Classroom Technology at BC

High

1 to 1 computing

• Initially tablets - laptops with added features

• Downsides seen as:

• Battery life

• Barrier created by laptop screen

• Bulk

• Start-up time

Then, the iPad

• Immediately on

• Low profile

• Access to apps

• Availability of textbooks?

BC High's exploration of the

iPad• Last school year, department chairs and

administrators got iPads.

• Over the summer, decision was made to purchase iPads for all teaching faculty.

• In an investigation process now to answer the question: Will iPads help students be more effective learners?

Investigation• Initial training

• iTunes cards

• Workshops mainly focused on apps

• iPad carts

• Faculty presentations to the Academic Council

• Parent, student, department focus groups

• School visitations

• Faculty meetings

So far . . . on the positive side

• Cart seen to be better than taking students to the computer lab - quicker access to information

• Increased student collaboration, engagement, motivation

• Many students have their own iPads and use them at the discretion of classroom teachers

• Converting PowerPoints has been mostly easy

• Textbook availability is looking very encouraging

So far . . . on the negative side

• Content creation is difficult

• Printing may be an issue . . . may not be

• Student distractibility / monitoring them

• Security, safety, access / equity

Your perspective

• What excites you about your son using an iPad as an educational tool?

• What concerns you about your son having an iPad?