my thoughts

I have been using the iPad for a couple of weeks now and have taken it to 2 PDs and used it to take minutes at 2 meetings. I have basically only used 'Documents to Go' and some of the games, mainly because the other things I wanted to use were unavailable because I was not connected with the web.
These are my thoughts:
After the initial euphoria of the idea of the iPad, I must say I am less excited about it now. While it has some positives, I think the negatives make it less than ideal as a resource for the students at school.
Negatives
The keypad drives me nuts when note taking or writing a sermon (the other thing I have been doing on it), as the apostrophes and dashes are on the other keyboard, meaning I am constantly switching between the two. I know the kids at very adaptable, but it may confuse some of the children. It is also very 'touchy' which would be an issue for our special ed kids.
The screen gets very dirty - I need to clean it multiple times a day.
The reflection of overhead lights is fairly distracting because the surface is fairly flat, even when on its stand. Fingerprints really stand out. Of course that is probably the same for all slates/tablets.
You still need to have access to the internet to access your documents/download docs via dropbox or email and this is part of our problem. You cannot access many other educational things at present without the internet (Google/Bible App/ABC) which is what we are trying to avoid.
It shuts itself down after a couple of minutes of inactivity - how useful is that in class? The separate keyboard also shuts down when that happens.
There is no ability to draw or add images to a document when using 'Docs on the go' so when at my PD I still had to use a text doc and my notebook - how would that impact on Maths/Geography lessons? Is there another App that could do both?
Multitasking is a pain. Because you can't have 2 apps open at a time/side by side, it is hard to do note taking etc.
The arrow keys on the additional keyboard don't seem to work with it, making moving the cursor to between words difficult at times. Our Spec Needs kids will find that particularly challenging.
Each device would have to be assigned to a particular student - you couldn't share them between multiple classes like a laptop trolley/netbooks.
Not having a Windows OS means they don't gel with our other computers.
Can't put a memory stick into them to transfer data.
POSITIVES
It starts up quickly - no logging on issues.
Very portable.
Lots of apps available.
Would be great to have a class set for creative writing applications (although see above re keyboard negatives).

ISSUES TO BE THOUGHT OUT
How do we reduce the use of the internet, especially if we have whole classes with these portable devices, plus more students/another building/more teachers next year? What training are we giving staff on other things to do that don't use much internet?
Are we going to train the staff about all the devices can do BEFORE we think of rolling them out?
We need to have policies in place regarding damage/misuse before we even start. Who will do this? Who will 'own' them and how do we monitor what is going on them if parents own them? Who will pay for extras like batteries/keyboards/covers/chargers etc? What happens if something happens to the device (warranty etc)?
Who decides who gets them? Will teachers have opportunity for training before needing the write a 'proposal' for how they will use them? What happens if 1 teacher at a year level wants them but the other doesn't? Who will deal with parental complaints if their child is in a class that doesn't have them? Who will monitor that they are being utilised effectively and will they be removed if they are not?
Would it be better to wait until the technology has developed a bit more so that we know that the devices (whether it be netbooks/iPads/other slates) are what are actually best for us as a school?
We still have to overcome the issue of lack of internet. Any device that we get will be affected by this issue. Are we better to spend the money on software that will extend and fully utilise the technology we already have?
Perhaps we need to restructure how things are done, especially in the primary school. Is it effective to give students from Year 4 down open slather to research on the internet, or should we be providing them with articles that they use to write their projects etc? What happened to books? Would e-books that are on the server better value at the moment?
The students seem to download a large number of images. Why don't we encourage them to draw pictures/headings etc?
Could students be asked to do more research at home rather than doing it at school?
Before we do anything, I think we need to do a detailed scope and sequence for ICT across the school.
The above are all my opinion and I would be happy to discuss any of the points (and be persuaded otherwise with regard to the negatives) with anyone.
Karen

iPad evaluation criteria

visit here to view the BHCS iPad evaluation criteria.

Ipad Policy Thoughts

The main policy areas that I think we need to be concerned with will include:

Ownership of the device

• Does the device belong to the school or the pupil?
• Who pays for it initially?

Damage and Loss

• Will the school carry insurance for the device?
• Will parents be liable to replace it or cover damage?
• Who decides when damage is chargeable?

AppleCare

• Should we purchase AppleCare for the device?

Out-of-school use

• Will students be allowed to take the device out of school?
• Will students be allowed to take the device home?
• Will students be allowed to install software of their own choosing? (Games...)
• Will the school be liable for illicit usage of the device?

Some schools use a probation period, after which the pupil will be allowed to take the device home if they are deemed responsible enough.

Acceptable Use Policy

• Will the school monitor content on the device?
• Will the school monitor email/web surfing?
• Will our existing AUP documents cover a more personal, portable and off-campus device like the iPad?

Some schools take a spot-check approach in which certain pupils' devices will be checked every week. Unacceptable content is dealt with in the usual disciplinary way. If browser history has been wiped, that may be treated as an offence.

Supply of a case or bag

• Should students supply a case?

Storage in School

Schoolbags are often badly abused. Electronic devices will not survive long in such an environment.

• Can we provide secure storage?

The Wiki Man

Glenn came across an interesting article by UK Spectator writer Rory Sutherland.

Click here for the for the full article

Rory Sutherland writes "In the end I ignored my own advice and bought an Apple iPad, purely, as I explained to my wife, ‘for the purposes of research’. The very same ‘research’ that has by now filled two or three desk drawers with a ridiculous assortment of electrical chargers, the devices they once charged mostly lost, burnt out or forgotten.

Weeks later, my verdict on the thing is curiously complicated. What I mean by this is that the Apple iPad is a magnificent, life-enhancing device, which in many ways lights a future path for technology... and I really do like it: but I’m just not quite sure that you should buy one."

iPad wannabes

I thought I would put up some links to iPad alternatives that are being released by various vendors. Some are already available others are yet to be released.

ExoPC

An 8.9 inch Multitouch display running Windows 7

Fusion Garage Joojo

12.1 inch Multitouch running proprietary Linux

ICD Ultra

7 inch running Android 2.0

Notion Ink Adam

10 inch running Android 2.0

Lenovo IdeaPad U1

Hybrid Laptop / Slate device

HP’s Slate PC

8.9 inch running Webos

Archos 9PC Tablet

8.9 inch running Windows 7

Dell Streak

5 inch running Android 2.0

Multitasking

One of the features or lack there of with the iPad is it's lack of multitasking ability. I came across the following article which discusses the possible pros and cons of prolific multitasking in everything we do.

View The New York Times article here

Ipad Apps

I am creating a list of useful apps I have come across for the iPad.

Click Here

This is a growing list so let me know if you come across any I haven't listed and I will add it in.