these new tools can be extremely helpful, this is only when they are in the right hands. Not only are these I Pads distracting to high school students, but they are also ruining our social skills. Take this from someone with experience. When you put an I pad with limitless possibilities in the hands of a high schooler, you are leaving them with no option but to be distracted. No matter how hard they try, they will always succumb to that temptation. After all, why should I even be writing this when I have candy crush calling my name?
While it seems as if it's not a problem, the lack of social skills in most teens is extremely shocking today. After all, why should they have to talk to you in person, face to face, when they could just text you, right? Even though smart phones are the true culprit to this crime, if you were to get your students these I Pads the problem would only get worse. On average, teens spend around nine hours of screen time in a day. That's a lot of time! Now imagine if they had I Pads. That seven hour block of time without a screen that usually forces social interaction would just become like any other situation. Students would easily be able to text each other and check and post social media, all while in class. And yes, it can be argued that these features can be "blocked" but trust me, THEY WILL FIND A WAY. Let's face it, our youth is slowly becoming an antisocial generation, and giving them I Pads in these seven hours would just make things worse.
Even though a lack of social skills is a huge problem, it is definitely not the biggest fish to fry. There is a tiny little monster that lurks within the screen of this tool we all use, it disguises itself behind many of its minions, and it's greatest weapon is the art of distraction. This monster is the App Store, and it's minions are the games that can be downloaded from it. While this feature can be truly amazing when used for recreation, it actually does more bad than good when in a work situation. It was found in a study that a large number of students, even when on their best behavior, would not be able to resist the urge of checking social media or playing games. Take it from someone with personal experience with this, when given the chance to study, or play a game, students will chose the game. And can you blame them? When giving someone the choice between something they don't want to do and something they do want to do, I think anyone would chose the latter. By giving these students the I Pads, you are sending them into the gateway of temptation, and letting them succumb to the monster within their I Pad.
While it may seem as if the iPads can do a world of good, they will only do harm. Getting the iPads would be one step forward and two steps back. The grades of students WILL suffer if you do not make this choice wisely. There are no if's, and's, or but's. So, I ask you on last time. Are you willing to jeopardize your students by giving them a gateway to temptation, just to make things easier? Because if so, then go ahead.
Honestly I believe we wouldn't have these temptations if we had a better policy for the IPads. I don't think the technology should be tempting, but we just allow it to be. Better restrictions could be put into place and punishment could be enforced, so I partly think the distractions are our own faults.
DeleteAs you said, a device with limitless potential is just a source of distraction. A stronger restriction system, at least during the school day, would bring down the distracting potential of what would be toys, and turns it into a beneficial learning tool. This restriction system can even block those socially degrading messenger applications. As for wether students can actually bypass the blocks, they can’t. Not without the tech team eventually finding out. Take the issue with VPNs plaguing the school last year, that was going on for a few months before the tech team found out, but since a few of the update days were missed, nobody noticed. After the issue was found, they ran a scan of all iPads and found every single one in less than a day. Now put it this way, if all games are blocked during the school day, someone is playing a game, and the tech team can check what you have open at any time, what is going to prevent them from notifying a teacher to confiscate fhe iPad? Nothing. What is preventing the tech team from finding the exploit used to gain access and scan every other iPad for the same exploit? Nothing. What is preventing the tech team from placing a larger punishment on offenders to the iPad policy? Nothing. The iPads, as they are implemented right now, do not function, but if they were used to benefit the students, so much more could be accomplished.
DeleteI feel as though you bring up very good points. Your argument is fairly sound, but I believe it focuses too much on the student with the iPad rather than the authorities over them. The students can and will do whatever they may so please, but let’s be honest, the school is mostly pretty slack on enforcement of any kind of iPad policy rules. All it would take is a more stringent faculty and many of the problems would at least be minimized. And those who continue to disobey rules may have iPad privileges taken away, further solving the problem.
DeleteSady, while better restrictions may solve the issue temporarily, they won’t fix the problem for good. At the end of the day, we aren’t stupid, we know how to find loopholes and stuff. And yes, we are the problem. That’s why we shouldn’t have them in the first place.
DeleteDominic, the restriction system is by no means bad, I will even go as far to say that it does a pretty darn good job. However, by no means is it perfect. While yes, it can block some of them important distracters such as messagers and social media, I refuse to believe that EVERY game can be blocked. The App Store is constantly evolving, constantly adding new things to its library. For the restriction system to be able to block every game FLAWLESSY just seems like an impossibility. Also, there are websites that can be accessed through safari where games can play. And even if it can, there is no way there won’t be slip ups. We have these iPads so that everything can be made easier, and when every game is blocked, there is bound to be a blocked app the requires being downloaded from a teacher. I shouldn’t even have to mention the whole Webster’s dictionary scandal here... Even if all of this can be done, everything can be blocked. Why make all of this hassle for the tech team. We are sending them on a wild goose chase, they have to do this that and the other, just so that we can maybe type a paper easily? Newsflash: it’s the 21st century, everyone has computers at home. Let’s be honest, there really is no use for the iPads, everything that we need them for is either already in the schools possesion, or just as expensive as it would be normally. I can only recall few occasions where we used the iPads as they were meant. And as for the “stronger punishment”, I think that myslef and many others would still take the risk. All of it could be avoided, everything could be made easier if the iPad was not bought. Not getting the iPads would not only be more efficient, but it would also be cheaper. After all, that’s the purpose of a sales pitch right? To advertise the easier, cheaper solution for the school.
DeleteLuke, while stricter rules may seem like it is solving the problem, I personally think that it makes it worse. I know for a fact that myslef and many others would still take the risk, and what happens when I do lose my I pad privledges? The only thing that does is defeats the purpose of the IPad in the first place. There would be no problem to solve if there was no problem in the first place.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePart One:
ReplyDeleteTwo hundred years ago, the only cars were pulled by horses, the only airplanes flapped their wings, and the only classrooms had twenty to forty students sitting at their desks, organized into rows, listening to the teachers. This “sage on the stage” method of teaching stretches back to around 1010, when the first universities were being built, and it has not worked since its creation. The classroom iPad offers the first chance ever at improving the classroom, and it is not an opportunity that should be passed up.
Cursory examination of a classroom, and years of study by Doctor Scott Freeman, points to an educational “Goldilocks Zone” unique to each student. With only one teacher in every classroom, the transfer of information from educator to educated can only occur at one speed. With this one speed transfer, problems emerge. Each student has a different Goldilocks Zone, meaning that for all but perhaps one or two students, the teacher is either moving too fast or too slow. In either case, the student misses pieces of information, information that could be the difference between an A and a C.
The iPad offers a solution to this Goldilocks Zone issue that has been impossible until now, each student has a digital Aristotle to teach them at their own pace, with a real teacher overseeing the devices to make sure each student understands the curriculum and is moving along to the best of their ability, and to periodically test the class on certain concepts.
This digital Aristotle is already on the way. Programs like Kahn Academy and CodeHS bring this concept into its infant stage, where students can learn with videos and quizzes on almost every subject. Kahn Academy offers what is, right now, the solution with the widest range, offering lessons on subjects ranging from elementary education to concepts that are normally learned as a part of college courses, and setting each learner with an account at a certain level that corresponds to the courses they should be taking. Will ECC be on the forefront of this innovation, or will they stay in the past, unwilling to make even the slightest deviation from the standard education system?
Right now, digital Aristotle is not here, but efforts can be taken to minimize the effect of the Goldilocks Zone. Supplementary learning tools on the iPads can be used to more fully engage the students who would otherwise be stuck three lessons behind everyone else. Khan Academy makes use of a system that can recognize where flaws may lie in a particular student, and it brings them to a corresponding lesson to fix the issue.
A cheaper and more effective solution seems to be obvious, go back to the Greek method of teaching, one-on-one. Every child has an Aristotle to bring out their inner Plato. However, with this solution, problems begin to emerge. The largest one presents itself early on, there is not an Aristotle for every Plato. There are too many children for a one-on-one correspondence, and increasing the ratio to a one-on-two correspondence does not solve the problem.
Part Two:
ReplyDeleteThis issue persists until there are around twenty students per teacher, which brings back the original Goldilocks problem. A personal Aristotle would not be the cheap solution, either. The average annual salary of a teacher pales the price of an iPad, a teacher making $36,000 per year, on average, while a standard-issue iPad costs, at an absolute maximum, $575. The only cheap solution is to do nothing, and doing nothing does not solve anything. The iPad offers what is, right now, the least expensive solution on the market. Teachers cannot adjust to the Goldilocks Zone, as it is impossible for a teacher to give their one hour lesson forty times a day, adjusting their speed to make sure each student understands.
“But iPads distract the students! Students just play games on them all day! They can’t pass their exams as is, and scores will just get worse if we deviate from the education system that already works sufficiently,” shout the opposition. While it is true that the iPads draw a certain amount of attention, with them as a focus of the classroom, this distraction becomes a good thing. The iPad becomes a learning tool just as a notebook or a textbook is. Through restricted mode, many applications have already been disabled during the school day. Why not put the power of restricting games into the hands of the teachers? Turn restricted mode on when students walk in, and turn it off for the applications that will be used that day. These blocks are absolute. As long as the block is enabled, students will not be able to open the blocked application without accessing the iPad’s code. This restriction can extend beyond the few applications and social media websites it already covers. This restriction, although not quite forcing students to study, does emphasize its importance, which can increase those exam scores students dread. There is a reason why Finland has the highest exam scores in the world, and it isn't because they stick to what works. Although they don’t make use of these programs that encourage unique lessons for every student, they do divide their students into categorized blocks. These blocks consist of students who all work together to make sure everyone understands the lesson, bringing a personal Aristotle to each student, as long as the whole group does not get distracted. iPads are not like people, they cannot be distracted, they cannot go against their programming, and they cannot forget information as long as it is important. These digital Aristotles can bring an even greater level of academic excellence than groups ever could if they are handled the right way.
Ultimately, as it is implemented right now, the iPad is a problem, but the iPad is a tool. Tools are meant to be broken and repaired. This tool, if handled properly, can bring about an increase in intellectuals yet unheard of. Will Elk County Catholic be the risk-takers who bravely stepped forward to make their students truly excellent, or will they return to persisting on the regular track?
Dominic, while your argument made a few good points, specifically about the “Goldilocks Zone,” there are a few of your arguments that I must dispute. First of all, in the research at West Point that I mentioned in my blog, there were three groups studied: those who were not permitted to use the iPad, those who could use it without restrictions, and those who could use the device, but usage was restricted. Even with the restrictions placed, those in the classroom with no technological devices always had higher exam scores. Second of all, in terms of minimizing the Goldilocks zone through a more independent approach to learning, St. Boniface has adopted this type of classroom over the past two to three years. They have not, on a one-to-one ratio, provided students with any technological device, and have continued to produce successful students, clearly showing that buying technology for each individual student is neither beneficial nor the most cost-effective solution.
DeleteI do think that you brought up some good topics here, as I myself am someone who has experienced this, "Goldilocks Zone." But as someone who has struggled in the classroom due to this, I do not think that technology is the answer to that question. Yes, students do learn at different styles and different speeds. That is 100% true, but I can't really ask my I pad a question when I need help. That is the teacher's job, to help the students. Now weather that requires staying after school or putting in extra work, that time should be made for the student. Saying that the I Pad solves the Goldilocks Zone issue must be false, as it just caters to a different type of student, not to all students. Also, as I'm sure we both know, students can easily find ways to bypass these "restricted modes." At the end of the day, if a student wants to play games or check social media, they are going to do just that.
DeleteI also believe that the “Goldilocks Zone” was a great addition to your argument. However, I did not agree with the distractions part of the argument. Just because some of the applications and such are put on restriction does not mean that the students can find a way to unrestricted them to play games or go on social media apps. I also did not like your conclusion about ECC being risk takers. I do not believe that would help the argument as you are implying the iPad may be a risk.
Delete"Each student has a digital Aristotle to teach them at their own pace." Wrong. This "Digital Aristotle" is not actually teaching a damn thing to anybody. He's just there to whisper answers into the ears of students who are too lazy to look things up in a book. The iPad is not analogous to Aristotle in any way. Aristotle made his proteges think, while the iPad just gives an answer to a query, no real thought necessary. While the rest of your argument centered around a revision of the iPad policy to better utilize the iPads, the whole "Digital Aristotle" thing kind of left a bad taste in my mouth that stayed with me throughout the rest of your argument.
Delete[Jarret]
DeleteThat is the point of my argument, the iPads, as they are right now, do not work. They are each student’s personal “Google Box,” feeding them answers without letting them think. We need to fix them, with actual policy and punishment for breaking the policy. We didn’t ban toasters because they could be dropped into a bathtub, we fixed that by creating safety standards. We shouldn’t ban iPads for a problem that we have the solution to, we should make the “Google Box” become “Digital Aristotle,” not throw the lot of them to the wolves.
[Sami]
DeleteYes, perhaps risk-takers was a poor choice of words, but the point still remains. As for how effective the block is, it is extremely effective if used correctly. As I described in my second comment to Isaac, with a stronger enforcement of the iPad policy, we could actually use these to their full effectiveness. Nothing is being done to combat this lack of effective use, and it’s destroying the whole purpose of the iPad. That needs to change if we are going to make these tools helpful.
[Evan]
DeleteThere are ways to bypass a block, yes, but that is why there is the tech team and why we had the monthly iPad update days. They were just as much to see if anyone broke the block as they were to make sure everything was up to date. It did work when they were used, they never followed up on anything, just telling everyone that this was their last warning every time, but they did know who was breaking the blocks. Then the update days stopped and the students were given essentially free reign over their devices, devices that need strict oversight. As for fixing the Goldilocks Zone, they have the potential to do that too, if indirectly. Say every so often, the Digital Aristotle gives us a general test on what we had been taught. If a certain area of the student’s performance is weak, notify the teacher that “Billy doesn’t know his multiplication tables,” and give the student supplementary work. If it is found that the student is excelling in most of their subjects, return with more challenging work. Adjust to how the student is learning, if they miss a concept early on in the year, it would otherwise doom them. Some students do not have parents to help them when they’re struggling, some students do not have the time after school to seek help from the already busy teachers. Everyone with an iPad and an open ten or fifteen minutes can get help from Digital Aristotle, and that’s where the benefits to education come about. The program can adjust to you in ways the teachers cannot always do, and can adjust its teaching speed in ways that a teacher cannot do, as they have the needs of the whole class to address. That is one of the points of making a “Digital Aristotle,” to help students in ways that a teacher may not be able to do.
[Isaac]
DeleteAs I said, there are benefits to creating this group work environment, and those benefits increase as the groups get closer to a one-on-one basis, as St. Boniface is a smaller school, this ratio is close to the desired outcome of one teacher to one student, and produces better results than most other schools. What I am saying is that the “Digital Aristotle” is the solution that helps to create this one-to-one ratio without the need for hundreds of teachers per school. It is not simply a note-taking device, as they were used in the MIT study, they can become a teaching device. Say, for instance, we began to use Kahn Academy as a direct part of the curriculum to reinforce what is learned in the classroom. Kahn Academy already has a method of identifying a weak area in a student, and suggests lessons to help improve it. This simple concept, to find a weak area and show how to improve, is already miles ahead of the current commonplace method of education, where the teacher cannot afford to stop the entire class to help just one student.
Dear ECCSS School Board,
ReplyDeleteI’m going to just come right out and say it; the iPads need to go away. I understand that they were given to us as an educational tool, but I feel that they have not served that purpose as well as they were originally intended. Why is that? Well, allow me to elaborate.
About five years ago, when the iPad idea was first presented to the parents of the school community, they were supposed to be the solution to many problems. The iPads were supposed to drastically reduce paper waste, improve communication, eliminate the need to spend money on textbooks, and simply bring the way we learn into the Twenty-First Century. Five years later, I cannot say that much of these things have actually occurred. I still carry about five textbooks with me on a daily basis. I still have to print things out to hand them in. I have no problem checking my email on a desktop computer, and I continue to do so.
Regarding paper waste, I do not feel that the iPads have made ANY kind of a difference. The recycling bins are as full as they’ve always been and I still get paper copies of everything. There are no electronic worksheets, meaning teachers still have to print everything off for us. I have often wondered if the iPads have even put a dent into the amount of paper our school orders. A few weeks ago, I helped carry reams of paper from the office upstairs to the faculty copy machine in the library. How many reams did I carry? SIXTY! SIXTY REAMS OF PAPER! And that didn’t even put a dent in the paper supply at the office, and in two weeks, the upstairs copy machine has burned through almost all of it. I want to know, dear school board, is this number down from 5 years ago? Because THIRTY THOUSAND pieces of paper in two weeks is a hefty amount.
Next, we come to communication. Ask any teacher if they feel that student communication has improved since the iPads were integrated into the classroom. I’m sure many would say no. Even though a student’s email has been made more accessible via the Mail app, are students utilizing this feature as often as intended? HELL NO! They’re too busy playing games and surfing the web to pay attention to that big blue banner that just popped up on their screen! What was wrong with checking emails on a desktop? Why did we waste money on a huge distraction?
Now we arrive at my biggest issue with the iPads, that being the fact that I still carry five full-sized textbooks around with me, in addition to my fragile iPad that I have to make sure doesn’t get smashed by these freaking books. We were promised that we would not have to carry as many books around with us anymore. That has not happened. I understand that not all textbooks can be replaced, because some are so large that they would fill the storage on the iPad in a heartbeat. But why haven’t ANY been replaced by eBooks? It really irritates me because we spend almost $600 per iPad and still buy so many textbooks, which vary in price from $50 to $250 EACH! Where are the savings? My tuition is still going up! If we keep buy books, paper, AND iPads, people may soon need to take out a loan to send their children to our school, which I’m sure would be the last thing anyone would want to happen. To wrap it all up, it’s time to send the iPads down the road. None of the original promises of the iPads have been fulfilled, so let’s just go back to the way we’ve always done things. We haven’t fully moved on anyway, so what’s the point in keeping them around?
While I do agre with several of your points, I do believe that Our school just needs to take a better stab at our IPad policy and really discipline the use of them. They are a great learning tool and could help our school in many ways if we just took the time to really use them for their rightful purpose. I don't think it's the IPads fault, it is definitely our fault.
DeleteWhile I always appreciate an emotional argument, I personally felt that it was too centered on personal judgment. Now, that’s not to say that you made a bad argument, but I feel it was too obvious that it came from a place of personal anger.
Delete[Sady]
DeleteI think we've reached the point of no return when it comes to a policy revision. If we would have revised the policy a few years ago when these problems first manifested themselves, a revision would work. Now, though, the way we have been misusing the iPads for all these years has cemented these ways of usage into our culture. At this point, a policy revision would start a war, as we'd be dealing with more and more in the way of VPNs and related programs that could bypass any restrictions placed on the iPads. People would stop at nothing to be able to use the iPads the way they always had. A policy revision would be too little too late at the present time.
[Emma]
DeleteWell, I am PERSONALLY JUDGING the school system because I am ANGRY. That's an acceptable basis for an argument. I don't know where you're going with this.
Dear Elk County Catholic School Board Members,
ReplyDeleteI would like to present a gratitude of thanks for your decision in purchasing iPads for students. Being a Catholic School, we are challenged more than other schools around us. We receive barely any government money, meaning we must support and raise our own to use. Every high school student is paying approximately $6,500 every year to come to this school for a higher education. Note the “higher education.” Elk County Catholic is responsible for providing every aspect of a new and changing education for their students, this is where the iPads come in. iPads have been in production since 2010, allowing people to explore new technology faster and easier. ECC has been providing students with iPads for multiple years now, giving students the advantage of taking their own “computer” home with them to continue their studies. Students use their iPads for papers, research, and email. Our School has provided us with the latest technology, that will also be used in college, to ensure the greatest education possible. Through fundraisers and donations, Elk County Catholic has provided a better education with iPads.
Parents want the best for their children and will stop at nothing to get there. The purpose of high school is to set a child up for college, where they will choose what they want to do for a living to start their life. iPads are great for high school because they offer so many unique opportunities for students to learn. Students use iPads for projects, information, assignments, communication, checking grades, applying to college, and so much more. It’s also fairly cheap compared to a similar device, a computer or laptop. A computer can cost $1,500 while also being hard to carry around. An iPad is about $350, while being small and easily accessible. Now these two devices can do just about the same thing, but one is clearly better compared to the other. So the parents, students, and many others would vote for having iPads to further their education in the greatest way possible at ECC. After all, wouldn’t you want the best for your child?
I really do like how you brought up the whole idea of money, as this is also a very important issue. You did bring up many good points with the cost of everything, but I feel as if you failed to tackle anything that could really refute your argument. While I do think that you did a great job at what you brought up, I am left with a whole bunch of unanswered what ifs when I put myself in the place of the audience.
DeleteAlthough you had a few good points to your argument, you definitely lack a few major key points. It seems as if you only think the iPads are a good idea because they are similar to a computer. Also, I think you definitely should’ve mentioned how else they are useful. Since you did not, I would not be completely sold on buying iPads if I was apart of the ECCSS schoolboard.
DeleteI understand how iPads are like computers for the students but, in college students, in most cases, are required to have a laptop. An iPad is not sufficient enough for this requirement. Also, I do not understand how iPads are connected to “higher education.” Wouldn’t higher education be connected to professors or more educational experiences for student? Your points do not convince me that iPads are the best decision.
DeleteI'm not going to sugar coat this; where was your argument? You only talked about one thing, which was basically that iPads are just as capable as a computer and provide us with the same capabilities. But that's not a very good point, to be honest. iPads are no replacement for a laptop. As Maddie mentioned, colleges often prefer students to have laptops, the reason being because of how versatile and capable they are. Think about submitting to TurnItIn for a second. Is it easier to type up a report in Pages (a type of file not recognized by TurnItIn) and convert it to a PDF (which screws up the formatting of your Pages file) or is it easier to type it up using Word (recognized by TurnItIn) and simply attach and submit the file with a single click? iPads are nowhere near as capable as a computer. Also, your argument about the cost of an iPad vs. a laptop is null. Sure, a laptop CAN set you back $1,500 if you get all the bells and whistles, but a laptop computer (not just a Chromebook) can be had for as little as $400, and in my opinion, the extra $50 over an iPad is well worth it for the extra capability.
DeleteEvan: The main point of my argument was the money and the computer subject, i didn’t want it to be a huge mixture, just a short complete argument of my own opinion.
DeleteBethany: Like I told Evan, I wanted the argument to be short and sweet. I feel that when promoting something, you shouldn’t over kill the argument and tramatize the buyer.
DeleteMaddie: The iPads, as I stated, provide higher education because of their avaiblilty and the amount of stuff they can do. No it’s not like being with a professor, but many schools do not have the opportunity to have this ideal helper. It is there to assist, not to teach.
DeleteJarret: I honestly think I provided a decent argument. Plus why would someone but something super expensive when the cheap version can do the same with a little work? Just because I can’t do something with one click doesn’t make me want to spend $1,500.
DeleteDear ECCSS School Board,
ReplyDeleteTechnology has taken over the present world. Just about every person on this earth owns some piece of technology whether it be a smartphone, a computer, or a tablet. If all of these people are living in this new technological age, then why shouldn't the students at Elk County Catholic High School? As technology is quickly taking over the earth, I'm glad our school has chosen the right path of using IPads to keep up with the modernization of the present.
First things first, why should we condone the use of IPads at our school? First of all, they facilitate learning by providing necessary tools to find information and learn it which is just faster than by the book. We can even get books on IPads to read information which is very beneficial because students won't have to lug around a book all day long. In a recent video I have watched, they said that technology takes away from our memorization because it is so much easier to find the information we need via IPad or other technology. While this may be true, every single person has the same capacity to learn and memorize. It all just depends on if the students are willing to take the time to do that instead of just looking it up. Students can look things up but then bookmark the website or information to keep it stored for later use. Learning could be so much more effective through the use of the Ipads because all of our school needs are much more accessible through it.
People say, “Well students only use their iPads to text or play games.” Why not change that? If teachers and advisors are going to allow it I'm not sure what people expect. I believe that if we put enough restrictions on the iPads and use punishment if they are being used poorly, then the IPads will have a much more beneficial use in our school. As a student at this school I also have played games on my IPad, but I'm starting to realize that this is not what they are for. They are an excellent learning tool and if our teachers start disciplining us then that will start to show. Our school board needs to take the time to sit down and think out a better IPad policy to make these technologies worthwhile like they should be.
Another issue that is typically brought up is money. I've heard many a people say that the IPads are too expensive and we should put our money towards something more worthwhile like air conditioning. In all honesty though, would you rather have a cooler school during some portions of the year, or have a tool that could make learning more effective, fun, and interactive? Im going to go with the better learning. IPads range anywhere between $800 and $1,000. If they are around 150 students in our school then these should in total cost $120,000. Now we of course do not pay that much for them because our school gets a discount. Our fundraisers that Our school has should easily be able to cover for the costs of the IPads as well as other necessary needs for this school. While our school does not receive money from the government, I don't believe that money is the real issue here.
IPads are a very useful piece of technology in education when used correctly. Through discipline and the willingness to learn, this technology could turn into something great for Our school system for many years to come
I agree with your arguement about how the iPads may be expensive but they are worth it. Although, your point about how textbooks and books could be put on the iPad is not true. We have had iPads since our freshman year, and we have yet to download a textbook onto the iPad. Also, stating that you play games during school probably was not a good idea, but stating that more restrictions could be made was good. I do not agree with your point of view.
DeleteMaddie, from your point about the text books I do understand that we have not downloaded them yet but I am speaking from a future standpoint as we could begin to do that which would in turn be very beneficial. I understand your point about playing games but I was talking from a past point and stating that games are not the reason we bought the IPads which lead to my point about better restrictions. I am unsure why you do not agree with my point of view as you did not back yourself up very well on it.
DeletePart One:
ReplyDeleteDear Elk County Catholic School Board members,
Around 5 years ago, the decision to implement iPads into the school for students, teachers, and faculty was made. I am writing today to concur with you and your decision, and I think the implementation of iPads should be continued. When it was originally announced, Fr. Michael Ferrick said "As a school system, we've been at the forefront of technology and we feel that this will keep us at the forefront and move us forward. Society and technology are changing rapidly, the way our children interact is changing rapidly and after much search among our technology people and looking into the different instruments out there, we feel that the iPad is the best tool for teachers, faculty and students to use.” I agree with this statement, and through 5 years, think about how much technology has changed, just from 2012 to 2017 alone.
One of the biggest problems with iPads thus far has been distractions. Slowly, the tech team has been taking away certain features, including the use of most social media apps. Yes, students can use iMessage. Yes, students can still download games from the App Store. If they were able to remove the ability to download games and to no longer allow use of iMessage, then that would solve a majority of their problems. If there was a perfect solution to get students to gain maximum effectiveness out of their iPads, we would not be having this discussion. As of right now, there are a lot of issues with distractions from iPads, but everything in history was created perfectly right from the start. With work, which needs done as soon as possible, the iPads will be able to live up to their expectations. We are definitely capable of reaching that point; it just depends on whether or not we are willing to revise the iPad policy enough and the punishments given for improper usage.
Why should we just stop using iPads when everyone and everything around us has become so technologically-based? Sure we have a large library, but do you really have time to read a book every single time you have a question? What if you are at home and do not have access to a library or books? Not everyone has a desktop computer at home, and if they do not have any books pertaining to the subject they have a question in, they could really be in trouble. iPads allow for students to have this information right in front of them, and to be able to look at multiple sources as well. iPads were made to complement the curricular goals of our school, not the other way around, which would be basing our entire curriculum solely off of iPads.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePart Two:
ReplyDeleteEveryone learns at a different pace, and for those who struggle, an iPad could be very beneficial for them. No, it would not 100% solve all educational issues for that student. If there was a solution that would solve every single educational issue this school has, again, we would not be having this discussion. Some may argue that having extra teacher help would be better, but the average salary of a private school teacher is $36,000. Teachers already offer extra help to students who are struggling, and I am positive they want you to learn and understand as best as you can. If money was not an object, we could hire all the help we need, but we do not have that luxury. 1 on 1 help is great, but we cannot afford a personal tutor for every student. Cost wise, if an iPad costs $329 (We do not have iPad Pro’s, just normal iPads. iPad Pro’s cost anywhere from $649-799. Here is a link to Apple’s website showing that an iPad only costs $329: https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-ipad/ipad-9-7/32gb-silver-wifi ) and we are buying in a 1:1 ratio with around 40 students per class, it would cost around $13,200 per class. Buying in bulk though, we most likely would not have to pay the full price. I have heard so many students complaining about teachers and how “they don’t teach anything” or students talking about how “they didn’t feel like doing their homework,” and saying things like “I got a 72% on the test but I didn’t study” Students are refusing to put any effort in whatsoever, then they do bad in the class and complain about the teachers. If we are going to evaluate whether or not the iPads have been effective, we might as well evaluate how the teachers are doing and how much effort students are putting into school, because I am sure that bad grades cannot be completely blamed on the iPads. If we have the willingness and desire to change the current system with our iPads, they can be developed into great tools that will benefit students for years to come.
Dear ECC School Board Members:
ReplyDelete5 years in the past, a change was put in place. Or, rather an improvement. This improvement was the gift of iPads to each student. Despite what others may say, they have been a great tool for students all throughout their high school career.
For one, they greatly assist the gaining of knowledge from the internet. Without iPads, the teacher would be forced to either look it up on their own, or use a computer somewhere in the building which may not be possible. If a question arises that is outside the lesson plan, the iPad is the quickest and easiest way to gain that knowledge and answer a student’s question. School is all about learning, yes? Then iPads are the perfect tool.
Furthermore, it streamlined the contact between student and teacher and makes it much more convenient for both parties. Not to say that there isn’t a way without iPads. There certainly is. However, the email on the iPads gives students a place where they can quickly tap into to read their emails instead of clicking through a bunch of computer screens just to need to log in. This ease of access may encourage lazier students to still check their email, unlike the computer method.
Also, they facilitate group projects and encourage collaboration between students. If a group of students are working on a project that may need out of school work, they can easily start a messaginggroup on their iPads to keep up with the rest of their group. You may say, “Why is messaging a good thing? Couldn’t that be distracting.” While this may be true, you have to take the bad with the good. Without this functionality, students could quite possibly struggle to communicate, potentially leading to bad grades, high stress, and broken friendships.
In conclusion, board members, I truly believe that the iPads are invaluable tools of learning. They help students immeasurably and must be kept. Thank you.