iPads Coming to Class

The new school year will bring new technology to a number of Grafton classes.

A pilot program will bring 120 iPads to the schools as part of a pilot program to determine the best educational uses for the devices, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Lucille Boutiette told the School Committee at its Monday, July 11 meeting.

Twenty-one teachers were selected from about 40 applicants to use the iPads in their classrooms. The teachers represent a range of grade levels and subjects from all schools in the district.

About 1,200 students each day will be in a setting with the iPads sometime during their daily schedule, Boutiette said. They will become "a fabric'' of the classroom and not just make occasional appearances, she said.

The iPad is a mobile tablet device that will primarily be used for audio visual media including books, periodicals, movies/music/music/games and Web content.

 The goals of the program are:

 To provide students additional opportunities to access curriculum and content

To provide student access to iPad in various classroom settings

To explore viable apps that will be meaningful for students and teachers

To explore strategies for using built-in functions of the iPad with students

To gather data for future use of iPads and other personal mobile devices

The program is funded through grant money.

Committee member Teri Turgeon said she was very enthusiastic about bringing the devices in the classrooms and said students would “jump on them.’’

But she expressed concerns about the cost of these devices once the grant money is no longer available in future years.