The school now has 31 iPads that teachers can check out for students to use on lessons. They were purchased with money from the fifth day adjustment.

The fifth day adjustment is given to schools that have a certain amount of students more than what the budget is set up for. This past year, the school received an estimated $60,000. The allocation committee then met and decided to spend the money on technology.

The money was used to purchase the iPads as well as new computers for the library. The iPads came out to a total of $13,740, which comes out to just over $443 per iPad. That also includes Apple Care, which is insurance for the iPads that is required by Jefferson County Public Schools. The iPads and insurance would have costed more but the school was given a discount for purchasing them in packs of 10.

The reason the school purchased iPads instead of another tablet is because JCPS only allows schools to purchase certain tablets. Mr. David Dallmann (Computer Science) did some research which included talking to people from Eastern High School, which is currently using android tablets, as well as talking to parents of catholic school students, who use iPads for their school work and textbooks. He received negative feedback from all models but the iPads. Mr. Dallmann concluded that the iPads were the best choice.

“My English teacher had them for us one day and they were rather useful,” said Thomas Davidson (12).

The iPads are 16-gigabyte iPad 2s with the new iOS 6 operating system. These iPads feature a dual core processor, are 8.8 millimeters thick, weigh 1.3 pounds, and have a ten-hour battery life. According to the iOS 6 page on Apple’s website, the iOS system “allows a parent, teacher, or administrator to limit an iOS device to one app by disabling the Home button, as well as restrict touch input on certain areas of the screen.”

The iPads are plugged in and stored in a cart that charges and syncs them.

As far as appropriate use besides limiting the device to one app, Mr. Dallmann said, “Teacher observation is the best way to deter inappropriate use.”