The news that a school in Essex (Honywood Community Science School) has issued an iPad to each child has had numerous children asking if we are likely to do the same. No. But not because we’re anti-Apple.

I (Michelle Scott, Teacher of ICT) am a huge Apple fan and a Macbook is my choice of laptop. The Head uses one as well. If our budget was unlimited, I would probably be recommending that we join in the iPads for schools trend.

People have asked me what the benefits of iPads for schools are. How would all the children having a device such as an iPad help their education, and how they could be used in school? Here’s a run-through of the things I can come up with – and there are probably hundreds more.

• Voting – we have a number of interactive whiteboards at Kingsfold Christian School and there is an option to buy a set of expensive voting devices to use in conjunction with these (known as ‘Personal Response Systems’). These would enable the teacher to ask a question and have the students respond using their voting devices. The answers can be directed straight to the whiteboard and displayed in various forms (poll, yes/no, bar chart, etc.). The eClicker app allows the iPad to be used for this.
• Geography – viewing interactive videos of volcano eruptions, earthquakes, etc. There are some excellent geography apps, such as Google Earth, iGeology, Stack The Countries and many more.
• Science – in addition to using the iPad for notes, videos and reading textbooks, there are some wonderful Science apps, including, The Elements, Genetic Decoder, Atom In A Box, Food Information Database, and dozens more.
• French/German – there are numerous apps, such as French Audio FlashCards, which make learning a language fun, interesting and interactive.
• Music - complete notation editors are available for the iPad. That means a child can compose a symphony on an iPad! There’s actually an app called Symphony.
• Special Needs – there are apps for children with special needs. The iPad itself would be useful for those who struggle with holding a pen and viewing black writing on a white background (paper), as the background and font size/colour can easily be adjusted on an iPad.
  
• iPads for schools are also used for homework, which can then be uploaded to the teacher.

We now have our own virtual learning environment (Moodle) and our students are already using it to download worksheets, homework, assignments, etc., and many of them upload their completed work. As a parent of former Kingsfold students, I understand the pressures on family finances and how expensive printer ink is. A child’s request to print a long project, full of pictures, is enough to raise your blood pressure. Imagine them being able to complete the whole project on an iPad and either upload it to Moodle at home, or next morning when they get to school. The Scrooge in me is leaping with delight!

So if anyone feels very strongly about the idea of iPads for schools and wants to donate 50 or so to Kingsfold Christian School, we would happily accept them!

The US comedian Ellen Degeneres has some excellent advice for all those people struggling to adjust to the new Facebook changes. As these affect our staff, students and parents, we thought we’d reproduce them.

“Here’s how to adjust to the new Facebook changes:

1. Go outside. Walk around, just breathe in fresh air, smell the flowers, play ball – wear sunglasses so your eyes can adjust slowly to the light. And you’ll be amazed that the real birds aren’t actually angry!
2. Use your words to interact with a human being. I know you’re freaking out right now thinking about it but remain calm. People can be very nice.
3. Read. You could read a book, a magazine, a pamphlet from your doctor’s office. My new book!
4. Dance!”

We have some advice on our Moodle for parents who are worried about their children’s privacy on Facebook (login as a guest is possible).

Quote by Ellen Degeneres about Facebook changes, October 2011