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[royalan]

The problem I always had with this plan is that, despite Apple's desperation to show otherwise, iPads are primarily consumption devices.

If you REALLY want to maximize a child's ability to learn using technology on an individual scale, you give them something they can use to create. Something they can write a 10-page paper with. Create an in-depth powerpoint presentation. Create/Manipulate data and graphics. Easily connect to other devices. Learn how to operate a full-scale OS.

The iPad is a terrible device for this. And incredibly expensive, to boot. And "b-b-but they can read their textbooks on it!" isn't really enough to make up for its deficiencies elsewhere.

The whole plan was just poorly thought-out.

#TeamChromebook

Spoiler

Actually, Surface tablets would have been GREAT for this...if they weren't so damn expensive.

 

[Tertullian]

They bought their students the least productive, most expensive tablet they possibly could?

Chromebooks would've been a way better choice, as some've said. I could even see getting them Surface 2's, since their whole reputation is that they lack all the entertainment apps, but at least they have fully-features browsers and Office.

 

[Portugeezer]

Paying for the brand name.

 

[Shao Kahn on the Lawn]

Even if a tablet would have been a great learning tool, why purchase the most overpriced brand out there? I mean, it looks great and is super sleek, but you're paying quite a lot for those external features..

Because the most influential people in education aren't IT specialists and they're highly susceptible to marketing. It's the same deal in higher education. Apple makes great devices and they're second to none at marketing said devices.

Unfortunately, the biggest hurdle standing between Apple and effective Enterprise management (Which would've remedied the story in the OP) is Apple themselves. They have very little interest in tailoring their products to Enterprise needs so you end up with a bunch of Consumer grade devices that are very difficult to manage on a wide scale without expensive third-party products.

 

[GabDX]

This shows just how good Apple's marketing team is. They've managed to convince people that iPads are good educational tools and iMacs are necessary to browse Facebook.

 

[MJLord]

As long as there is tech in schools the students will find ways around it. It happens everywhere.

 

[Aurongel]

"The kids are hacking past our security!"

Translation: "They're using proxy sites and tethering to bypass our garbage web content filters".

And after all this and the cost for taxpayers, they STILL think a device made for quick media consumption will be anything other than a distraction for kids in school. My highschool had us use $2000 MacBooks maybe 4 times a year for 3 years and then they replaced them all when I graduated. America spends so much on education and absolutely SQUANDERS their budget.

 

[btrboyev]

As long as there is tech in schools the students will find ways around it. It happens everywhere.

I'm an IT coordinator at a smaller public school. We haven't gone full 1:1, but our district bought into iPads full on despite my warning of all the issues we will run into. I would have preferred laptops. iPads so far have been a pain.

We recently purchased 200 Surface RT's for our 3rd and 4th grade because we could get them for so cheap this summer. So far the devices have been great, but I'm struggling with initial set up of them. MS didn't make it easy at all. They don't have a system for schools.

 

[btrboyev]

"The kids are hacking past our security!"

Translation: "They're using proxy sites and tethering to bypass our garbage web content filters".

And after all this and the cost for taxpayers, they STILL think a device made for quick media consumption will be anything other than a distraction for kids in school. My highschool had us use $2000 MacBooks maybe 4 times a year for 3 years and then they replaced them all when I graduated. America spends so much on education and absolutely SQUANDERS their budget.

It's not only that, but most schools use a 3rd party program or apple configurator to put restrictive profiles on the device which can turn off features such as the App Store or iMessage...etc. but the profiles are easy to remove. It's as simple as clicking on the profile and hitting remove. Or a student can simply put the iPad in recovery mode an restore it back to factory.

 

[whitehawk]

Why couldn't they have gotten some Android tablets that were cheaper.

 

[btrboyev]

Why couldn't they have gotten some Android tablets that were cheaper.

Because school administrators have bought into Apple without consulting their IT depts. and they have to look competive to all the other schools buying iPads.

 

[Tim the Wiz]

A billion dollars spent on tablets instead of actual education? What a waste.

 

[Aurongel]

Why couldn't they have gotten some Android tablets that were cheaper.

If they don't spend that budget then it will get shrunk the following year.

 

[Gallbaro]

As long as there is tech in schools the students will find ways around it. It happens everywhere.

And it is actually one of the few ways that students actually learn technology.

 

[TheFeedingHand]

Los Angeles is like a third-world city. No wonder it's lagging in education.

 

[Vyer]

iPads can be great educational tools. It depends on the software.

Kids are going to try Twitter and Facebook no matter what the device. Hell, so will adults for that matter.

 

[-COOLIO-]

I just wanted to point out:

$1 billion - $366 million for WiFi upgrades = $634 million for the iPads

$634 million divided by 650,000 students = $975 per iPad per student

Even consider administration costs and likely training costs for students and teachers, that's a pretty terrible price. Does Apple not offer a bulk discount when you buy over half a million iPads?

wow. this cant be right. why would they pay double per ipad? if this is true id want to throw up.

the asus memopad is a 130 bucks retail.

 

[teh_pwn]

I think a Linux tablet laptop hybrid with a good UI would be much more appropriate, educational, and cost effective.

 

[btrboyev]

wow. this cant be right. why would they pay double per ipad? if this is true id want to throw up.

the asus memopad is a 130 bucks retail.

Apple gives a $20 break per iPad if you buy a 10 pack of them.

I'm betting staff also got iPads which would factor into price.

 

[Guess Who]

This thread is great comedy material.

 

[Zoe]

I'm betting staff also got iPads which would factor into price.

+ sets of replacements and sets for checkout during the day

 

[Arcayne]

What the hell did they expect?

Of all things to consider for academic purposes...iPads? Sometimes I question why I live in LA. ~_~

 

[zhorkat]

It's not only that, but most schools use a 3rd party program or apple configurator to put restrictive profiles on the device which can turn off features such as the App Store or iMessage...etc. but the profiles are easy to remove. It's as simple as clicking on the profile and hitting remove. Or a student can simply put the iPad in recovery mode an restore it back to factory.

That does not sound like a very useful or well thought out system.

 

[Lich_King]

Spoiler

porn

twitter finds a way

 

[Aeroangel]

Awful waste of tax dollars in my opinion, but if they insist on "integrating technology in the classroom" how about some cheap $50-100 off brand tablets? I've seen the hell kids put text books and electronics through... there's a reason we did our homework on cheap paper with cheap pencils me thinks.

 

[maeh2k]

Even if they really want to spend that much on tablets, I really wouldn't have chosen iPads. Of course I can see why an iPad is compelling with their first mover advantage and the app situation, but I think it's just too expensive for the education system.
Since Apple make most of their money with hardware sales, all their products have really... lets say healthy margins. That's not going to change. While everyone else is participating in a race to the bottom, Apple are keeping the prices up and the margins high (still selling iPad 2 at a high price next to the 5th gen iPad, increasing the price for the Retina Mini).

 

[zhorkat]

Awful waste of tax dollars in my opinion, but if they insist on "integrating technology in the classroom" how about some cheap $50-100 off brand tablets? I've seen the hell kids put text books and electronics through... there's a reason we did our homework on cheap paper with cheap pencils me thinks.

I'd imagine that at least one reason for going for a more expensive option over a cheaper option is support. The LA school district probably felt they would get much better support in terms of hardware replacement and software usage from Apple than they would from the company that sold those $50-100 off-brand tablets.

 

[Daniel Jackson]

Here in the Netherlands seven 'Steve Jobs Schools' started this year: http://www.macrumors.com/2013/08/21...y-steve-jobs-schools-open-in-the-netherlands/

 

[Cryolemon]

Modern teaching of IT in a nutshell: Teaching actual coding & design... nah... here's some fancy tech and Microsoft Office instead.

Good point. It is getting slightly better. They could give kids a Raspberry Pi instead of an iPad.

 

[Phoenician_Viking]

Some kindergarten use Ipads to help the children to learn math, language, etc.... It´s pretty useful and easy for children to learn through these programs since the programs are not only educational but fun as well.

 

[M3d10n]

A massive waste of money. Just imagine how many of them were destroyed on the first month. At the very least they should have used something custom built with custom software tailored for education.

Some kindergarten use Ipads to help the children to learn math, language, etc.... It´s pretty useful and easy for children to learn through these programs since the programs are not only educational but fun as well.

Nobody is disputing the merits of an portable interactive multimedia device in kindergarten education. The problem is with using iPads (which can't be truly locked down) and letting older students take them home.

 

[Cipherr]

Should have chosen regular laptops instead...

I don't disagree that laptops are better for an academic environment like this, but kids would find a way around the security on a laptop also. But yeah they should have went with cheap laptops instead.

Tablets might be of better use to really small children who wouldn't do well with a keyboard.

 

[commedieu]

A massive waste of money. Just imagine how many of them were destroyed on the first month. At the very least they should have used something custom built with custom software tailored for education.

such a waste. If anything, as anyone with common fucking sense is saying, should have been laptops, or 1 billion towards smaller classes, more teachers, school infrastructure, which is sub standard.

Its really insulting.

 

[Cryolemon]

A massive waste of money. Just imagine how many of them were destroyed on the first month. At the very least they should have used something custom built with custom software tailored for education.

Hence my Raspberry Pi suggestion. You could quite easily tailor those to education.

 

[DrSlek]

We've got iPads in our pred and kindergarten schools where I work. They work there because the kids aren't tech savy enough to be able to crack or hack them. They're loaded with a shitload of educational apps, and their usage is highly regulated.

But older kids? Fuck that. We give them laptops that we lock down tight with group policy and monitoring software. The only thing we have to really worry about then is viruses and physical damage.

 

[zhorkat]

Hence my Raspberry Pi suggestion. You could quite easily tailor those to education.

Could you? I would think it would take quite a lot of work to customize a Raspberry Pi to get what the school district wants.

 

[Souless_PJ]

It's not only that, but most schools use a 3rd party program or apple configurator to put restrictive profiles on the device which can turn off features such as the App Store or iMessage...etc. but the profiles are easy to remove. It's as simple as clicking on the profile and hitting remove. Or a student can simply put the iPad in recovery mode an restore it back to factory.

That does not sound like a very useful or well thought out system.

Because he is wrong. As someone who deploys iPads for his corporate masters, you can't remove the security profile without the complex security passcode which only the admin should know and if you restore the device under iOS7 to reactivate it you need the original Apple ID which would be setup in Configurator.

So the student would have a bricked device until handing it back sheepishly.

It's not perfect but it's the most secure platform out there compared to the others.

 

[BluWacky]

Modern teaching of IT in a nutshell: Teaching actual coding & design... nah... here's some fancy tech and Microsoft Office instead.

But that's what Information Technology is as distinct from Computer Science, isn't it? We teach IT at the school I work at and it's all about the use and deployment and software and hardware - skills for running an office IT department, not for programming. While I might find it a waste of time due to being an enormous nerd and having most of this stuff in my brain, it's probably very useful to some people to learn about this kind of thing.

Here we have a Fortigate unit that blocks most things on the school network, sometimes based on time of day (social networking is blocked during lessons and prep time in the evening) and has different policy levels for students and teachers etc. Kids can use tablets and laptops in class but I tend to ask them not to unless it's for educational reasons (some of my students have SENs that mean they're allowed to type for examinations so I let them get the practice in).

I know some of the kids use tethering to get round this - I know I do! - but we're in a valley with very little 3G internet reception so most of the time you're screwed. I guess we're just lucky from a technological perspective!

 

[M3d10n]

Because he is wrong. As someone who deploys iPads for his corporate masters, you can't remove the security profile without the complex security passcode which only the admin should know and if you restore the device under iOS7 to reactivate it you need the original Apple ID which would be setup in Configurator.

So the student would have a bricked device until handing it back sheepishly.

It's not perfect but it's the most secure platform out there compared to the others.

TBF, IOS7 is quite recent and things were much more lax before, so maybe that's the experience he had? With older versions anyone could factory format a device. We also have no idea how IOS7 jailbreak will behave.

 

[flamingotripod]

They might as well buy Mac pros for every school too

SMH

 

[Cryolemon]

Could you? I would think it would take quite a lot of work to customize a Raspberry Pi to get what the school district wants.

I suppose it depends on you definition of "quite easy". It's still probably cheaper to get someone to do that than it is to buy iPads for every pupil.

 

[Somnium986]

I remember my schools district doing something like this too when I was entering middle school. Brand new building, bigger computer area, and laptops for every student. Laptops never happened. I was sad.

Maybe they figured the students would just hack into them. XD

 

[You Are Viewtiful]

I still think it is a worthwhile endeavour. We should use technology to expand our learning capacities, there is incredible learning software out there.

 

[Dr.Acula]

Tablets are pretty shit for doing any kind of work on.

I like browsing GAF on an iPad, or looking up random stuff, or watching a quick clip, but if I need to do anything slightly complicated, I go to my PC.

I couldn't edit an Antonio Banderas gif. Hell, I'm not even sure how to dl a gif, or xfer one to imgur from an iPad.

 

[zhorkat]

Because he is wrong. As someone who deploys iPads for his corporate masters, you can't remove the security profile without the complex security passcode which only the admin should know and if you restore the device under iOS7 to reactivate it you need the original Apple ID which would be setup in Configurator.

So the student would have a bricked device until handing it back sheepishly.

It's not perfect but it's the most secure platform out there compared to the others.

I see. Then I guess that the students were jailbreaking their devices or something to get around this?

Really though, there will always be a way to bypass these security measures. I think that spending so much effort trying to combat them on a technological level is a waste of time, and it'd be much more effective to focus on getting the kids to do something productive instead of trying to block them from doing something unproductive.

 

[Guess Who]

Hell, I'm not even sure how to dl a gif, or xfer one to imgur from an iPad.

1. long press gif
2. "save image"
3. ????

 

[Vincent Alexander]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but my God our education system can be a joke sometimes. Who thought this was a good idea?

 

[kiunchbb]

Why iPad anyway, a cheap hundred dollar android would do whatever job they need to perform in school.

 

[commedieu]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but my God our education system can be a joke sometimes. Who thought this was a good idea?

apple.

 

[The Cowboy]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but my God our education system can be a joke sometimes. Who thought this was a good idea?

My daughters school in the UK did something like this. Each child was issued with an iPod Touch at the start of the year, and it came pre-installed with loads of education related apps/games and things to do homework on. When homework was issued it was setup to use the apps, so when at home my daughter simply started the app/apps and do the homework.

The iPods where locked out of accessing the main store and other features (twitter etc), IMO it was a very good idea and worked very well.