FAQs

The iPad is intended as a tool to enhance conventional learning, connecting students to additional opportunities to explore information and show their learning in ways that just aren't possible in a conventional classroom.  However, all of our teachers strive for a balance between time using technology and times when the tech is put aside. Particularly in earlier grades, technology is used sparingly.  As students grow, classrooms have more opportunities to access resources with technology, with the focus on learning and creation – not on passive consumption

• The YouTube app is NOT installed on student devices.  However, it is accessible during school hours from the browser.  Access to YouTube is used on the iPads as a learning tool at all grade levels, in support of the curriculum. 
• Teachers in all grades also use Apple Classroom as a management tool to monitor student iPad usage during class time.

No. Students can access YouTube only during school hours for learning purposes. 

No. Gaming capabilities are removed both at school and at home. Our internet filter updates nightly and strives to keep current with any new sites that are published.

This practice builds executive functioning skills, responsibility and independence, while also allowing students to carge their device. Eventually, in the coming years, more work will likely be required on the iPad and this practice prepares students for such expanded learning.

Not all homework is done on the iPad. Students use iPads for homework due to their versatility for creative projects (videos, books, podcasts), improved organization (digital notes, cloud access), enhanced engagement (interactive apps, multimedia), accessibility (assistive tech, intuitive touch screen), efficiency (no lost papers, quick submission, digital textbooks), and building future-ready skills, all while supporting diverse learning styles and reducing paper waste. 

Ultimately, we felt that the iPad device gave students more opportunities to learn and connect with the curriculum, while still being able to access the same Google resources that Chromebooks can use.  Some learning benefits of the iPad are:

• They are interactive and creative: iPads excel at creative projects, using drawing apps (like Apple Pencil compatibility), video creation, and augmented reality (AR) for immersive lessons, perfect for middle school engagement.
• They offer intuitive interface: Touchscreen-first design is easy for younger students to pick up, and built-in accessibility features (VoiceOver, etc.) support diverse learning needs.
• iPads are portable and durable: Lightweight, compact, and often lack fragile screen-keyboard connections, making them easy to carry and less prone to breakage.
• The advantage of apps: Access to a vast library of educational apps for subjects like reading, math, and science that leverage touch and camera.

With the iPad keyboard cases that we have been implementing since 2023, the devices also give students the ability to touch-type and write in a similar fashion to a laptop.