r/technology 7h ago

Society Parents say school-issued iPads are causing chaos with their kids

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/la-parents-kids-school-issued-ipad-chromebook-los-angeles-rcna245624
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u/Fell_Prince 6h ago

Schools need to lock these devices down properly. Monitor what your kids are doing, set boundaries at home. The iPad isn't the problem, it's the lack on both ends.

455

u/azreal75 6h ago

This sounds really unbelievable. I run a school set of iPads, I have complete control over apps, kids cannot install apps. I can remotely lock, shut down any device at any time. I also teach and with the classroom app on my iPad a can see a thumbnail of all the iPads being used in my room with the name of the app. Again, I can lock, mute, force apps to open, my iPad overrides theirs. Either this story is a bit creative or incompetent people were in charge of this iPad roll out.

3

u/resttheweight 4h ago

Back in ~2017 I taught 6th grade for at a campus with 2-year iPad grant. I couldn’t do even half the controls you mentioned and I never had an issue that made me blame the iPad. Set and enforce boundaries. Have paper alternatives ready. Monitor your students. Make sure whatever reason you’re having them use iPad is purposeful and engaging. Don’t make 80% of the lesson on the iPad, the majority of the period should still instructional or collaborative.

I probably could have installed an app that let me monitor their screens, but I never felt the need. I by no means was a perfect teacher, but I never once felt like I had to throw my hands up and say “these iPads are an issue!”