Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Principal: IPads will enable eighth graders to be in touch with teachers at all times

The miracles of modern technology will come to eighth graders at all three Joplin middle schools as they will have IPads this year. This is the second step in the Joplin School District's efforts to provide devices to all students.

Thanks to $1 million from the United Arab Emirates and a matching half million, all Joplin High School students have MAC laptops.

In an interview with KZRG, North Middle School Principal Brandon Eggleston talked about the difference the IPads will make:

Eggleston tells News Talk KZRG the eighth graders are really excited to use their new Ipads."When they found out they were getting them, they were really excited. They got an Ipad; they're not really at the point right now that they're thinking about 'This is going to change the way I'm going to learn'. Kids now, that's all they know is having technology. And it's going to make it to where they're going to have access to learning from anywhere, at anytime."The Ipads are only for the eighth grade class. Students will have access to teachers, learning materials, and internet resources at anytime.


4 comments:

Jstrickland said...

That's interesting... Hope people watch how "in touch" they are with students! Seems to be a way to get more teachers out by allowing teachers to stay "in touch" with their students. Hope the teachers using social media make a balance between male and female students they keep "in touch" with. ;)

Anonymous said...

Did it ever occur to anyone that teachers have lives too? That contract pay ends shortly after the students leave at the end of the day? It is a possibility that teachers would like to spend their evenings with their own children and not connected to students 24 hours a day.

If the students already know technology so well, perhaps there should be a greater effort to instill some content into their "data base" other than Google. They need to learn to think, also.

The technology is a tool. It should not be everything. Thank goodness they still have options in the middle school classrooms.

Anonymous said...

I have heard many teachers say there is no way they will have any kind of after hours contact with students that is not at a school event for fear of being accused by the district of inappropriate behaviors.

Sorry, R8, you can't have it both ways.

Jen said...

Since the students received computers for the past 2 years at school my sons grades dropped. Before that he was a straight A student and hasnt been the past 2 years. Its a great "tool" but text books are still needed but unfortunately arent provided. As a parent I am very frustrated and have talked with Mr. Huff which got me no where!