We’ve been following the roll-out of iPads in schools, now principals are getting them too.
Much like city councilors, the administrators are using tax dollars for iPads to reduce paper and, to some extent, paperwork.
Case in point: in Salisbury, North Carolina, all seven principals in the district are using them to perform teacher evaluations, classroom walkthroughs and assessments, calendars . The highly totable tablet allows them to patrol the halls and take notes, potentially making them more present and active in school affairs.
The rationale seems sound, until you read this:
“I walked through rooms showing my iPad off to students, taking pictures and having conversations with kids about how technology makes learning more fun,” Nancy Barkemeyer principal of West Rowan Middle school said. “Having a new ‘toy’ helped me make connections with some kids.”
Still, aside from trying to impress the cool kids (do we ever stop trying?), it might be good that school principals get up to speed, tech-wise.
What do you think about spending tax dollars for administrator iPads?
Via Salisbury Post
Nicole Martinelli is a San Francisco freelance writer who heads up Cult of Mac Magazine, our weekly publication available on iTunes. You can find her on Twitter and Google+. If you’re doing something new, cool and Apple-related, email her.
10 responses to “School Principals Also Get iPads”
I say what took so long. We are so stuck on nonsense that the rest of the world excels in technology at a greater rate than we do. Teachers, students and even principals need to be up on the latest technology-this is the future we’re messing with and if the facility can’t have access to the newest tech (that is dominating life on a global scale) then why would students even feel compelled to use it to learn? I feel that when it comes to schools, we are more of the third world country.
Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, FL purchased iPad for the administrators a little while ago (before news of the iPad2). They are using them to do classroom walk thru, or a check list for teachers when an administrator comes in to observe. My admin was nice enough to lend me the iPad for the classroom where I have been using it for fluency, reading comprehension and basic math skills.
As a member of the “Dead Tree Anti-Modernization Society”, I deplore the use of petro chemical and aluminum based technology in the school system!!!! The concept of replacing the tried and true paper, printer, writing instrument and ink industries products with these “toys” is reprehensible. Pun intended. BTW, I love my iStuff as much as the rest of y’all, and agree with JayeDee.
You are truly a riot LOL!!!!
We buy them PCs and phones, so what’s the difference? It’s just another tech tool to get their job done.