Well, I would very much like to know why they're making it incompatible with Mindstorms. My son has a Mindstorm set that he got two years ago -- he wanted it instead of a phone. It was $300+. Since then we've purchased additional sensors and motors.
Smells like a pure LEGO money-grab to me.
Yeah. The consumers are all drones, anyway.
Seriously, I have been eyeing the DJI line and was getting close to pulling the trigger on the Mavic Pro. Now, I will move on. There's no way I'll put up with crap like that. Plus, the drone market is quite full of high-quality alternatives. I certainly will not purchase from this Orwellian, fascist corporation. They are vastly underestimating their market and the consumers who buy their product.
I'm sure it's a drop in the bucket to them but they just lost $1K (+ accessories) with this policy.
NOT bending over.
One of the reasons Jobs did that was to cut ios users out of the huge library of free flash games on the web and force users and developers to the app store. That gaming library is still massively used and a primary driver for Flash use.
B.S.
It was well known that there were security holes you could drive a truck through. Jobs was the first (ok, maybe ONE of the first) high-profile tech leaders with the clout and guts to declare the Emperor Had No Security (as well as being a huge memory hog.)
I believe he cited (lookie me, ma! I done used it correctly!) statistics from OS X showing that Flash clearly was the #1 cause of their software crashes. And realize that not only was he proven right now, but he was proven right then. Not long after Jobs' dress-down of Flash, Adobe themselves gave up on making it for mobile, saying they could not make it work. There was a version for Android that was pathetic and they couldn't fix it.
So, while I'm sure Jobs' didn't feel bad about gamers having to use the app store instead of Flash, I doubt it was a major motivating factor in his rant. Jobs' perspective started with the user. He generally felt that if you give the user the right experience, the business and money will follow.
Apparently you skipped over the part where he was declared "ebola free" by the same group who are declaring him not contagious.
My issue is that this "cure" appeared recently and from my (admittedly layman's) perspective, it hasn't had enough time to prove it's completely effective. And given the risks involved if someone is wrong, it seems foolhardy to just trust that it will work.
And when I read that the doctors are "stumped" as to why the disease wasn't completely eliminated, it scares the hell out of me. This isn't AIDS. It's faster and far more easily and casually contracted. Not to be trifled with. Until people have been truly "Ebola free" and not contagious for years, I think precautions are warranted.
Really? You're comparing someone stealing your credit card number to this?
No solution is completely secure because humans have to interact with it. The best solution balances the needs of security while promoting ease of use. Credit cards are easy to use but wildly insecure. Applepay is easier to use and MORE secure. Even if we had Chip+Pin active last year, it would not have stopped the (Target, Home Depot, Neiman Marcus, etc.) breaches. The POS terminals were hacked, so the PIN data was sent to the bad guys along with the credit card data.
Since the only thing the POS terminal gets from Applepay is a one-time use token, the hacks would have been ineffective had Applepay been in use.
They should want it because WE want it. It's a customer-focused system that is more secure and convenient for the customer.
My only issue with google's system is storing my data in the cloud. I'm old enough to not trust the cloud to keep my data secure. Apple is showing up at *exactly* the right time as thousands (millions?) of people are being hacked due to the antiquated systems currently in place. Apple pay is a disruptive technology and will change the way brick-and-mortar transactions are handled.
I'm putting CVS and RiteAid in the "Ballmer" classification of forward thinkers.
Yes, yes. You are a much better, nicer and more intelligent person than I because you use cash. I'll bet you're a Vegan and only watch PBS telethons.
Cash is simply inconvenient and risky. If I lose my wallet or am mugged, I can't just "turn off" my cash. It's gone and yes, it's completely my fault for losing the wallet or getting mugged. I've tried several times to put my cash into the DVD slot on my PC when buying off of Amazon. It just never works!
Transaction by NFC (at least apple pay) at this point in time, is far more secure than cash.
OK. From a purely physical perspective, I rarely carry my credit card alone in my pocket. So, I have to bring out whatever I keep it in, open that up, then swipe the scanner. My phone is in my pocket all the time. Bring it out, thumb the scanner and transaction done.
Now, that in and of itself isn't enough to sell me on apple pay. What IS enough is that no one can steal my credit card number. I no longer type in a pin anywhere (except Costco, damn it) due to the POS hacks that have gone on recently. Before you throw out your "whoppee", take a moment to be informed and realize that the apple pay is far and away more secure than using a credit card. Add in the fact that my personal data (what I bought) is not initially shared outside of the retailer.
I will admit, though, having an NPC to swipe your credit card would be convenient. Although I'd make sure to check his alignment, first.
OK. So your comment betrays a profound lack of knowledge of how Applepay (and society in general) works.
First, I'm far and away NOT a teenager and I have my phone with me all the time. I keep my drivers license in my phone case as well as one extra credit card. Wallet comes with me rarely.
The process for an apple pay transaction is this:
Cashier: "So, that'll be $9.27"
Customer: Smiles, says "OK." Pulls phone from pocket, puts it up to the scanner. Presses fingerprint scanner until she feels the confirmation vibration. Store terminal confirms transaction.
Cashier: "Thank you!"
No unlocking. No Pin. No typing. No "futzing".
This isn't about being an obedient customer. It's about being an informed customer.
... I'll have to dig up my old copy of GDW's Triplanetary to help with navigation. Gimme a military Corsair and I'll overload an extra hex to my vector and mine those asteroids before anyone.
Ah! I thought you were one of the teachers. My apologies.
Not sure that HP would have gone for that one. Getting the tablets alone might have been workable but the "work to integrate them" is that mysterious box on the flow chart labeled "then a miracle occurs". No one in their right mind would go for that deal--it's HUGE. Ask anyone who's had anything to do with PowerSchool and the like.
I agree completely with the ridiculous lack of planning on the BoE's part. Hopefully one of the teachers could take the lead -- maybe having you advise them.
Educationally, iOS is far ahead of the pack. Android is getting some traction but to my knowledge, nothing serious yet (more of an afterthought, meaning "Oh, yeah. Let's do an Android app as well.") If you had to pick one device to "throw at the wall, hoping it'll stick" -- the iPad is probably your best bet. HP WebOS? That'd really be a bundle of work.
Good luck!
I liken this to the state family-services programs. We went through foster training on a long road to adoption and it blew me away just how terrible some of these foster homes are. Some are excellent, certainly, but WAY to many of them are just in it for the cash.
During the training, I broke into my "WTF?!" moment and the trainer simply said, "Yes. It sucks. But it sucks less than having them in the 'system' or on the street."
So, to me, a tablet can follow that same logic. There will always be idiot parents who suck and not much to be done about that until we start birth regulation. (Heh. Think of trying to pass THAT test down at the DMV.) But tablet is certainly better than a TV with much more of an upside to where it might take a kid.
Our elementary school had dilapidated playground equipment that they couldn't afford to fix up. Then a state funded a program came in to add secure entryways to all schools--which resulted more or less a new "wing" added to the school that included new offices for the administrators.
But the playground equipment was still dangerous. And yes, I brought it up in the PTO meetings.
In your case, I'd wager that Apple offered a discount to the state to make it look like a great deal that could get through the legislature. Often monies are earmarked for one category (statewide tech budget) and aren't allowed to be spent elsewhere (local bus service) which is an attempt to ensure even bad budget management doesn't result in catastrophe. In this economy, that sort of thing becomes glaringly painful.
The software just isn't there yet for the tablets to become an adjunct tool for daily classwork. And since you only have five per classroom, you can't effectively use it for anything but remediation. However, the tablet does EXCEL at providing great remediation, provided (and this IS a big one) you have the content to back up what you've been teaching. The quiz app seems ridiculous. I don't know what levels you're teaching but at the elementary level, there's a website called "raz-kids.com" and they offer a pretty decent listen/read/quiz suite that is assigned and tracked by the teachers. The major failing of raz-kids is that it is flash-based. It can, however, be used with the flash-enabled iOS browser called "Rover". Rover has a "not ready for prime time" feel to it. The interface is non-intuitive, you can't easily manage bookmarks (you're forced to wade through their picks for websites) and it's significantly slower than say, Safari. But once you get to the flash, it works like a champ.
raz-kids even has an iOS app but it requires two separate subscriptions, which our school (and frankly, it pisses me off, too) is not amenable to being squeezed for.
Were I in your shoes? I'd take those iPads the other teachers are foisting on you, figure them out and be the "go-to" person on tablets. Then leverage that into either higher pay or a new job at a private school. Or maybe become a consultant for some small educational software company. My brother was the marching band / music teacher at his high school. Apple gave them a budget to build a small video studio but the "arts" staff had no interest. He took the money and developed it into one of the most respected and award-winning video production programs in the state, now his full-time position.
Here, here.
Just finished a trilogy last night on the tablet. I use it when I'm cooking (allrecipes.com has a great recipe screen!) I use it to keep track of the family schedule (it usually sits on a refrigerator mount in the morning, with the daily schedule opened.) I was diagnosed as ADHD long ago but I don't find the tablet enabling me any more than my laptop. Perhaps less!
Heh. The iPads aren't your problem. The BoE in your district appears to be suffering from a severe cranial/anal inversion. Purchasing *anything* without a cogent plan for what is purchased is a waste of money.
If they're so lost, go out and hunt down a few apps to get the tablets out of the "etch-a-sketch" category.
The good news is that someone *might* backfill some infrastructure and the iPads could still end up providing value.
I realize there is software written for tablets (someone linked to many below) which emulate activities such as drawing and painting. The point of this article is that creativity and learning are improved over traditional methods. I doubt that doing things on a tablet is even equivalent to the physical interaction of other methods, let alone superior.
I love the "I doubt". You ask for proof and make it clear you have none to offer save your own vibes.
Is a math program better than watching and interacting with a teacher?
Are 8 blobs of colored pixels really better than the 5 oranges and 3 apples on the table?
It depends on the teacher. However, it seemed that the OP was really asking about the places kids are using the tablets the most, i.e., at home. And except for a lucky few, there AREN'T math teachers at home. No one is suggesting that we don't do simple math when opportunities present themselves. Just that tablets offer simple and direct access to learning. My kids are required to spend 20 minutes a day on the educational apps. I'm a decent enough "teacher" and love to foster their love of learning. But I doubt those 20 minutes with me alone would be nearly as productive. As a matter of fact, I'm sure of it. My 6 year old hates when I correct her printing no matter how gentle and positive I spin it. The tablet? If she goes too far afield when writing her answer on the screen, it shows her the correct way to draw the letters or numbers. No grumbling about how the app won't let her write, she just makes the correction and continues. Since using the tablet, her handwriting has improved dramatically.
Is drawing (with a 100+ ms latency) better than on a piece of paper? Will a flat glass screen provide the subtle, subconscious insight into texture, shading, pressure, etc that crayons do?
Is a finger painting program provide as meaningful feedback as actually getting paint on your fingers? Just how well can you simulate the color and paper for water-colors?
Again, no one is suggesting we don't let Johnny color or paint. But honestly, being the primary caregiver here, I don't haul out the paints, paper, tablecloth and the brushes every day--we don't have the room to have a permanent "paint station". But on the tablet, once the learning apps are done the kids are free to color, paint, read, listen/play music or fling birds as they see fit for the rest of their screen time. And how well can you simulate the color and paper for watercolors? Oh, I'd say "better every day." I mean, that kind of math is what computers are great at and the resolution on the new iPad is truly stunning. If you ever get an app, do check out some of the offerings from Crayola.
Humans are social animals that have evolved to use our hands to examine and manipulate our environment. There's a reason smaller children do things like finger paint -- it's a very tactile activity with clear feedback.
Technology has a place in the classroom, of course -- the newfangled school computers I used in my middle school years are what pushed me at CS and programming -- but tablets like the iPad are solutions looking for a problem.
Me? I was fascinated by playing "Trek" and "Civil War" on the TTY33. That's what hooked me. But can't you hear the folks back then making exactly the same arguments you're making now? "These new-fangled teletypes are just solutions looking for a problem?" The direct feedback that tablets provide overcomes the last hurdle for a computer-based educational tool. As with traditional laptops, teachers can spot areas that need reinforcement much sooner. No one HAS to learn to type to use a tablet. The kids get immediate and ego-less feedback for the basics. Again, to use my child as an example, our school is using an online program that allows the teacher to assign simple books to read. The teachers are allowed to print ou
But sadly the problem is that is EXACTLY what often happens, they become fancy electronic babysitters. I have gone in houses where there isn't a single book, not a one, but they make sure the kid has an X360 or PS3 because that keeps little Billy out of their hair.
Yes, yes. It seems bad parents can use devices too. However, the OP wasn't about bad parenting--more about the usefulness and/or hazards of these new-fangled devices for learning.
As for the tablet i don't see anything the tablet could do that a cheap netbook or desktop could do, except maybe cost more....
Obviously, you haven't been paying attention. My first grader is using an app called "Teach Me First Grade". She sits on the couch with me and is still learning to read. She uses her finger to WRITE her answers on the tablet that is accurately interpreted. When she writes a letter or number wrong, the app gives her help on how to write it correctly. Strangely, this sort of thing wasn't as intuitive on my laptop. Compared to a tablet, a laptop is bluky, uncomfortable and requires a level of abstraction (hit key here, comes up there.. slide finger her, mouse moves there) that presents one more barrier to learning. Educationally, the software is excellent and is helping her with addition, subtraction, spelling and sight words -- in addition to honing her ability to print.
There are always those who feel that because something is new and/or different, it can't replace "how I did it, back in the day." I'm not suggesting that all new tech is automatically good but it isn't automatically bad, either. I've been in the educational software industry for over 30 years (TUTOR was my first language after HP BASIC) and have seen tech come and go -- mostly for good reason. The tablets? They're here to stay. What I see being developed really does fulfill much of what was promised so many years ago. They are truly the "flying cars" of education.. and they're here.
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Well, I would very much like to know why they're making it incompatible with Mindstorms. My son has a Mindstorm set that he got two years ago -- he wanted it instead of a phone. It was $300+. Since then we've purchased additional sensors and motors. Smells like a pure LEGO money-grab to me.
Yeah. The consumers are all drones, anyway. Seriously, I have been eyeing the DJI line and was getting close to pulling the trigger on the Mavic Pro. Now, I will move on. There's no way I'll put up with crap like that. Plus, the drone market is quite full of high-quality alternatives. I certainly will not purchase from this Orwellian, fascist corporation. They are vastly underestimating their market and the consumers who buy their product. I'm sure it's a drop in the bucket to them but they just lost $1K (+ accessories) with this policy. NOT bending over.
One of the reasons Jobs did that was to cut ios users out of the huge library of free flash games on the web and force users and developers to the app store. That gaming library is still massively used and a primary driver for Flash use.
B.S.
It was well known that there were security holes you could drive a truck through. Jobs was the first (ok, maybe ONE of the first) high-profile tech leaders with the clout and guts to declare the Emperor Had No Security (as well as being a huge memory hog.)
I believe he cited (lookie me, ma! I done used it correctly!) statistics from OS X showing that Flash clearly was the #1 cause of their software crashes. And realize that not only was he proven right now, but he was proven right then. Not long after Jobs' dress-down of Flash, Adobe themselves gave up on making it for mobile, saying they could not make it work. There was a version for Android that was pathetic and they couldn't fix it.
So, while I'm sure Jobs' didn't feel bad about gamers having to use the app store instead of Flash, I doubt it was a major motivating factor in his rant. Jobs' perspective started with the user. He generally felt that if you give the user the right experience, the business and money will follow.
Of course, this is all bad news for Zynga...
After reading that, I am stupider. And I find myself strangely expecting a Jägermonster rap solo...
Storing passwords in the cloud... What could possibly go wrong?
Apparently you skipped over the part where he was declared "ebola free" by the same group who are declaring him not contagious.
My issue is that this "cure" appeared recently and from my (admittedly layman's) perspective, it hasn't had enough time to prove it's completely effective. And given the risks involved if someone is wrong, it seems foolhardy to just trust that it will work.
And when I read that the doctors are "stumped" as to why the disease wasn't completely eliminated, it scares the hell out of me. This isn't AIDS. It's faster and far more easily and casually contracted. Not to be trifled with. Until people have been truly "Ebola free" and not contagious for years, I think precautions are warranted.
Well, a stigma deserved, it would seem. I wonder where that Nurse is that refused to isolate herself because she was "cured".
"Galactica is a reminder of a time when we were so frightened by our enemies that we literally looked backward for protection..."
... and, of course ...
"... But I will not allow a networked, computerized system to be placed on this ship while I am in command."
We live in a world of Cylons.
Really? You're comparing someone stealing your credit card number to this?
No solution is completely secure because humans have to interact with it. The best solution balances the needs of security while promoting ease of use. Credit cards are easy to use but wildly insecure. Applepay is easier to use and MORE secure. Even if we had Chip+Pin active last year, it would not have stopped the (Target, Home Depot, Neiman Marcus, etc.) breaches. The POS terminals were hacked, so the PIN data was sent to the bad guys along with the credit card data.
Since the only thing the POS terminal gets from Applepay is a one-time use token, the hacks would have been ineffective had Applepay been in use.
Hey. Do you do children's' birthday parties?
Ah. Pardon my clarity.
Cashier: "So, that'll be $9.27"
Customer: Smiles, says "OK." Produces Phone with finger on sensor. Takes receipt after buzz.
Cashier: "Thank you!"
I am nice. Thank you for noticing!
They should want it because WE want it. It's a customer-focused system that is more secure and convenient for the customer.
My only issue with google's system is storing my data in the cloud. I'm old enough to not trust the cloud to keep my data secure. Apple is showing up at *exactly* the right time as thousands (millions?) of people are being hacked due to the antiquated systems currently in place. Apple pay is a disruptive technology and will change the way brick-and-mortar transactions are handled.
I'm putting CVS and RiteAid in the "Ballmer" classification of forward thinkers.
Yes, yes. You are a much better, nicer and more intelligent person than I because you use cash. I'll bet you're a Vegan and only watch PBS telethons.
Cash is simply inconvenient and risky. If I lose my wallet or am mugged, I can't just "turn off" my cash. It's gone and yes, it's completely my fault for losing the wallet or getting mugged. I've tried several times to put my cash into the DVD slot on my PC when buying off of Amazon. It just never works!
Transaction by NFC (at least apple pay) at this point in time, is far more secure than cash.
Apple doesn't get a penny from the end user or from the retailer
So they're doing this out of the goodness of their corporate heart?
If you believe this, then I have a bridge to sell ya'.
Well, that and selling iPhones.
I'll take that bridge. What? You don't take Applepay? Never mind.
OK. From a purely physical perspective, I rarely carry my credit card alone in my pocket. So, I have to bring out whatever I keep it in, open that up, then swipe the scanner. My phone is in my pocket all the time. Bring it out, thumb the scanner and transaction done.
Now, that in and of itself isn't enough to sell me on apple pay. What IS enough is that no one can steal my credit card number. I no longer type in a pin anywhere (except Costco, damn it) due to the POS hacks that have gone on recently. Before you throw out your "whoppee", take a moment to be informed and realize that the apple pay is far and away more secure than using a credit card. Add in the fact that my personal data (what I bought) is not initially shared outside of the retailer.
I will admit, though, having an NPC to swipe your credit card would be convenient. Although I'd make sure to check his alignment, first.
OK. So your comment betrays a profound lack of knowledge of how Applepay (and society in general) works.
First, I'm far and away NOT a teenager and I have my phone with me all the time. I keep my drivers license in my phone case as well as one extra credit card. Wallet comes with me rarely.
The process for an apple pay transaction is this:
Cashier: "So, that'll be $9.27"
Customer: Smiles, says "OK." Pulls phone from pocket, puts it up to the scanner. Presses fingerprint scanner until she feels the confirmation vibration. Store terminal confirms transaction.
Cashier: "Thank you!"
No unlocking. No Pin. No typing. No "futzing".
This isn't about being an obedient customer. It's about being an informed customer.
... I'll have to dig up my old copy of GDW's Triplanetary to help with navigation. Gimme a military Corsair and I'll overload an extra hex to my vector and mine those asteroids before anyone.
Ah! I thought you were one of the teachers. My apologies. Not sure that HP would have gone for that one. Getting the tablets alone might have been workable but the "work to integrate them" is that mysterious box on the flow chart labeled "then a miracle occurs". No one in their right mind would go for that deal--it's HUGE. Ask anyone who's had anything to do with PowerSchool and the like. I agree completely with the ridiculous lack of planning on the BoE's part. Hopefully one of the teachers could take the lead -- maybe having you advise them. Educationally, iOS is far ahead of the pack. Android is getting some traction but to my knowledge, nothing serious yet (more of an afterthought, meaning "Oh, yeah. Let's do an Android app as well.") If you had to pick one device to "throw at the wall, hoping it'll stick" -- the iPad is probably your best bet. HP WebOS? That'd really be a bundle of work. Good luck!
I liken this to the state family-services programs. We went through foster training on a long road to adoption and it blew me away just how terrible some of these foster homes are. Some are excellent, certainly, but WAY to many of them are just in it for the cash.
During the training, I broke into my "WTF?!" moment and the trainer simply said, "Yes. It sucks. But it sucks less than having them in the 'system' or on the street."
So, to me, a tablet can follow that same logic. There will always be idiot parents who suck and not much to be done about that until we start birth regulation. (Heh. Think of trying to pass THAT test down at the DMV.) But tablet is certainly better than a TV with much more of an upside to where it might take a kid.
Wow.
Our elementary school had dilapidated playground equipment that they couldn't afford to fix up. Then a state funded a program came in to add secure entryways to all schools--which resulted more or less a new "wing" added to the school that included new offices for the administrators.
But the playground equipment was still dangerous. And yes, I brought it up in the PTO meetings.
In your case, I'd wager that Apple offered a discount to the state to make it look like a great deal that could get through the legislature. Often monies are earmarked for one category (statewide tech budget) and aren't allowed to be spent elsewhere (local bus service) which is an attempt to ensure even bad budget management doesn't result in catastrophe. In this economy, that sort of thing becomes glaringly painful.
The software just isn't there yet for the tablets to become an adjunct tool for daily classwork. And since you only have five per classroom, you can't effectively use it for anything but remediation. However, the tablet does EXCEL at providing great remediation, provided (and this IS a big one) you have the content to back up what you've been teaching. The quiz app seems ridiculous. I don't know what levels you're teaching but at the elementary level, there's a website called "raz-kids.com" and they offer a pretty decent listen/read/quiz suite that is assigned and tracked by the teachers. The major failing of raz-kids is that it is flash-based. It can, however, be used with the flash-enabled iOS browser called "Rover". Rover has a "not ready for prime time" feel to it. The interface is non-intuitive, you can't easily manage bookmarks (you're forced to wade through their picks for websites) and it's significantly slower than say, Safari. But once you get to the flash, it works like a champ.
raz-kids even has an iOS app but it requires two separate subscriptions, which our school (and frankly, it pisses me off, too) is not amenable to being squeezed for.
Were I in your shoes? I'd take those iPads the other teachers are foisting on you, figure them out and be the "go-to" person on tablets. Then leverage that into either higher pay or a new job at a private school. Or maybe become a consultant for some small educational software company. My brother was the marching band / music teacher at his high school. Apple gave them a budget to build a small video studio but the "arts" staff had no interest. He took the money and developed it into one of the most respected and award-winning video production programs in the state, now his full-time position.
Here, here. Just finished a trilogy last night on the tablet. I use it when I'm cooking (allrecipes.com has a great recipe screen!) I use it to keep track of the family schedule (it usually sits on a refrigerator mount in the morning, with the daily schedule opened.) I was diagnosed as ADHD long ago but I don't find the tablet enabling me any more than my laptop. Perhaps less!
Heh. The iPads aren't your problem. The BoE in your district appears to be suffering from a severe cranial/anal inversion. Purchasing *anything* without a cogent plan for what is purchased is a waste of money. If they're so lost, go out and hunt down a few apps to get the tablets out of the "etch-a-sketch" category. The good news is that someone *might* backfill some infrastructure and the iPads could still end up providing value.
I realize there is software written for tablets (someone linked to many below) which emulate activities such as drawing and painting. The point of this article is that creativity and learning are improved over traditional methods. I doubt that doing things on a tablet is even equivalent to the physical interaction of other methods, let alone superior.
I love the "I doubt". You ask for proof and make it clear you have none to offer save your own vibes.
Is a math program better than watching and interacting with a teacher?
Are 8 blobs of colored pixels really better than the 5 oranges and 3 apples on the table?
It depends on the teacher. However, it seemed that the OP was really asking about the places kids are using the tablets the most, i.e., at home. And except for a lucky few, there AREN'T math teachers at home. No one is suggesting that we don't do simple math when opportunities present themselves. Just that tablets offer simple and direct access to learning. My kids are required to spend 20 minutes a day on the educational apps. I'm a decent enough "teacher" and love to foster their love of learning. But I doubt those 20 minutes with me alone would be nearly as productive. As a matter of fact, I'm sure of it. My 6 year old hates when I correct her printing no matter how gentle and positive I spin it. The tablet? If she goes too far afield when writing her answer on the screen, it shows her the correct way to draw the letters or numbers. No grumbling about how the app won't let her write, she just makes the correction and continues. Since using the tablet, her handwriting has improved dramatically.
Is drawing (with a 100+ ms latency) better than on a piece of paper? Will a flat glass screen provide the subtle, subconscious insight into texture, shading, pressure, etc that crayons do?
Is a finger painting program provide as meaningful feedback as actually getting paint on your fingers? Just how well can you simulate the color and paper for water-colors?
Again, no one is suggesting we don't let Johnny color or paint. But honestly, being the primary caregiver here, I don't haul out the paints, paper, tablecloth and the brushes every day--we don't have the room to have a permanent "paint station". But on the tablet, once the learning apps are done the kids are free to color, paint, read, listen/play music or fling birds as they see fit for the rest of their screen time. And how well can you simulate the color and paper for watercolors? Oh, I'd say "better every day." I mean, that kind of math is what computers are great at and the resolution on the new iPad is truly stunning. If you ever get an app, do check out some of the offerings from Crayola.
Humans are social animals that have evolved to use our hands to examine and manipulate our environment. There's a reason smaller children do things like finger paint -- it's a very tactile activity with clear feedback.
Technology has a place in the classroom, of course -- the newfangled school computers I used in my middle school years are what pushed me at CS and programming -- but tablets like the iPad are solutions looking for a problem.
Me? I was fascinated by playing "Trek" and "Civil War" on the TTY33. That's what hooked me. But can't you hear the folks back then making exactly the same arguments you're making now? "These new-fangled teletypes are just solutions looking for a problem?" The direct feedback that tablets provide overcomes the last hurdle for a computer-based educational tool. As with traditional laptops, teachers can spot areas that need reinforcement much sooner. No one HAS to learn to type to use a tablet. The kids get immediate and ego-less feedback for the basics. Again, to use my child as an example, our school is using an online program that allows the teacher to assign simple books to read. The teachers are allowed to print ou
But sadly the problem is that is EXACTLY what often happens, they become fancy electronic babysitters. I have gone in houses where there isn't a single book, not a one, but they make sure the kid has an X360 or PS3 because that keeps little Billy out of their hair.
Yes, yes. It seems bad parents can use devices too. However, the OP wasn't about bad parenting--more about the usefulness and/or hazards of these new-fangled devices for learning.
As for the tablet i don't see anything the tablet could do that a cheap netbook or desktop could do, except maybe cost more. ...
Obviously, you haven't been paying attention. My first grader is using an app called "Teach Me First Grade". She sits on the couch with me and is still learning to read. She uses her finger to WRITE her answers on the tablet that is accurately interpreted. When she writes a letter or number wrong, the app gives her help on how to write it correctly. Strangely, this sort of thing wasn't as intuitive on my laptop. Compared to a tablet, a laptop is bluky, uncomfortable and requires a level of abstraction (hit key here, comes up there.. slide finger her, mouse moves there) that presents one more barrier to learning. Educationally, the software is excellent and is helping her with addition, subtraction, spelling and sight words -- in addition to honing her ability to print.
There are always those who feel that because something is new and/or different, it can't replace "how I did it, back in the day." I'm not suggesting that all new tech is automatically good but it isn't automatically bad, either. I've been in the educational software industry for over 30 years (TUTOR was my first language after HP BASIC) and have seen tech come and go -- mostly for good reason. The tablets? They're here to stay. What I see being developed really does fulfill much of what was promised so many years ago. They are truly the "flying cars" of education.. and they're here.
On a related note, where DID you get that spiffy tinfoil hat?