“H.L. Suverkrup Elementary, in Yuma, Ariz., is part of an innovative effort by Apple to use technology to help level the playing field between rich and poor students,” Daisuke Wakabayashi reports for The Wall Street Journal.
“University of Michigan professor Elliot Soloway, who studies technology in education, said classroom computers typically don’t boost test scores because schools don’t redesign curricula,” Wakabayashi reports. “‘Schools always make the mistake of buying computers first and then asking what do we do with them,’ Mr. Soloway said.”
MacDailyNews Take: Gooood moorrrnnning, LAUSD!
“Another effort has shown progress. Voters in the Coachella Valley Unified School District in Southern California, where nearly every student qualifies free or reduced-price lunch, approved a $42 million bond measure that supplied iPads to all of its 20,000 students starting in 2013,” Wakabayashi reports. “Superintendent Darryl Adams credits the iPads with helping to lift the district’s high-school graduation rate to 82% in 2015 from 65% in 2011.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take:
Before anything else, preparation is the key to success. — Alexander Graham Bell
SEE ALSO:
What schools must learn from Los Angeles’ iPad fiasco – May 8, 2015
Los Angeles schools seeking refund over botched iPad plan – April 16, 2015
U.S. FBI seizes L.A. Unified School District iPad documents; 20 boxes carted away in surprise visit – December 2, 2014
Beleaguered L.A. schools superintendent to resign in wake of iPad fiasco – October 16, 2014
Los Angeles teachers union calls for investigation of school super Deasy’s ties to Apple, Pearson execs – August 26, 2014
L.A. Unified School District suspends Apple iPad contract – August 26, 2014
L.A. Unified School District repossesses students’ iPads as $1-billion plan hits hurdles – October 1, 2013
I doubt the goal posts were moved. That’s never been done before. No one would ever skew numbers to support a desired outcome or to justify means or expenditures. That’s never happened before.
This HAS to be good news, Apple is involved!!
LAUSD is a massive government bureaucracy. It’s goal is self preservation and union appeasement. At the end of the day, if a student learns something, that’s also good.
The story is pure fantasy. I’d like to say that at least its good marketing for Apple, but it needs at least a small element of truth.
It takes hardware AND software. I suspect H.L. Suverkrup Elementary had some helpful teaching and testing software, as well as helpful iPads. Chances are, the software was NOT from Pearson:
http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/04/16/pearson-not-apple-to-blame-for-failed-la-schools-technology-program
That’s a very substantial improvement. Shows that it’s not just a gadget
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is…this story is bunk