This is interesting to me in that we have our EG 2e ds12 enrolled in a small independent school which has been a tremendously better fit than our public schools were. Starting this year his class is required to use iPads for their classwork, but it hasn't been anything anywhere near a disaster for ds - in fact, it's been great (from my perspective). I too don't want my children spending all their time in front of screens, and I also agree that googling isn't the way to really do research or learn but implementing iPads hasn't worked out that way for us. The kids still have textbooks, but they have the additional option of having some of the *same* textbooks online. They have the options of purchasing eBooks if they prefer to read (literature) online. The students do have internet access during the school day but they don't have free reign to play games etc - there are rules from the school outlining what they are and aren't allowed to do during the school day and the school enforces them.
The school has the children use the iPads for their written composition work, for making flash cards to study with, for internet research (which they did anyway previously using classroom computers), for making presentations, and for reading when they (optionally) choose to purchase the classroom reading books for LA online. They also use the calendar for scheduling and they use email to turn in assignments and for the teachers to send assignment instructions etc.
The concerns I've heard from other parents really have very little to do with actual school work, but with what happens at home - their children wanting to spend time online or taking the iPads to their room or playing apps all the time etc, but I see those as issues to address at home and not rooted in the concept of having technology at school.
Is it really true that your school has thrown out the previous curriculum? And haven't they replaced it with some kind of curriculum? It just seems that a school that has been such a good school wouldn't willy-nilly embrace new technology and throw out all the good things at the same time. What were they really good at before that you found of value? Building character? Working together as teams? Project-oriented learning? Motivating children to love learning? Whatever it was that drew you to the school originally - is it really gone? What about the 7th grade teachers - have they changed or are they the same teachers? If they are the same teachers and if you felt confident in them pre-iPad, have you talked to them about the iPad experiences? Do they feel it's a disaster, or are they happy with it? What do they see as the challenges?
Re public school, I also wouldn't give up on going back for middle school unless you've looked recently and don't think it's the right choice for your child. Middle school *can be* very different from elementary, so the concerns about your elementary experience might not be relevant and middle school might work out.
Best wishes,
polarbear
Last edited by polarbear; 11/02/12 10:06 AM.
