[chbot] Need your help: BYOD in Primary School

[Andrew Errington]

Hi Hanno,

Here's an article casting doubt on the usefulness of this kind of
technology at college and university:
http://www.informationweek.com/education/instructional-it/classroom-technology-faces-skeptics-at-r/240148217

It was discussed on Slashdot here (there are some interesting comments
if you can wade through the chaff):
http://news.slashdot.org/story/13/02/11/1240254/professors-rejecting-classroom-technology

You can extrapolate downwards to see how useful it would be at other schools.

I, myself, am teaching English at a middle school in South Korea.
Here, the government has a plan called 'Smart' to introduce the same
tech. into all schools, essentially to replace textbooks.  This should
be coming on stream in the next couple of years. I actually visited a
'Smart' school to see some of the supporting technology in use, and
suffice it to say, I was not impressed.  I have no doubt that it will
make a lot of money for some well-known Korean technology companies.

Here is number 2 in a series of 3 articles on the program here:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/05/113_111504.html

South Korea wants to be first at this, and are going all-out to make
it happen.  It will be worth watching, since if it *is* a success then
it will be highly visible.  I remain sceptical, since I can see what
the students do with their textbooks and their stuff, and all of their
smartphones have cracked screens...

Best wishes,

Andrew

On 19 February 2013 17:14, Hanno Sander <hanno at mydancebot.com> wrote:
> Hi!
> The primary school my kids attend is excited to get more shiny iPads into
> their classrooms with a "bring your own device" program.  Although I love
> technology, I know that gadgets are just tools that serve a purpose.  I
> don't want my kids to be restricted in their creativity by limited apps, I
> don't want to waste their time playing games while they should be learning
> in school, and I don't want them to have unsupervised access to the
> internet.  We do have a tablet at home so I'm aware that they can be used
> for good- but I don't see how one teacher can manage 30 eight year olds with
> iPads during the school day.
>
> The school is holding a meeting this Thursday were they're looking for input
> from parents.  I'm planning to present a long list of reasons as well as
> solid case studies showing why iPads/too much technology is detrimental to
> learning in primary schools.  Any help with good arguments and/or links to
> case studies/references is appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
> Hanno
>
>
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