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My kids' high school (http://knoxcountystemac.knoxschools.org/ http://knoxcountystemac.knoxschools.org/) has done this as well. I'm still not sure how I feel ab

by steverb 14y ago

My kids' high school (http://knoxcountystemac.knoxschools.org/ http://knoxcountystemac.knoxschools.org/) has done this as well. I'm still not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, the kids aren't hauling 30 pounds of books to and from school everyday, school lockers are pretty much superfluous, and the iPad is a great tool. On the other hand, it's very hard for me as their parent to tell (at a glance) whether or not the kids are actually doing school work or just screwing around and it's very easy for the kids to get distracted if they aren't having a good concentration day. Like everything else, it's a bit of a mixed bag.

robmcm 14y ago
Can you not restrict them so they can't install games etc? [EDIT] The iPads, not the kids!
- steverb 14y ago
  Not that I can tell, but we took the controversial tack of telling the kids not to install any games on there. So far, it's working for us.
  - js2 14y ago
    Settings > General > Restrictions?
    - steverb 14y ago
      I don't have an iPad in front of me, but so far as I can tell there is no "Only let useful apps be installed" setting. Besides, it's an attitude issue. Preventing them from installing stuff via a setting isn't going to stop a kid from screwing around if they really want to (IMO). We choose to address the attitude and the actual behavior (if and when it occurs).
- UnoriginalGuy 14y ago
  With enterprise tools for iPad you have complete and total control over how the device is used. You can restrict installing apps, uninstalling apps, using the camera, loading the App Store, talking with Siri, altering settings, etc. See this list for some of the things you can do: http://help.apple.com/configurator/mac/1.2/#cadbf9e41d http://help.apple.com/configurator/mac/1.2/#cadbf9e41d Yet more: http://help.apple.com/configurator/mac/1.2/#cad5370d089 http://help.apple.com/configurator/mac/1.2/#cad5370d089
  - steverb 14y ago
    Yeah, except they need to be able to do a lot of those things. They need to install apps, but there are certain apps they definitely do not need. Also, I (the parent) don't have full access to the device to do whatever, as it belongs to the school system and they handle the administration of it. It doesn't really matter with regards to my children. We believe in addressing behavior directly (talking to them, rewarding/punishing behavior, etc). We just told them not to use their iPads for games without asking first (same rules as apply to their laptops), protect your privacy, blah blah blah. Again, my major beef is that it takes more effort to verify that they are staying out of trouble. It's not impossible, but it's nerve wracking that I can't glance and see that they are doing homework, I have to actually maneuver around and look over their shoulder. Trust but verify is our motto.
alanctgardner2 14y ago
Do they use it for reading, or also for tests? I'm really curious about the testing they demonstrate in the video, because it seems inherently rigid and less indicative of a student's understanding than writing something down. Do they write all their tests on iPads, and are the tests multiple choice, or short-answer?
- steverb 14y ago
  What I've seen is that testing is done via traditional methods, and for math we actually had to purchase a calculator specifically for test use since they are not allowed to use the iPads during math tests. I believe it varies with the teacher and the subject though.

by steverb 14y ago

robmcm 14y ago

Can you not restrict them so they can't install games etc? [EDIT] The iPads, not the kids!

steverb 14y ago
Not that I can tell, but we took the controversial tack of telling the kids not to install any games on there. So far, it's working for us.
- js2 14y ago
  Settings > General > Restrictions?
  - steverb 14y ago
    I don't have an iPad in front of me, but so far as I can tell there is no "Only let useful apps be installed" setting. Besides, it's an attitude issue. Preventing them from installing stuff via a setting isn't going to stop a kid from screwing around if they really want to (IMO). We choose to address the attitude and the actual behavior (if and when it occurs).
UnoriginalGuy 14y ago
With enterprise tools for iPad you have complete and total control over how the device is used. You can restrict installing apps, uninstalling apps, using the camera, loading the App Store, talking with Siri, altering settings, etc. See this list for some of the things you can do: http://help.apple.com/configurator/mac/1.2/#cadbf9e41d http://help.apple.com/configurator/mac/1.2/#cadbf9e41d Yet more: http://help.apple.com/configurator/mac/1.2/#cad5370d089 http://help.apple.com/configurator/mac/1.2/#cad5370d089
- steverb 14y ago
  Yeah, except they need to be able to do a lot of those things. They need to install apps, but there are certain apps they definitely do not need. Also, I (the parent) don't have full access to the device to do whatever, as it belongs to the school system and they handle the administration of it. It doesn't really matter with regards to my children. We believe in addressing behavior directly (talking to them, rewarding/punishing behavior, etc). We just told them not to use their iPads for games without asking first (same rules as apply to their laptops), protect your privacy, blah blah blah. Again, my major beef is that it takes more effort to verify that they are staying out of trouble. It's not impossible, but it's nerve wracking that I can't glance and see that they are doing homework, I have to actually maneuver around and look over their shoulder. Trust but verify is our motto.

alanctgardner2 14y ago

Do they use it for reading, or also for tests? I'm really curious about the testing they demonstrate in the video, because it seems inherently rigid and less indicative of a student's understanding than writing something down. Do they write all their tests on iPads, and are the tests multiple choice, or short-answer?

steverb 14y ago
What I've seen is that testing is done via traditional methods, and for math we actually had to purchase a calculator specifically for test use since they are not allowed to use the iPads during math tests. I believe it varies with the teacher and the subject though.