School 'asks' 840 students to buy iPads

We moved from blackboards to interactive boards and beyond this concept to laptops and today, it is the iPad2.

- Vandana Lulla, Director, Podar International School

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The us government could be patting itself on the back for creating earth's cheapest, Android-based tablet Aakash at only Rs. 3,000, but the homegrown gizmo is clearly not the Apple on this posh city school's eye.

The guts and school education at Podar International School in Santacruz seems willing to integrate Steve Jobs' legacy in daily learning. In a very recent circular dated December 9, the school management informed parents which it will quickly introduce iPad2 in classrooms in the next academic year. While some parents welcomed the move, others notice the fancy tablet just isn't simple for children.

The next edition in the iPad, which costs Rs. 40,000, has introduced for that 840 students of normal VI to XII. But, says director and principal with the school Vandana Lulla, these days isn't mandatory. The school's circular, however, mentions no alternative for moms and dads who will be not entirely in love with the idea, activists point out (see box).

The circular states, "We are satisfied to announce how the decision taken with the school treatments for using Apple iPad2 inside the classroom by the students has become welcomed by the parent community. Parents have a choice of either purchasing the iPad2 from the school with an outright basis or acquire a finance scheme available. In addition, you should indicate when the iPad2 will likely be purchased by for your own. You happen to be requested to mark your choice... to take further steps to initiate the task and negotiate most order purchase."

But officials asserted wards of parents who do not desire to purchase it might have the option for learning on interactive boards that may carry on being used as soon as the iPads are introduced. Those involved with favour of the idea can find it with an EMI of Rs. 1,400 or by themselves.

iDoubt

Some parents have their own reservations regarding the concept. K Mahesh (name changed), a parent or gaurdian of a pupil at Podar School, said, "I was obviously a student once and i also know what education is. If you alter the syllabus, that's digestible. In case you alter the device with a few weird logic, it can be problematic. I would like my kid to adhere to the present method of education that millions with this country are following, and setting a benchmark for other people. I am not from the usage of iPad. However i don' believe it is practical for my kid."

Another parent, Sushma Shah (name changed), said, "I work with an iPad and that i understand how difficult it is to take care of."

Others argue the opposite. Tannu Kewalramani, PTA chairperson, Podar International School, said, "In a conference recently, i was given a glimpse of the way the iPad2 works and student reviews on it were mostly favourable. Introducing this is a good concept and a most parents are positioned because of it.

"When we use modern technology for household chores, why not use it in education? Because it is, students tend to be more knowledgeable about gadgets than we're."

Principal speaks

Lulla said, "After observing how gadget-savvy students are becoming and exactly how they may be acquainted with iPads, I took the initiative flying insects the iPad2. It may help students to retain the content. They can download numerous textbooks while they want. Further, a research by a laptop manufacturing company figured that more using technology has improved the performance of students in subjects like Biology, Chemistry, History, and Earth Science."

But why the iPad? "Because of two reasons. One, we have a parent employed by Apple and, two, the iPad2 has the best applications," Lulla said. "We moved from blackboards to interactive boards and from there to laptops and now, it is the iPad2."

She continued, "The games application is going to be blocked in class every time a child enters with the iPad2. After we took careful analysis bring in the iPad2 earlier this year, we provided training to everyone our teachers, including me."

Acknowledging a people are not not in favour, Lulla said, "There are only 5-10 per cent of parents that don't want the iPad2. It is not mandatory and kids of parents who don't buy it can learn from interactive boards."

Expert says

Jayant Jain, president of Forum For Fairness in Education and many types of India Federation of Parent Teacher Association, said, "If the institution is indeed keen to herald technology, parents must be given an option to acquire any company's tablet. But nowhere did the circular mention this. Nor achieved it claim that parents who don't would like to buy their son or daughter an iPad2 could study from interactive boards. What this means is that it must be mandatory for all. Also, parents should bear the fee if your child drops and damages the expensive gadget. They may be in the learning process, why can't they be given cheaper tablets which may be updated by the school."

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Numbers

While on an average, you will find 30 students in a single class in Podar and each class has four divisions. Therefore, there are approximately 840 students inside school from grade VI to XII.