TRADING MACBOOKS FOR IPADS

A transition from MacBooks to iPads for all USD 497 high school students begins next school year

Story by Stella Mosier

For five years, USD 497 high school students have been provided with MacBooks for school; however, the school board has opted to transition to iPads next year.

The board made the decision on Jan. 23, following a difficult conversation regarding ways the school budget could be cut. They estimate saving approximately $1.3 million per year by transitioning to iPads.

According to the District TechnologyServices Department, they also considered transitioning to other devices such as Windows and Chromebooks, but found that transitioning to a different platform would have created more challenges than those posed by iPads. They based their results off of adaptability, potential cost savings, and durability.

To evaluate how iPads may potentially affect student’s abilities to learn, Vignery asked teachers to volunteer for a trial run.

“During the week of Oct. 10, we provided each participant an iPad, keyboard, mouse and case,” Vignery said. “We encouraged them to use the iPad as much as possible with coursework and homework during the pilot program, so they could provide meaningful feedback to the district at the end of the first semester.”

Math teacher Rita Phillippi was one teacher who volunteered to pilot the experiment, and said she found somewhat varying results.

Phillippi stated she feels very optimistic about the iPads and expressed that the keyboard and pen made it easy to write notes, solve problems and upload work to google classroom.

However, McLenon also explained that the iPads may not be quite as efficient as MacBooks.

Sophomore Cooper Hefty said they feel concerned about the transition to iPads due to computer programs used in activities such as debate. Programs such as Microsoft Word are standard for debaters, and likely do not run properly on an iPad.

Hefty also voiced fear that the transition is somewhat inequitable; separating those who can afford to purchase nicer technology from those who must rely on iPads for debate.

“One of the main problems is that some of the debaters who are wealthier will be able to buy computers which can create some disparity between debaters and hurt the community,” Hefty said.

Other Career and Technical Education [CTE] classes such as graphic design and video production use multiple computer-specific programs as well, graphic design teacher Shelby Miller said. “I am going to assume graphic design is not possible on an iPad,” Miller said. “We will have to rely on some form of computer lab or whatever they supply for the class.” different laptops each class

Miller also said that while the transition may be financially beneficial, she wishes there was more thought put into the decision. “It’s good to save money, but I think it’s going to be hard,” Miller said. “I wish we had planned ahead for this, and not rolled out computers if we weren’t ready.”

Sophomore Addy McLenon, a student in Phillippi’s class that was piloting iPads, had the opportunity to use an iPad for the month-long trial.“My experience with the iPad was mixed,” McLenon said. “Some parts of math were much better because I could draw and use my own handwriting.”

Vignery said that computers will still be available to CTE classes, but students will only have the ability to take the computers home on a nightly basis for homework.

CTE teachers and students have expressed concerns regarding the amount of class time students may lose by spending time logging into the technology and how students will be able to save progress by logging into

Although the transition to iPads raises concerns, the technology team will assist students over the course of the transition.

The USD 497 Department of Technology is confident that the decision to transition is in the best favor of students and will greatly improve the district’s current budget crisis. Students and staff will be assisted throughout the transition process.