Georgia state senator hopes to replace schoolbooks with iPads - Page 4

No I'm a programmer,

It's not *some* books, it's the excessive amount I see my children carry.

The texts I carried in university contributed to my back issues

They should already have them since the iPad has been out almost a year now. Why did it take them so long to make this decision ?
Can you just image some school board actually choosing one of the cheap plastic android tabs, i mean like man that thing will be cracked on the first day fo sho.
At least they make the correct tablet decision (finally) and went with the "industrial grade" iPad instead of one of the cheaper quality tablets that are flooding the market.
Since the iPad now has deep penetration in Corporate America (more than 80 of Fortune 100 companies are iPad enabled IT departments) in makes sense to train the kids on the machine they will find at work a few years later.
What I really need to see is the State(s) mandate the iPad 2 for ALL STATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS for the sake of the children ! We don't want to lose another generation of youth do we.
There is "smart" and then there is "iPad Smart", which do you wanna be. The iPad Smart student will have a superior chance to pass all exams and to shape the minds of today's youth as only Apple can. There can be no debate about this.

Actually, I would go as far as preventing any student from receiving a High Shcool Diploma if he/she was iPad Challenged. This would send a clear message to independent school districts to iPad UP.

This scheme is excellent news - for China.

While the rich, wealth and gadget obsessed US, thinks that better education will flow from gadgets and money, China will continue to use blackboards, chalk, pencils, paper and books and turn out students that outperform and excel.

Rolling backpacks are great, if kids will use them. Now, I just asked children from 3 shools if anyone uses them, and no one does.

When I travel, all my luggage has wheels.

One problem with rolling wheels is in the winter. The suck in the winter.

Excellent point cnocbui...although I like the iPad....I wish American schools would just adopt a model that is proven. Say South Korea's, Singapore, England's or even Canada's....Just start with the next gen of kindergartners and move them through the next 12 years implementing along the way each successive grade.

Concentrate on math, reading, writing and science. And uniforms and separating the sexes. I mean America is so intent on "reinventing" education when the top curriculums are already out there! You don't an excellent "motivated" teacher to teach 1st graders math!

Best

hahahahahahahhhahahahahaha!!!!!!!

All that video of students typing on the iPad. They dont show the majority of students typing on computers because they are done with their work and out having fun, while these iDorks finger peck on a iPad. Good stuff.

You obviously don't know much about iOS devices and Apple's Configuration Utility for centrally managing large numbers of iOS devices. Ignorance isn't bliss.

I think there is a point where you can push technology too far. I agree, I think at this point iPad's for every student is excessive and I doubt very much that it will be less expensive than conventional text books. That being said there are a lot of innovative ways to teach with technology. There are ways of interacting with the students which make teaching and learning more fun and affective. Exposing our youth to technology will aid them in using it in their day to day lives to make themselves more productive when they go out in the business world. I think schools just need to find a happy medium.

Good for you! Vim or Emacs?

This is a good idea.

The school textbook industry is huge. Imagine the costs for text books provided to a student for many years until completion.

A student could have all of them on their iPad. Mistakes in text books and new editions could be instantly and cheaply fixed. The people who make and sell the text books would probably be against the iPad as this would be a huge blow to them, but that's the price of progress. You have to move with the times or you will find yourself irrelevant and obsolete.

There's no doubt that the US education system can be improved upon in various ways, but Chinese people don't exactly have much to show for all their hard work.

People make peanuts over there. China is still a developing country in many ways.

Um-m-m-m-m, completely and totally wrong. Break your iPad? Log into iBooks with the replacement and redownload the book Next dumb statement?

This news is wonderful to read and if even 1/4 of the plans actually occur iPad sales in 2011 and beyond will be off the already inflated charts! As for an Android tablet? It'll be highly unlikely... Why? For the same exact reason you can't just go out and buy an "android phone case" like you can an iPhone 4 case sure android is everywhere but in every shape and size under the sun so unless the android phone you own is extremely popular you'll have a very limited selection of accessories. Likewise,,20 randomly spec'd tablets from 15 manufacturers just don't have the cred or resources to pull something off as big as the potential the iPad has going for it for example how much university courseware is available via googles android store?

Also I can't help but be reminded of a really great quote...

Any teacher that can be replaced by a machine should be!
- Arthur C Clarke

TextMate by MacroMates.

I've used VI when editing online files, but I've never become comfortable with it.

IMO the Canadian system is worse now than it was when I went to school. Phonics is gone. No more breaking words into syllables, learn the "rules" and the exceptions, and no reading for comprehension tests.

And, according to my parents, school was more challenging and focused on the basics when they went.

Now heaven forbid you go into a variety store when the cash register is down. Most can't even figure out 10% of two bucks.

The real opportunity isn't just the textbooks, but the overall learning experience. Tests, reports, etc.

If you push the envelope a little, there is actually a very cool value proposition.

A human being is TINIER than a molecule when the vastness of the the whole universe is taken into consideration. If that is so, how much smaller is his mind ..and his/her title after his/her name?

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD." - Isaiah 55:8

I don't know about middle schools or high schools.

I teach at the largest college in the US, Miami-Dade College: 177, 000 students.. Right now, many books cost about $100, more or less, and if the student is taking five courses, do the math. Yes, the iPads will cost about $500, but will cover all the books the student needs. When new info is available, the iPad can be updated without buying a new book. The second, third and fourth years, the cost for upgrading to new iPad books will be much less. I see a win-win situation here.

I don't understand why there's any contention here. I'm assuming the cost of public school books will eventually reach those prices, too.

There are more than 730 established Religions in the world which are broken out into more the 3200 different sects. Christianity, for example is one of the major religions but has more than 200 sub sects, each with their own unique traditions and interpretations of the bible.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_th...#ixzz1DF302I5X

All religious people seem to think that their religion is the one true religion; common sense tells you that that cannot be true. Quoting the Judeo/Christian bible to back your claims is just as inane as thinking yours is the one true religion.

Quote:
Originally Posted by NextTechnocrati
A human being is TINIER than a molecule when the vastness of the the whole universe is taken into consideration. If that is so, how much smaller is his mind ..and his/her title after his/her name?

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD." - Isaiah 55:8


Nowhere in my post that I mentioned my religion. If people cannot comprehend a simple statememnt with very few lines and written in a language that is universally understood, how much more they can understand a scientific concept or theory which will take years to be proven true or false?

I am a former teacher, my girlfriend is a teacher, and my mother is a teacher. He is 100% correct. In my opinion our school's problems are:

1) 80% Parents. Parents who don't check if their kids are doing homework. Parents that assume their kids are angels. Parents that DEFEND their child when they're told that their child is acting out, rather than take corrective action. Parents who set a terrible example at home with their behavior (teaching their children to not respect authority, to curse, to watch TV all day, etc.) Parents who are unaware or in denial that their child HURTS other children, DISTRACTS other children, and takes the teacher's time away from the class. Of course, no one thinks that they themselves are bad parents
-Real example: Kid's parent REFUSES to acknowledge that their child has ADD, so they go untreated. Meanwhile, they are not getting the attention they deserve, and they are also dragging down 5 other kids.
-Real example: A kid CUTS another kid with scissors, hits his teacher, and curses at the principal (kindergartener, by the way). Mom comes in and the first things she says is, "He didn't do it."

2) 10% Bad teachers who are defended by unions. They have tenure, or whatever union protections that makes it difficult to fire bad teachers. They might get shuffled around within the district, but it's very hard to fire a teacher (unless it's about funding, which it is these days!)


3) 10% Funding/Resources. No, throwing money at schools will not solve everything. But the fact is that many schools do not have enough money for even the most basic supplies (paper, pencils, glue, scissors, etc.) Teachers pay hundreds out of their own pocket for these basic things. Sure, parents in rich districts donate - but good luck if you teach in a poorer area. Parents would rather pay for their new SUV or a two-week vacation (during the school year, of course) to their homeland.

This is may not a scientific conclusion, but my personal conclusion as someone who is somewhat knowledgable about schools/teachers/kids.

I'm not obsessed about porn. It is a normal and natural part of life. The question was giving students Android junkblets instead of iPads. If you are 14, come on, what's the first thing you will probably try and download on your tablet when no one is looking?

Not only is Android more prone to viruses, malware, adware, spyware and unregulated apps, it can more easily access video porn. iPad is a better solution in a school environment. It's not going to be perfect, you can never lock down any computer enough when it comes to teens (and you shouldn't have to)... but in any case the iPad is a better platform to establish learning, responsibility, trust and understanding.

I'm not so sure about that. YouPorn is one of the highest (if not the highest - I haven't checked in a while) porn traffic sites on the Internet... and their iPad integration is full HTML5 video enabled and flawless across the entire site (or at least that is what I was told )

It would actually be a shining example of how to implement an iPad friendly HTML5 website... if it were not packed full of dirty dirty porn.


EDIT: Am I even allowed to mention a porn site?!?! Disclaimer... don't go to that site. It's full of dirty stuff that cannot be unseen.

Maybe your afraid to lose control. The children might ask a question you don't know.
But hey, if you had and iPad you could show them how to find the answer.
And that's the most important thing you could learn them.

Did you ever ask yourself how the future will look like?
The iPad is just the beginning. Electronic paper in the form of scrolls will be the future.
So the iPad is just the first page of all the magic books of the future.
It seems to me that you would like to prepare children for the future?

Did you look at the video?

J.

I have a scientific mind without a title. So that argument is irrelevant in my case.
But the number of neuro connections of the mind exceeds the number of stars in the universe.
Maybe you could think on that.

J.

I have read a very nice science fiction novel about this scenario.
Really entertaining. (Although it turned out that it wasn't god who did it.)

I have stopped reasoning with religious people, the point is that facts and reasonable arguments are by definition lost on them. That's why they have fait.

The most important thing is not to engage in the argument and to state the fact that 'religion is a scientifically explained phenomenon'.

J.

Your inability to refute any of my arguments is noted.

Comes to mind a story about the development of a pen that could be used in space.
(No gravity so ink doesn't flow to the tip.)
It cost the U.S. millions (if I remember correctly) of dollars and a bit embarrassment when confronted with the U.S.S.R. solution: a pencil of a few cent.

But, this development resulted in a new type of ball-point and a commercial success later on.

J.

I'm afraid the Soviet space pencil story is a bit of an urban legend. NASA used pencil in space until the Gemini mission, and only turned to specialized space pen because of the danger of broken off pencil tip in weightless environment and flammability of wood in oxygen rich space capsules. Ironically, after the space pen was developed, Soviet Union also bought a batch to use on their space missions for the same reason.


As for the original post about Chinese education systems been superior to US's, don't sell US system short. Although US system doesn't produce higher average scores across all subjects, it does allow those who have the intelligence AND the drive to excel. Where the Chinese system produce such uniform results that those with unconventional abilities are more often punished for it than given the chance to develop.

Think of Chinese system as a stamping plant where everything will come out more or less the same at very fast rate, while the US system is a collection of manual craftsman, those that work on it gets better result, those that don't, don't.

Originally Posted by jragosta
Sorry, but you're just plain wrong.

I have a PhD in science. I understand how to observe the world and reach conclusions.

Originally Posted by NextTechnocrati
A human being is TINIER than a molecule when the vastness of the the whole universe is taken into consideration. If that is so, how much smaller is his mind ..and his/her title after his/her name?

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD." - Isaiah 55:8


"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." - Isaiah 64:6

"And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another." - 1 Corinthians 4:6

You quoted the Christian bible; if you aren't Christian, why quote from some other source to try to prove your point? Are you saying that you're NOT a Christian?

Originally Posted by NextTechnocrati
A human being is TINIER than a molecule when the vastness of the the whole universe is taken into consideration. If that is so, how much smaller is his mind ..and his/her title after his/her name?


Now use your scientific mind to compare the life span of the human brain versus that of the weakest star in the universe.

Congratulations on finding yourself at least one proper text editor.

I agree!

Indeed. We had a computer class in my junior high around '81 or '82 that had half a dozen Apple ]['s that we used to learn programming in BASIC. We had to take turns using the machines, so we had to draw a flow chart, write out all our code on paper, and show step by step execution of the code by hand on paper before we each got our turn to try it on the computer. We couldn't even imagine something like an iPad, but those Apple ]['s seemed so high tech at the time. And we just accepted carrying back breaking loads of books around all day as normal life.

An apocryphal story that has been repeated endlessly. The missing point is that in the early days of space flight the consequences of broken pencil lead fragments floating into the non solid state electronics of the day in zero gravity could be quite severe and the consequences of said floating fragments being breathed in by astronauts were unknown but rightfully feared. It was logically assumed that pencils might not be a very good idea.

There is no such thing as a person who does not have religious faith. There are just some people who have faith that there is no God. To date there is no scientifically testable means of determining which belief is true and no precedent to think that such means will ever come about. Believe what you wish, but just don't delude yourself into thinking that you are doing anything other than believing in whatever view you have on the basis of faith alone.

Of course you will no doubt dogmatically disagree with me, but that is because you hold fast to your religious convictions just as much as those who you criticize. Just because to you atheism seems like the one true faith does not make you any less of a religious person or any less dependent on faith for your world view than anyone else.

I'm afraid you're wrong on this... I'm quite certain that there are a great number of people on this planet who are unsure and/or simply don't care one way or the other and refuse to get caught up in the whole thing.


The confident belief or trust in the truth or trustworthiness of a person, concept or thing.

Agnostic:

- Someone who is doubtful or noncommittal about something of or pertaining to an agnostic or agnosticism.
- A person who claims that they cannot have true knowledge about the existence of God (but does not deny that God might exist).
- Uncertain of all claims to knowledge.

What I believe is that this thread isn't about religion but iPads in schools.

Whatever people believe about one subject or another, the best option is to give people the opportunity to make a choice for themselves by presenting as much information in as accessible a form as possible.

The iPad gives students access to the largest collection of the world's facts and philosophy at their fingertips so whether the iPad is the best device for the role, an internet-connected tablet of some form certainly is.