There is no doubt that the i-Pad is a handy tool to have in the classroom. But is it really essential? Essential to the point that if schools don’t supply them they are doing a disservice to their students?
It is my opinion that i-Pads are merely icing on the cake. Without a great teacher and a dynamic and engaging curriculum the i-Pad is just a costly tool with negligible impact. My fear of recent reports spruiking i-Pads in the classroom is that the education system may be being conned by a cleverly constructed marketing campaign and that teachers might make the i-Pad the focus of their lessons rather than a complimentary resource.
Remember the pressure on schools to fit every classroom with an interactive whiteboard? What did that ultimately do to student performance and their digital nous? Arguably not very much. Many teachers still struggle to use their SmartBoards effectively, with some using it for not much more than a big screen to play movies off.
There is no doubt that i-pads can be a valuable tool for teachers, but are schools and parents that can’t afford them doing a disservice to their children?
Children risk falling behind other pupils at school because of a ‘digital divide’ caused by parents having to invest in tablet computers.
The devices, such as iPads, are increasingly considered an essential part of education by headteachers.
But the cost – typically several hundred pounds – means parents already struggling with tight family budgets have to rent or buy them in monthly instalments.
Those that are unable to afford them at all face the problem of their children missing out on the benefits of technology.
Headteachers are keen on the devices as they believe they can save money on equipment such as books and are a convenient way of researching or storing work.
Earlier this month a survey revealed free education was a myth as parents typically spend tens of thousands of pounds putting their children through the state system.
This includes £130 on technology for every child each year – and the sum is likely to keep rising.
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