IMUA ‘IOLANI
February 19, 2013
A Voice for Students since 1923
Honolulu, Hawai‘i
Volume 88, Issue 4
Mr.Joshua Reppun instructs his History class on setting up ts their iPads. Max Wei | Imua Iolani
Teachers embrace iPads’ ease, efficiency
By Max Wei
The latest stage of the iPad initiative kicked off in January as 234 juniors received their own tablets in their United States History classes. The distribution came after the first stage of the iPad plan at the end of last year, when 109 teachers received tablets. Another 84 teachers subsequently received theirs. Since the distributions, the signature red covers can be seen all over campus. Students and teachers are quickly adapting to the new learn-
ing tool, moving from traditional note-taking on paper to exclusively using iPad note applications. “This project changes effectiveness to hyper-effectiveness,” said history teacher and iPad program developer Mr. Joshua Reppun. The consensus on campus is that the iPad project is off to a strong start, with students and teachers saying the tablets enable them to be more efficient and to add an element of fun to the learning. “We should’ve done this years ago. I’m very glad we’re doing it
now,” said Dr. Deborah Hall of the History department. In Dr. Hall’s class, not only do the students take notes in class on their iPads, but they use them to do research. “The iPads are way easier than getting a computer cart,” Dr. Hall observed With the iPads, students can add pictures to their papers and create more sophisticated products, as well keep a constant link to their schoolwork. Dr. Hall can mirror her content on her students’ iPads, leading to more interactive lectures and allowing students to stay on the same page more easily.
Dr. Hall said she is learning how to put her grade book into the Numbers application, as well as using iAnnotate to respond to assignments. The transition from physical grade books to electronic ones offers teachers both convenience and connectivity. Instead of having his students only use Evernote, Mr. Jeffrey Hackler encouraged them to try whichever app they were most comfortable with. A poll he took revealed that students were using at least six different notetaking applications, from Pages See iPads, page 2
Keables Chair: ‘Without a voice you are choiceless’
By Ashley Mizuo
The moment Alexandra Fuller, this year’s Keables Chair holder, walks into a room, everyone wants to hear what she has to say. The students are enchanted by her brilliant accent and exotic life. They are also amazed that she has so much to say and is unafraid to say it. The presence of such an outstanding speaker and writer at ‘Iolani is consistent with the purpose of the Keables Chair that she holds. It is funded by an endowment that supports a residency for a writer, teacher or artist who can bring fresh perspectives to ‘Iolani’s students and teachers. The chair is named for Mr. Harold Keables, one of ‘Iolani’s most celebrated teachers whose methods of teaching writing is the inspiration for Dr. LaGory’s creation of The Keables Guide. Fuller’s first book, “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight”, describes her childhood in Rhodesia, now known as Zimbabwe. She writes that as a child, her opinion was often dismissed, and that she was encouraged to blindly follow the ideas of her parents. Her parents, especially her mother, play major roles in her book, but after it was published, her mother called it “an unauthorized biography” and wanted nothing to do with it. The book described Fuller’s life as a child during the Zimbabwe civil war, when, as she said children “grew
up far too soon.” They often witnessed death. Guns, mines and soldiers were everywhere. When asked about how it felt to be oppressed, she acknowledged with regret that her family fought for white rule, making her parents some of the oppressors in Rhodesia. She said that it is difficult to maintain such a position because “oppressors are always overcome.” Fuller thinks that some people who grow up in America where the right to speak out is protected, take their freedom of speech for granted. Having lived under true censorship in Rhodesia, she is surprised at the high level of self-censorship in the United States. She continues to be outspoken and warns, “Without a voice you are choiceless.” In Jackson, Wyoming, where she became a
citizen, the local dentist, who was the official administering the oath, told her, “Whatever hunger it was that brought you here to the United States, give us your hunger.” Fuller’s hunger is her desire and determination to use her voice. The dentist’s words resonated with her, and now she speaks to students about using and developing their voices. She says that everyone should keep learning and that every day her own voice is developing and changing. She has spoken out about the injustices of civil war and censorship she experienced while growing up as well as the corruption of the oil industry in her home state of Wyoming. She does not worry about people who try to keep her from using her voice, saying, “What are you going to do? Take away my pencil and tell me to shut up? That doesn’t frighten me.” Fuller is an inspirational woman who has much to say and is not afraid to say it. Her voice is one that refuses to be silenced. Alyssa Lam ‘14 said, “I really loved having her here because not only is she outrageously funny, but she is also the most down to earth person.” Fuller encourages ‘Iolani students to find their own voices and insists that when they find it, “You’ll know, because it will be yours, and it won’t be like anyone else’s.”
Index
A&E-- 3 Editorials-- 2 Sports-- 4
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