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Poll: Should schools allow students to replace text books with tablet devices?

A secondary school in Mayo has decided to allow students to replace heavy schoolbags full of text books with Apple’s lightweight tablet device,the iPad – but should others follow suit?

A SECONDARY SCHOOL in Mayo has decided to allow students to replace heavy schoolbags full of text books with the iPad – Apple’s lightweight tablet device.

Jimmy Finn, principal at St Coleman’s College in Claremorris, said that first year students would be given the option of using either books or tablets for lessons from next September.

Students will be able to purchase an iPad, complete with a learning suite, for around €700 – which Finn says makes financial sense when the cost is spread out over three years.

However, while the move has been widely supported by parents and teachers at the school, concerns have been raised about how easily children might damage such expensive equipment, the financial strain it might cause parents, and whether it could cause schoolchildren to be targeted by thieves or bullies.

What do you think – should schools allow students to replace text books with tablet devices?


Poll Results:

Yes (1252)
No (343)

School in Mayo replaces textbooks with iPads >

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17 Comments
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    Mute Unitedpeople Ireland
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    Jul 14th 2011, 12:32 PM

    Anything that does similar, does not impose the right constrictions that all Apples products do in regard to DRM – and allow further direct input of own material via a side port, will be a good thing to see.

    Even better if they under cut Apples mad rip-off prices – as I’m sure Amazon will do …and good to see!

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    Mute Alex simon
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    Jul 14th 2011, 7:22 PM

    Apple = unriveled quality. Quality comes with a price.

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    Mute Unitedpeople Ireland
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    Jul 14th 2011, 10:15 PM

    …And what a rip-off price!

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    Mute Alex simon
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    Jul 14th 2011, 10:42 PM

    I bought an LG Renoir back when it came out, it was supposed to be a great touch screen phone with 12mpixel camera. The thing was slow and awful. Apple is total opposite amazing quality and reliable. Rip off? Not if the technology works and lasts.. Apple has built up a very trusted brand. People will pay if they know they are getting a good device. Look at where nokia landed up…. I was skeptical about apple for a long time, until I was given an iPhone, now I am 100% apple.

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    Mute Cork
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    Jul 14th 2011, 7:39 PM

    Totally agree alex, I’ve had all generations of iPhone and an iPad. My phones are all still in use bar the first one which i left in a taxi, probably still in use. The iPad has been tested to the extreme by 2 experts in the field of product testing (my 19month old and my 4 year old). It’s still functioning the same as it did day 1. This quality I have never experienced in any other electronic device ever..people love to hate apple but they sure can make a robust, well built and extremely slick product. All the rest are just trying to imitate…

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    Mute Unitedpeople Ireland
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    Jul 14th 2011, 10:12 PM

    All the rest are just trying to imitate…

    Aye, till someone comes along and betters them eventually.
    And Apple know this has been done to them alone before – via the worlds biggest selling operating system maker, a simple example!

    Apple make good items. Only a fool would deny it.
    A company is only as good as its last product – and sooner or later someone else brings an alternative to equal or best it.
    If its cheaper, does more and is of same quality components – good to see.

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