iPads Take Over Proctor - Nicola Bush

NICOLA BUSH!

NOVEMBER 2013

iPad’s Take Over Proctor An insider’s outlook on the technology upgrade at Proctor Academy

iPods, iPhones, iMacs,

MacBooks, and iPads are just the beginning. Upgrading technology is a continuous trend seen throughout history, and for good reason. In theory, the goal of technology is to make the life of the user simpler and more organized. But what happens when we start upgrading for the sake of just owning the newest bit of tech?

Why have a computer when you could have

This year, Proctor Academy has

an iPad?

upgraded. Instead of the school

But, many dislike the new required

providing discounted MacBooks for

the students, as they have for many

progressive. In an email sent to

disapprove of tech in general and

years, Proctor is now requiring that

parents, they insist that it will

therefore dislike the iPads, others

all students to purchase an iPad 3 or

“collectively enhance the classroom

don’t appreciate the additional cost to

newer for the school year.

experience.” In addition, the same

their families (or themselves), and

email assures parents that despite the

still others are simply having

iPads are the “hot topic” at

The school considers this change

tech “upgrade.” A few students

700 dollar (minimum) additional cost

difficulty integrating their iPads into

Proctor Academy now. A tablet is as

of the iPad, “It will be worth the

their already set Proctor routine.

easy to navigate as the iPhone, and

investment in the long run.”

has all the great features of a

I spoke to four year senior Haley

computer, but smaller. With access

to applications that enable you to

from students and teachers alike.

dumb that we need iPads for school.

buy and read books, write a paper,

Some are thrilled to have an excuse

I’ve been using my computer for

watch a movie, use your calculator

for their parents to buy them an iPad

three years and I don’t need this

and much much more, this piece of

in the name of school, others are

thing.” Unfortunately for the three

technology is capable of almost

excited to take advantage of the

and four year seniors and juniors, the

anything a student could want or

many applications and features of the

tech shift is occurring right as they

need.

device.

are about to move on from Proctor.

There have been mixed reactions

De Vries who noted, “I think it’s

!

PAGE 1

NICOLA BUSH!

NOVEMBER 2013

Three year senior Annika Paulin comments, “I was told relationship-…”, and yet, how will students learn to when I came as a sophomore that I would be using the

step away from their technology and gadgets, and

computer I bought from the school until I graduated and now I have to go and buy an iPad too? I just feel like the whole thing is kind of ridiculous, especially if I’m only going to use it for one year.”

Many upperclassmen agree with with Haley and

Annika. Emily Morrison, another four year senior, appreciates the efficiency of the iPad but considers her iPad an “unnecessary supplement…” and “would much rather have just a computer than just an iPad.”

Many students, myself included, struggle to use,

differentiate what they read in a book versus what the

navigate, and take full advantage of our iPads in the

world is actually like when they are hiking through the

way our teachers are expecting. “iPads are toys, not

woods, reading from their iPad instead of looking

tools”, senior Haley DeVries shouts in frustration whilst around and learning from experience? trying to print her homework assignment from her iPad.

In addition to the difficulties some students are

experiencing, there are also some bigger questions. Is

Junior Quinn (Stiles) Alpeter is wary. “I think that

the iPads will take away from the classroom experience because it makes everything from homework to notetaking less personal.” Emily Morrison advises teachers to, “not use the iPad for certain aspects of their curriculum,” to preserve some of the traditional teaching methods.

Dougo Houston, Dean of Academics believes

otherwise, “... the iPad will allow communication with teachers at different times and in different ways. You will be thinking more critically all the time.”

Despite the negative reviews, there have also been

many positive reviews. “I for one am thrilled that I don’t have to lug around giant backpacks full of Proctor’s mantra of experimental learning threatened

textbooks, regular books, notebooks, binders, and my

from the overuse of technology in the classroom? The

computer.” Says four year senior, Clara Emlen. “It’s so

school argues that, “technology will never replace the

much easier on my back and now I’m consistently

essential element in the classroom-the student teacher

!

PAGE 2

NICOLA BUSH!

NOVEMBER 2013

prepared for class with just a few folders, I use this thing for everything, and all my stuff is in one place, I love it.”

Along with Clara, there are a number of happy

customers, students and faculty alike, that appreciate everything the iPad has to offer and are grateful to the school for making the upgrade. Freshman Lee Petrini notes, “I like my iPad a lot and I find myself using it a lot more than I use my computer.” Dougo raves, “The iPads allow you to collect, use and minipulate, information more easily and differently than other tools... It’s also easy for me to use pictures, videos, put them all together, share them and display them in a meeting I might have.”

As it is only the third week of school, feelings on

the subject are still somewhat mixed. Perhaps some of the lingering initial frustrations with the switch will fade away as school progresses and the iPad will prove itself useful over all. Personally, I do appreciate being

Even though the upperclassmen got the short end of the stick in the “New iPad Initiative,” we will hopefully become accustomed to the change and learn to appreciate everything the iPad has to offer us and to Proctor as a school. Overall, this Initiative will prove to be a positive change in the long run.

able to write out my Journalism Essays on my iPad simply by speaking to it, but also, being a four year senior, I feel a little overwhelmed trying to fit my iPad into my daily routine. Even Dougo admits that he uses his computer the majority of the time, due to the fact that he’s just so used to it.

!

PAGE 3