Madison Schools to Get 1400 iPads

Interesting.

The School District for the first time plans to buy more than 600 iPads for use in the majority of schools this spring. Another 800 iPads are expected to be in classrooms by next fall, all paid for with money from a state settlement with Microsoft.

District officials are enthusiastic about the possibilities presented by tablets, from students wirelessly sharing classroom work to replacing workbooks purchased each year with online “apps.” Other districts in Dane County and around the state are already experimenting with tablets.

In Madison, the popular computing device presents a “jumping off” moment for technology in classrooms that hasn’t happened with desktop and laptop computers, said Bill Smojver, the district’s director of technical services.

[...]

Principals have proposed using the tablets in a variety of ways. Sandburg Elementary, which is receiving the most iPads with 105, plans to experiment with each student in four classrooms accessing a device. Other schools, like Gompers Elementary, which is receiving two iPads, are allowing teachers to experiment with use in their planning and record-keeping.

Paid for by settlement

The iPads are being paid for with part of $3.4 million from a state-negotiated settlement with Microsoft. Wisconsin received nearly $80 million in technology vouchers as part of the 2009 settlement related to a consumer lawsuit over software.

I’m not opposed to schools using iPads or other tablet devices. Frankly, it’s the world we live in and kids should learn how to use them. Furthermore, the textbook racket is very expensive and digital media can be a way to bring down costs while keeping the content current. What bothers me about this story is that it seems like there isn’t a plan for the iPads. The district got some “free money” in a settlement and decided to spend it on iPads without knowing what they would do with them. I hope that it’s just the news story that makes it appear so poorly planned.

1. What bothers me about this story is that it seems like there isn’t a plan for the iPads. The district got some “free money” in a settlement and decided to spend it on iPads without knowing what they would do with them. I hope that it’s just the news story that makes it appear so poorly planned.

   My guess is that it’s just the news story.

   
   IPAD’s Enhancing Education in Madison Schools

   100’s of applications are used on a daily basis by students and teachers alike, some examples include Splashtop which allows the IPAD to take over control of the electronic white board in the classroom giving users a wireless slate for controlling the Smart Boards, Garage Band which allows students to practice, record and mix a variety of musical instruments, 3-D Brain which allows the user to dissect the brain and learn about each part while manipulating, enlarging, researching and virtually touching each part of the human brain. The applications also include assistance for students with special needs and/or English language learners. Teachers have attended in district professional development on the basics and more advanced features of the IPAD but of course, everyone agrees the students are the quickest learners and our resident experts. “we already know this tool improves student engagement and allows for more individualized learning, our next step is to maximize on the IPAD’s potential for improving student achievement” says district Assistant Superintendent, Anne-Marie Foret. Teachers at Madison Middle School are using the Kindle app on their IPAD to read the book for their current building wide book study. Madison teachers and students alike will continue to use the IPAD to enhance teaching and learning while promoting student achievement.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 28, 2012 at 1052 hrs
   
   
   

2. Not to necessarily start the Madison vs. the rest of WI debate - but why would this be only Madison schools? Do other districts have the same opportunity? Were other districts even aware of the opportunity? Our guess is always ‘no’ and this is the first time others will be aware of it. And the funds are probably all committed already.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 28, 2012 at 1118 hrs
   
   
   

3. Um, no Bob, DPI has actually been quite good about keeping superintendents in the loop and making sure eligible schools know what they’re getting and how they can use it.

   If you weren’t so lazy and took five seconds to Google “Wisconsin Microsoft settlement,” you could’ve blown away your own ignorance with the first link instead of parading it around like it’s something to be proud of.

   If you don’t have the time to find facts, don’t bother having opinions.  You’re no help to society that way.

   Posted by Recess Supervisor on January 28, 2012 at 1316 hrs
   
   
   

4. 600 iPads for use in the majority of schools this spring. Another 800 iPads are expected to be in classrooms by next fall, all paid for with money from a state settlement with Microsoft.

   My irony trigger was going off.  
   Talk about a fitting punishment. Microsoft violated anti-trust laws & as a result of the settlement, schools get free Apple hardware.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 28, 2012 at 1630 hrs
   
   
   

5. Wait until one of these elementary children uses an ipad to hack into the school’s main computer and screws things up.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 29, 2012 at 0916 hrs
   
   
   

6. It is pretty typical for districts to jump into fads without much of a plan for how to use those fads to actually accomplish a specified goal.  So they are going to integrate it with their white boards, kids can explore the brain, yadda yadda - is there an objective in mind?  Is that objective part of a legit plan?  Too often there’s a lack of administrative leadership that leaves teh money less-than-well-spent.  The comment about kids learning how to use them fast ... well yeah, to do what?  Anything useful other than getting off on trash-talking each other, hacking, sexting, or whatever?  Sure, my students know their way around an iPhone, but that doesn’t make them a more responsible citizen or a more effective scientist than they were without one.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 29, 2012 at 1228 hrs
   
   
   

7. I’d like to see a lot more rigor in how technology is used in the schools.

   The key surely is in how the technology is used. A major reason why those laptops and desktops did not improve student performance surely is in the “quality” of the all-too-often dreadful education applications that were put on them.

   Of course, there are always a few extraordinary students who manage to teach themselves with the technological tools provided- but that is in spite of, not because of, the school’s use of the technology.

   Who is to know how best to use available technology in schools if no one is measuring what inputs produce what changes in student achievement? For that matter, who trusts the ability of schools of education to measure it?

   In short, given the history of what’s been done with technology in schools, skepticism seems warranted.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 30, 2012 at 0946 hrs
   
   
   

8. Actually with a simple adaptor ipads can be used as a projector, onto a screen, TV or other things.  I do believe ipads are amazing with their possibility, but unfortunately, MMSD does a piss poor job on developing technology, so who knows!!

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 30, 2012 at 2131 hrs