IPad Use Post

What re the benefits of having a class set of iPads in the classroom?
The benefits of having a class set of iPads is that, they were useful at points in class. Since our teacher is really big into technology and has us signed up for a lot of online programs, it's really helpful to be able to access them whenever in class. Through one of the programs, we were able to just take notes on the iPads and still access them from home. It was also nice to have the ability to use these to our advantage for projects and other class activities. For a lot of projects, they worked to our advantages as students and allowed us to be more creative with the projects. So in all, they did work to our advantages at points and were really good for in class use.

What were the limitations or problems with having a class set of iPads?
There were negative points to the class set of iPads. For one, some of us (including me), arent so technologically advanced. Especially in comparison to our really technological teacher trying to teach us how to use different programs on the iPads. Sometimes it clicks (or at least a good portion of it) and sometimes it doesnt (small things we wished we knew in the future) for the different programs being used. Along with that, I am usually more comfortable with a pen and paper than a touch screen keyboard when it comes to taking notes. It just works better. Though if we somehow got keyboards for the iPads, it would probably be easier, but that isn't in the budget. Then along with that, as well as they worked for some kids with their projects, others dont necessarily need them. We aren't use to having this kind of technology with projects. We are use to not using much technology with projects or sometimes we are just more comfortable with less technology. So we didn't need them for the projects. So there are negative parts to the iPads.

Do you think that the school district should have more iPad carts for student use or move to a 1:1 environment where all high school students would have access to an iPad they would be able to take home and use during the school year.
I think if they were to get iPads for the school, it would be best with one on one use. Ones that we could take home and use in all classes. That way we can have all our books on the iPads and we can get the full use out of them. We could get our own keyboards if needed and we could get the programs needed of the iPads. We could have actual (or as close as we can get) Microsoft programs that can be better for taking notes, projects and so on. Also, we could just have all our work on the iPads, with us at all times. Then we also wouldn't have a need for school computers or anything. We would all be able to type up papers and print them off at home or at school if need be. If we had one on one iPads, they would be a lot better and would get a lot of use out of them. So it would be a lot better if we had one on one iPads for everyone in th school.