An iPod for each pupil

[Hollie1985]

An iPod for each pupil at Essa Academy will help school to stay in touch - Times Online

Interesting reading for you all

[ahuxham]

Public or Private?

If public, I think I'm a bit outraged that my tax money is being spent on a situation like that. It makes communication so inter-personal.

What ever happened to the library, the canteen, tutor rooms, common rooms and communication along those lines.

What if they're lost, stolen (sold on eBay), smashed and devoid of warranty due to ill happenings, I'd have no problem if this was in the Private sector, using their own money, but why public funds.

£1500 for 10 Students.
£15000 for 100 Students.
£135000 for all Students.

Absolutely appaling. In my own opinion

[DAckroyd]

I find it scary they are using 130 access points... is this a big site or are they trying to cook the students?

[sidewinder]

Essentially, any students reaction is going to be "FREE IPOD?!" They're going to be loving it, for personal reasons, not caring one bit about the educational reasons.

And they may not be allowed to use them in the street (a big LOL...try policing that) but they'll still have them on their person to and from school. Great target for muggers

[ahuxham]

How do you monitor communications between the devices, or stop grooming should anyone infiltrate the ipod syndicate.

How do you monitor image transfers and the likes, too many question, and a totally uncontrollable solution.

Very cleverly thought out, more a boast than anything else.

[plexer]

If teachers are pleased with a piece of work, they can ask a child to e-mail it to them and, using laptops and a projector, display it on a wall or screen to show the class.

Bit old school isn't it emailing files to the teacher?

Ben

[plexer]

Pupils, who carry their iPods in a reinforced pocket inside their blazers.

So they had to pay for blazer upgrades as well

Ben

[sidewinder]

Nothing to do with the ipods but LOL @ this too...bet the teachers are loving this

"To help to create a culture of democracy, teachers will also have to drink their coffee and catch up on administration in spaces shared with children."

[Jamman960]

I found that bit funny... drinking coffee with students etc - like thats going to last long! lol

I really don't see why they had to go down the iPod route, surely a windows mobile device would be more suitable? and not tied into the apple monopoly... atleast hardware wise anyway

[sandeep2504]

is it just me or is anyone else surprised at how cheap the insurance is?

£12.50 a device for something used by kids that can be sold on ebay, smashed quite easily etc.

It would be interesting to see how they manage the devices.

I agree about 130 wireless access points; a bit overkill.

Apple must be rubbing their hands with glee!

Imagine what you could do with £500,000 to be spent on technology..

[EduTech]

Think they should of looked at Ruckus for Wireless would of only needed 50 AP's!

Good idea's i just dont think the students are going to be thinking what they are, they will have App's, Music etc on there after the weekend! lol

James.

[bossman]

I see this for what it is "Another PR stunt for both School and BSF" it is not the first to achieve this as Sunderland 360 Academy already has this but with a different student ethos and is failing miserably at the moment due to IT failures on both sides.

It will all end in tears as it is not sustainable in the long run. Just putting large chunks of taxpayers money into certain peoples pockets.

[Hollie1985]

good idea to tie it into the Windows monopoly then?

[richard_s]

I need a new iPod so I will have to keep an eye on Ebay

[GrumbleDook]

I know I seem in a grumpy mood today but it is amazing how things like this seem to spark fear and dread into some people ... they will label it PR or a waste of money without asking questions like how will it change the way kids learn? how will is change the staff approach to communication? how will the changes be measured to see if it makes a difference? These are the questions I want answering ... not if it will cost £x more to deal with this sort of solution. Think back to all those years when you had Heads and Librarians saying that there would be no point in having a network of computers for information ... after all, you had the library!

If it costs a bit of money but changes things enough so that the kids get a better chance in life is that a bad thing? Discuss!