We’ve been talking about the numerous schools purchasing iPads for students, faculty, and staff as they all race to get onto the iPad bandwagon, but a California school is now one of the first to replace books with the must-have device. Monte Vista Christian School in Santa Cruz is loaning 60 iPads to students in advanced placement classes on a trial basis. The trial seems to be going quite well however, as Headmaster Stephen Sharp says the iPads will likely replace textbooks in the near future.
Robinson Kuntz/MCT
The iPads were rolled out on Thursday and students have embraced the technology so far. “It’s a little easier to use,” said sophomore Alyssa Villanueva, 15, comparing the iPad to a textbook. “You can really focus on where you’re studying.” The teachers seem to be warming up to the idea as well: “I’m really new to it but I’m super-excited to use the iPad,” history teacher Greg Davis told his sophomore advanced placement students.
According to the article, the iPads are for classroom use only so students must e-mail their notes to themselves in order to save them. This is obviously not ideal but just a mere bump in the road as it is likely the biggest problem students are facing with the new technology.
The tablets retail for $499 each, but Apple provided a $50 school discount, he said. Electronic textbooks, which are increasingly available, cost about a third of print versions.
