Lugging a backpack full of textbooks, notebooks, binders and pencils from class to class has become a fact of high school life.
Backpacks could become significantly lighter in the near future, though, thanks to an initiative proposed by members of Seaholm’s faculty to adopt new devices such as iPads into the classroom. Proponents of the initiative hope to use iPads and other devices as replacements for textbooks and notebooks.
Flex and English teacher David Reed-Nordwall is one of the foremost supporters of the plan. He advocates integrating technology into the learning process will cultivate a more informed student.
“It’s not necessarily the iPad,” Reed-Nordwall said. “It’s the concept of the iPad. The theory is, every kid needs connectivity. The dream of the iPad is that every student, on their desk and in their own environment can connect simultaneously to their interest, what they want to inquire about, and the information that is out there and accessible.”
The iPad and other “tablet” devices could also play a role in math and science courses. The textbooks offered in these classes are available online and are therefore accessible through the iPad.
Math Department Head Carol Pinneo recently purchased an iPad and said that they have the potential to change classroom experiences.
“I think it has the potential to really revolutionize the way we’re operating in our classrooms,” Pinneo said. “I know that Seaholm is looking at putting together kind of a task force with members from each department to look at how we could use the iPads in the classroom and for instruction. But we’re learning too, and you know we’re hoping that maybe students would be a part of this task force as well.”
Reed-Nordwall praised the iPad’s ability to lesson students’ loads.
“The iPad I’m holding in my hand right now has thirty books in it, has ten newspapers, and has so far a hundred essays I’ve written,” Reed-Nordwall said. “It’s smaller than a sheet of paper, and a half an inch thick, and weighs about a pound and a half. Take all those materials, put them in a backpack, and what do you have? You’re talking three backpacks, compared to the iPad. It’s automatically, visually, obviously simpler, more streamlined.”
Recent research supports the view that reading on electronic devices can help students connect to their material.
A study conducted by Scholastic Corporation in conjunction with Quinley Research and Harrison Group surveyed over a thousand six to 17-year-olds this past spring. The report on their findings, released September 29, found that 57 percent of nine to 17-year-olds would be interested in reading books on a digital device.
The study also found that, of those surveyed, 33 percent would read more books for fun if they had greater access to eBooks compatible with electronic devices.
The findings also indicated, however, that eBooks should not be a replacement for traditional print media.
“Two in three children say they will always want to read books printed on paper even though there are eBooks available,” the study said. “Kids who already have experience reading eBooks are just as likely as kids who have not had experience eReading to agree.”
Many students argue that if iPads and other devices are allowed, they would be more distracting then engaging. With Apple’s App Store, students have access to a vast number of games and other applications that could draw them away from what’s happening in the classroom. The iPad also comes installed with Safari, Apple’s web browser.
Junior Sam Corey said that putting the entire internet at students’ fingertips during class would be too tempting to resist.
“I think that people are too consumed with Facebook and fantasy football sites as it is,” Corey said. “I don’t think that students are responsible enough for iPads.”
Mr. Reed-Nordwall views this concern as a non-issue.
“Prove to me that my students sitting there with no games, no cell phone, no computer, are not distracted and I’ll agree with you, but I would argue they are distracted,” Reed-Nordwall said. “They’re doodling, they’re daydreaming…If you give kids parameters, hold them accountable to the parameter, and give them real class work, things that are really engaging and interesting and demanding, and then move around the class and work with them, I don’t think you’re going to find any more problem then you already have with kids being distracted.”
Exactly how the faculty would move their classrooms into the digital era has yet to be determined. If the district were to allocate the funds necessary to distribute devices among the students, the estimated cost would be over half a million dollars for Seaholm alone. The other option is to simply allow the use of students’ own tablets and laptops in the classroom.
Reed-Nordwall places his motives more towards adequately arming his students for the future.
“What I’m saying is, these things exist in the kid’s lives already,” Reed-Nordwall said. “It’s the world they’re growing up into, I don’t care what century in, I would like them to be prepared for the century that they’re stepping into … instead of just swallowing a certain amount of information.”
