[plug] WA Govenment iPads for year 1 and 2 students

[David Dartnall]

On 02/19/2012 04:30 PM, Alexander Hartner wrote:
> My kids public school has a special technology program which covers a 
> lot of different aspects. The program does however require the 
> purchase or lease of Apple hardware
>
> http://ashdalesc.wa.edu.au/teaching-and-learning/specialist-technology-science-program/enrolment-for-2013-year-8-intake/
> "*What commitment is needed from families for successful participation 
> in the program?*
>
> Access to appropriate technology is vital. Ashdale Secondary College 
> will provide access to specialist software, specially trained teachers 
> and specialist industry personal. Parents will be required to provide 
> students with access to Apple MacBooks, in a one to one program 
> model.  There are a number of purchasing and lease arrangements that 
> have been made possible through our partnership with Apple and more 
> information regarding this will be provided at parent evenings during 
> Term 2."
>
> I wonder what they going to learn that can't be done on a non-Mac 
> computer.
>
> I am rather keen to take a look at that document.
> Regards
> Alex
>
>
> On 09/02/2012, at 11:04 , Michael Van Delft wrote:
>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> At the LCA Bid meeting Luke mentioned that some people have been
>> kicking around the idea of putting together a formal letter to send to
>> Premier Colin Barnett and Education Minister Liz Constable about the
>> “nearly 900 iPads” for year 1 and 2s that the WA State Government is
>> spending “$1million”[1] on. I would be very interested in getting
>> something like an open letter or partition going. I personally believe
>> that this is atrocious, educating young children about technology is a
>> step in the right direction but iPads are not the right tool for the
>> job. Some of the points made were:
>>
>> *Cost of the device ($1,000,000 / <900) is more than $1,110 per
>> device. OLPC laptops are arround $400 I think and
>> *Vendor Lock-in - Need iTunes
>> *Suitability of the Device - vs OLPC laptops that are *designed* for
>> education or even just of the shelf netbooks
>> *Open-ness of the device software - what if a parent wants to write
>> software like a maths quiz for their child?
>> *Setting a standard - will parents of kids that don't get iPads
>> through this program feel presured to buy iPads for their children?
>>
>> I've started typing up a document last night on Google Docs that I
>> intend to flesh out and make into a formal letter over the next few
>> days. I'd appreciate any input that people may have and I've made the
>> document publicly editable to anyone with the link so feel free to go
>> and add/edit anything you think should be in there.
>>
>> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rcVJL11Hp4LOGZ50MuIJGKPKzCKc_EZQ6CCu55wRxMI/edit
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>> Michael
>>
>> [1] www.premier.wa.gov.au/Ministers/Colin-Barnett/Pages/video.aspx
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>
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Can you print from an ipad?
Direct to the printer or do you have to go thru itunes?
Regards
Dave Dartnall