[LINK] iPads for preppies

[Jan Whitaker]

[kindergarten in US is before year 1, equal Aussie preps. After 
reading the whinging article from schools in Victoria about having to 
pay for utilities and cleaning for new buildings, 
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/students-could-be-locked-out-unless-canberra-pays-125m-20110409-1d8nt.html 
you gotta scratch your head]

"KUSA - Kindergarten classes in Auburn, Maine are set to start 
working with new high-tech tools.

Schools in Auburn, Maine are breaking new ground when it comes to technology.

Every kindergarten student in the district will be receiving an iPad 
2 computer this fall.

The school committee voted Wednesday night to spend about $200,000 
for 285 iPads for both the students and teachers.

As part of a pilot program some students in a few classrooms will get 
iPads as early as May.

The program will roll out at all of the district's six elementary 
schools this fall.

"When you look at what the iPad 2 apps that are out there, from 
learning your letters from books, that can be read, finger painting 
your name, it's absolutely something we must do," said superintendent 
Tom Morrill.

Auburn school officials hope the cutting edge technology will boost 
literacy rates from 62 percent to 90 percent in two years.

The department is also believed to be the first in Maine to give 
iPads to a whole grade level."

http://www.9news.com/news/world/192566/347/iPads-in-class-for-kindergartners?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|t




Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
blog: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
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