Apple sells 2x as many iPads as iMacs to schools – Is this a good thing?

Article: http://mashable.com/2012/07/24/apple-ipad-education-sales/

While I think it is great that schools are adopting new technology I have to wonder, did schools jump the gun here? I know that some schools are definitely using the iPad for some really cool things and I love to see innovation. However, I wonder, and this really only applies to schools who bought iPads to replace computers, do all of these schools have enough computers for each student already? I ask because you can purchase a PC for the same price as the iPad (there is no educational discount on iPads so they are $500 for schools). If a school does not have a computer for each student, I would question their purchase of iPads for each student (if that is what they did because just purchasing some iPads is not what I am talking about here in this post). Computers are significantly more powerful than iPads and can do much more. I only recommend that my students by a computer first and if they have more money, then get the iPad. Do not just get the iPad and expect it to replace their laptop. So while I like mobile/tablet technology and think it does have a place in education, I would question anyone who is using that technology to replace computers because it does not and I do know that some schools are replacing computers with iPads which I believe is not a good way to use this technology.

Posted in apple, Mobile Learning and tagged , , .

One Comment

  1. Bit of a myopic view.
    I know several high school and college students that are very adept on the iPad; using it for research, writing, creating videos and podcasts, even web development.
    As far as more powerful…how much power do you need to surf the internet and intranet? How much power do you need to write a paper…not much…unless you continue to install and use bloated apps like Word and Powerpoint (never rewritten, just more code on top of old code).

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