Editorial: iPads should be provided for all

It was back to school this week for most Bay children and their relieved parents.

I waved my three off, back packs laden with new stationery supplies.

I have done my bit for the New Zealand glue stick economy, which must be thriving, as my kids alone needed 12 between them.

Was there a new school library being built secretly by glue? Or are New Zealand kids just so staunch that their strong arm muscles grind glue sticks into paper at Olympian rates?

At least they can use a glue stick. Research reported this week shows that more pre-school children know how to use a smartphone or tablet than can tie their shoelaces.

Only 8 per cent of Kiwi kids aged 3-5 are able to tie their own laces, compared with 14 per cent globally.

The Digital Diaries study by internet company AVG, which questioned more than 6000 parents in 10 countries, found 58 per cent of New Zealand children aged 3-5 are fully capable of operating a smartphone or tablet, compared with 47 per cent in other countries.

The results prompted concerns that children are failing to learn much-needed skills because they are too preoccupied by digital devices, with 83 per cent of Kiwi parents questioned admitting they were concerned.

On the Bay of Plenty Times Facebook page this week, debate whether children were losing basic skills due to too much technology usage intensified in reaction to our story on Tuesday that Te Akau ki Papamoa School was providing free iPads for each of its almost 600 students.

While hundreds of schools around the country have implemented "bring your own device" (BYOD) policies, where students are either told or allowed to bring electronic devices such as iPads or laptops to assist their learning, the decile 4 Papamoa school is the first state school reported to be providing tablet devices free to all students.

The school paid for half the $101,000 pricetag, with the other half coming from a TECT grant.

The story attracted national interest on Facebook.

Whereas many praised the principal and the board's decision, others criticised the move, with the "back in my day" nostalgic school of thought.

Stephen Michael Pearson posted, "I'm not letting my children have one I would rather have my children play outside and be active rather than have their eyes stuck on a screen playing games."

Tara Lee asked, "why do you need an iPad for school? ... We got by just fine with paper and pen."

This nostalgic argument is tiresome. We live in a digital age. Schools need to equip children with knowledge of how to use these tools as learning devices.

It is progress, summed up by poster Mark Betty.

"Before your time they used a slate and abacus.

"They also used to use blackboards, now whiteboards are in. Once upon a time we wore loin cloths, now we wear all manner of clothing. There is such a thing as progress. Welcome to 2014, do join us."

Equipping each child with a tablet or smart phones enables them to learn the possibilities of these devices that go way beyond Candy Crush and Minecraft.

They also make the teacher's role more efficient.

With research showing that what makes most difference to a child's learning being a teacher, the devices actually free up teacher time.

As digital tools they are no more to fear than pen and paper tools. They extend learning, not replace it.

Reading and writing are still of utmost importance, but digital tools help with this.

Te Akau ki Papamoa School's Bruce Jepsen told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekendthe school had trialled using iPads in a few classrooms over three years and seen a remarkable increase in achievement. Students would still be taught regular day-to-day subjects such as handwriting, physical education, music and dance.

"The technology is not the learning, but supports it."

Despite the seemingly initial high price tag, iPads and other tablets can be more economical than buying multiple text books and readers.

So I am with the many people who congratulated the Te Akau ki Papamoa School on such forward thinking. For me - and many parents on Facebook - the question is, if this school can do this with grants and funding, why not other schools?

This week, reporter Ellen Irvine approached all schools in the Western Bay with this question. She surveyed schools' use of technology in classrooms and demands placed on parents to provide devices.

All schools spoken to by the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend agreed that use of tablets, computers and smartphones were necessary and beneficial as a learning tool in today's technology-savvy world - and it's changed the way children are taught.

None of the schools that responded expected parents to provide technology, although a BYOD - bring your own devices - policy is becoming increasingly popular.

Te Akau ki Papamoa School also considered BYODs and subleasing iPads but these were beyond many families' means.

Principal Mr Jepsen told us, "I don't believe in haves and have-nots."

In other words, Mr Jepsen wanted to provide students with equal opportunities for learning, regardless of socio-economic background.

This is the fundamental problem with BYOD. There will be have nots, and these may be children already struggling. The achievement gap will widen.

In the same few weeks that two schools have been in the headlines for bullying children and parents into paying voluntary donations, Mr Jepsen and his board have shown fine leadership.

If this school - a decile 4 school - can do this through fundraising and grants then, in my view, so can other Western Bay schools.

The boards of schools make decisions on what money is spent on. With technology such a vital part of learning, they must act to ensure no child is left disadvantaged.

As for the shoelaces, it is up to parents to teach this, not teachers. The bunny ears method is on Google. Or choose other fasteners.

I might have just found a good use for those glue sticks.