One Georgia school system will hand MacBook Air or iPad to every student

AppleInsider

The Dougherty County School System is working with Apple and EdFarm to provide students with a MacBook Air or iPad, alongside a curriculum to encourage coding and app development.

Starting from next year, all DCSS students, teachers, and staff will benefit from using Apple products, services, and instructional support. DCSS says the initiative will help expand and enhance the district's educational technology ecosystem, all with Apple hardware.

The plan will include providing all high school students in Dougherty County, Georgia, with a MacBook Air, while middle and elementary school students will receive an iPad and a Logitech Crayon. The hardware handout will provide students with "equal access to their studies in the classroom, at home, and on the go," the DCSS claims.

As well as Apple products, there will be an opportunity for students to learn coding and app development through DoCo Codes, another collaboration between DCSS, Ed Farm, and Apple. Coding and app development will be promoted, including the use of Apple's Everyone Can Code and Everyone Can Create curricula.

DCSS hopes that the new tools and programs will help students learn how o create "leading-edge software and apps while staying here in Albany."

Apple will also provide on-site professional learning for DCSS educators and staff, while Ed Farm will help the professional development of educators using its Teacher Fellows program. "This collaboration embeds a full-time Apple Professional Learning Specialist in our community to build capacity among our teachers, instructional coaches and others," said Superintendent Kenneth Dyer.

"At Apple, we believe deeply that technology can empower students to develop creative and collaborative skills that will supercharge their future," said Susan Prescott, Apple's Vice President of Education and Enterprise Marketing. "Providing all students, educators, and staff in Dougherty County Schools access to Apple products, as well as coding and creative curricula, will help inspire new talents and powerful innovation within the community."

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waveparticle

Like I said iPad and MacBook are in the same league. To some people you choose one or the other. 

rob53

I have no problem with students getting good computer hardware or access to coding, I just wish schools would encourage students to exercise their brains, hands and legs doing something other than pushing buttons (I see this problem being caused by administrators not the students). I want to see students develop their artistic capabilities including bringing back technical arts classes as well as home economics. I’ve see too many kids not know how to cook, sew or clean their houses. These are basic things kids either aren’t taught or refuse to learn. We don’t need any more lawyers or accountants, we need people who can build things with their hands. This exercises the entire brain and body making for a much healthier country and economy. 

darkvader

waveparticle said:

Like I said iPad and MacBook are in the same league. To some people you choose one or the other. 

Not even close.  The iPad is adequate for early elementary kids, by the time they get to middle school they should already have a real computer.

waveparticle

darkvader said:

waveparticle said:

Like I said iPad and MacBook are in the same league. To some people you choose one or the other. 

Not even close.  The iPad is adequate for early elementary kids, by the time they get to middle school they should already have a real computer.

Depending on student orientation. The iPad is suitable to do every thing unless you need some special program that is available only on MacBook. 

canukstorm

rob53 said:

I have no problem with students getting good computer hardware or access to coding, I just wish schools would encourage students to exercise their brains, hands and legs doing something other than pushing buttons (I see this problem being caused by administrators not the students). I want to see students develop their artistic capabilities including bringing back technical arts classes as well as home economics. I’ve see too many kids not know how to cook, sew or clean their houses. These are basic things kids either aren’t taught or refuse to learn. We don’t need any more lawyers or accountants, we need people who can build things with their hands. This exercises the entire brain and body making for a much healthier country and economy. 

100% Agree

Mike Wuerthele

rob53 said:

I have no problem with students getting good computer hardware or access to coding, I just wish schools would encourage students to exercise their brains, hands and legs doing something other than pushing buttons (I see this problem being caused by administrators not the students). I want to see students develop their artistic capabilities including bringing back technical arts classes as well as home economics. I’ve see too many kids not know how to cook, sew or clean their houses. These are basic things kids either aren’t taught or refuse to learn. We don’t need any more lawyers or accountants, we need people who can build things with their hands. This exercises the entire brain and body making for a much healthier country and economy. 

Home economics and shop are expensive for schools to run. Our federal and state governments have made it clear what they want, as it pertains to No Child Left Behind requirements, and funding.

The teachers are fine with it, I'm fine with it. I don't think there's an argument from teachers or students to not do it. Our government thinks otherwise.

ronn

rob53 said:

I have no problem with students getting good computer hardware or access to coding, I just wish schools would encourage students to exercise their brains, hands and legs doing something other than pushing buttons (I see this problem being caused by administrators not the students). I want to see students develop their artistic capabilities including bringing back technical arts classes as well as home economics. I’ve see too many kids not know how to cook, sew or clean their houses. These are basic things kids either aren’t taught or refuse to learn. We don’t need any more lawyers or accountants, we need people who can build things with their hands. This exercises the entire brain and body making for a much healthier country and economy. 

This school district offers and awards Fine Arts Diplomas, offers advanced Career & Technical Education (CTE) courses in Culinary Arts and Food Sciences, usually has 500+ dual-tract students (earning HS diploma and college credits, some earning Associate degrees by HS graduation) and has a track record within Georgia's Apprenticeship-like program "Construction Ready" where most (all?) certified graduates receiving employment at the end of the program.

The iPads and MBAs are just one tool for students and instructors in all of the programs.

lkrupp

darkvader said:

waveparticle said:

Like I said iPad and MacBook are in the same league. To some people you choose one or the other. 

Not even close.  The iPad is adequate for early elementary kids, by the time they get to middle school they should already have a real computer.

Why? Why isn’t an iPad a ‘real’ computer? The iPad has long since left the ‘media consumption device’ derogatory comment stage. An iPad can do everything a ‘real’ computer can do and especially whatever a middle schooler needs. The argument twenty years ago was that students should use the computers they will use in real life and therefore Macs should not even be considered.

Middle school students don't need a real computer any more than the majority of people do. It’s simply legacy bias.