This Apple really is for the teacher (and students)

Pitbull makes some interesting points that are common in arguments for online textbooks (they are cheaper, weigh less) however there are a few important facts that are missing in the calculations. I just went through the same exercise in the school district in which I work.

Schools do not purchase textbooks new each year. A typical school might purchase a textbook or a given subject once every seven years, so the annual cost of providing textbooks to students is not 5 x 75 = $375, it is (5 x 75)/7 = $53.57 for a 4 year cost of $214.28.

Assuming that an iPad would last 4 years (an unknown at this point) and that student must replace the battery after 2 years, the 4 year hardware cost is at least $598. This does not include the actual cost of an electronic version of the textbook, which is going to run you a little more than $10 a year for the big three K12 textbook vendors.

So the cost of a textbook on the iPad for 5 subjects for 4 years is...

iPad(499+99)+Textbook subscriptions($4 x 5 x $10) or $1297

The cost for the 4 year cost for print is $214.28(see above)

The iPad is $1082.72 more expensive over 4 years.

So the iPad would cost the district an additional 1.08 Million dollars over 4 years.

(this is assuming that there were a majority k12 online textbooks that could display on the iPad, which will eventually happen)

The iPad and other instructional technologies can have a powerful impact on student learning and engagement but too often schools get caught up in the enthusiasm for new technology and put it into the classroom without much thought to the total cost, or the training necessary to support the teacher in the best use of it.

I really love your math on this , and yes your text book math is correct . But what you do forget is that the iPad takes a few other options for the schools away ...

With the iPad you have a few options that the SCHOOLS wouldnt nee anymore .

1. Libra's - With the iPad you wouldn't need a libra , Yes this would mean Liberians would lose there jobs . But at the same time would also let them keep there Jobs in a new way . Instead of having a room filled with books that kids dont read half the time , There could be converted into a STUDY HALL . With seats and KEY Boards for iPads ( so kids or students could do work there ) .

2. Computers - School computers wouldn't be needed anymore ( at least not for all classes ) . Students would have there iPads for Internet search , to everything else they might need for that class ( record a your teachers speeches , to taking notes for the classes ) . Teachers could E-Mail there weekly home work to the students , to receiving there homework threw an email .

So seeing how schools spend a few thousand dollars a year on new BOOKS for Libra's to Computers for class rooms ( Not all class rooms ) , there is also the fact of Paper for the class rooms wouldnt be needed to pens and pencils .

The only thing kids would have to use would be an iPad . As for the battery life on these iPads , well i think they could last longer the 2years . I have had my iPhone for a good 2 years with not problems with my Battery . The iPads battery life is no less better but last longer then my own iPhone . I would say that the batteries could last these kids a good 4 years .

Now as for the students and witch kind of iPad they get , well the schools could work something out on that .

The students could be giving the options or the schools could do it where each year would get a different model ..

9th Grade - 16GB Model , with a cover that the student pays for ( 10 to 20 dollars ) .

10 and 11th grades - 32GB Models again with students paying for a cover .

12 Grade - 64GB model , again with where the students buy a cover .

Either the students could buy there own iPads or the schools will supply the iPad with the the meaning that if you break it you buy it deal like with the School text books .

each year the student would give back there iPads where the schools could have then checked out and cleared out for the next student . The schools would have to over order iPads , but it would insure that each student would get an iPad .

Teachers would get there own iPad as well .

Schools would have to only setup a few things .

1. Wifi for each class room .
2. Textbook system for every class ( meaning a deal with the text book makers for a flat fee deal ) .
3. Class for teachers to learn to use there iPads .
4. Email for all students and teachers ( google is free and easy to setup ) .

It wouldnt be hard to save money with each Highschool student using the iPads . The schools would now have to worry about a few things at there schools ..

1. Teachers .
2. WiFi
3. A few computers within the study hall for students with out computers at home to download books on to there ipads . Making the Study Hall computers there Libra's . ( With teachers or anyone in charge getting the books on those computers for the students ) .
4. Repairs on iPads that might have a problem ...