Happy New Year!

The girls use the iPads for school and socializing every day. This morning before school started, I saw two students sitting next to each other in the lobby, iPads in their laps, books open and working on assignments. That is the true testament of the success of this program.

To date I have replaced 38 iPads due to broken glass or manufacturer's defects. The best thing we did was buy the insurance and the 3 year Apple Care Policy on each of our 420 devices. We need to seriously consider getting a different case for next year. I have been using the Griffin Survivor case now for a couple of months and it has protected the iPad extremely well.

Twitter and Facebook

We are facing the social media challenge every day with the students. As a result of a recent cyberbullying situation, students are no longer allowed to use Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and any other social media site during the school day. They are allowed to use these sites at home but they must follow the Acceptable Use Policy regarding what they post on the Internet when using the school-owned devices. It has been very difficult for some students to understand that they did not purchase the iPads and cannot do whatever they want on them. I gave a short presentation on Monday, December 12th about ownership, the AUP, and cyberbullying to the entire high school. Many of the girls still feel that the administration, teachers and parents do not have the right to look at the content on the iPads whenever they want. Hopefully, this misconception has been dispelled.

The iPad and the Bazaar

The Maryvale Christmas Bazaar was held today and students set up tables to earn some money for their classes. One group used their iPad as a guide to facepaint others.

Even Apes use iPads

Tablet of the Apes

What began as an April Fool's Day gag - a Photoshopped image of a gorilla using an iPad - soon became a reality when the Milwaukee County Zoo handed the device to its orangutans. Since iPads are allegedly so intuitive that anyone can use them, Trish Khan, supervisor of the primate and ape area at the zoo, thought the tablet could be a great enrichment opportunity for the great apes and donated her old one. At first, the orangutans were just shown pictures and videos of themselves and were not allowed to handle the device. "Their reaction was rather interesting," says Khan. "They took to it immediately. One of them put his arms above his head and clapped while the other stared intently." Then there were allowed to tinker with painting and drawing apps while a zookeeper protected the iPad from damage. The apes have a basic understanding of how the touch screen works, which is good for their cognitive development, Khan says. Next the zoo hopes to develop its own apps for apes and help them Skype with apes from other zoos.

Lauren Brousell
CIO
December 1, 2011

See http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3503234/Gorillas-get-iPads-to-aid-alertness-and-keep-them-happier-in-zoos.html for the Photoshopped images.

Using their iPads After School

Students often sit on the steps and use their iPads after school.

11:11 on 11-11-11 from the iPad

We had a little fun today in computer class and the girls made screen shots of the date and time.

Teachers and iPads

Two teachers using iPads in art and English.