River Valley High School [*IP]
-
A Bit Kiasu:
How much is NCS offering and what spec?
The NCS offer is not attractive at all. -
Belle2011:
However the order form has to be submitted by 10 Jan. I checked with RI and SCGH (sec1 student), not mentioned by school yet; checked with NYGH (sec1 student), mentioned by school for sec2; checked with RFGH (sec2), \"heard sec1 has such plan\".I attended the briefing on iPad2 on Sat morning.
I was kind of confused by the message brought across. Will ipad2 be used in the daily teaching? If yes, then all students would need to buy since this will become part of their learning. However, the P & VP mentioned it was not compulsory to buy iPad2 and what does this mean.
Both also said parents of Year 1 could wait for iPad3 which will be introduced to Year 3 onwards. What would be the interim measures when the school has students having iPad2 and others waiting for iPad3 to arrive? How would this device be integrated into the curriculum? A parent mentioned that A level exam is still pen and paper which means relying too much on this device is not consistent with the requirement of A level exam.
Also, with the impending launch of iPad3, what is the hurry of buying iPad2 for Year 1 students? We all hope to buy the latest gadget and hope to last longer during the years in RV.
If RV wants to be the first sec school in implementing ICT plan, as parents we may have to support it. However maybe the school could also get more fund from government and hence more parents would support it \"from bottom of heart\" so that 4 parties (gov, school, parents, children) would make it a successful story in future. -
NCS offer:
with Wi-fi: $786 (16GB), $916 (32GB), $1046 (64GB)
with Wi-fi + 3G: $966 (16GB), $1096 (32GB), $1226 (64GB)
All include 2 yrs wty, protective polyurethane cover package (leather cover, retractable stylus pen & screen protector), apple is setting up a tech support shop in RV.
Went to iShop to research:
with Wi-fi: $668, $798, $928
with Wi-fi + 3G: $848, $978, $1108
Only 1 yr wty, the polyurethane cover cost $54. I can’t find the price for the rest of the accessories.
Comparison:
For eg. using NCS offer for iPad2 16 GB (the IT HOD recommend 16GB is sufficient)with Wi-fi only. If you go to iPhone shop to purchase yourselves.
iPad2 = $668
Cover = $54
Total = $722 (stylus pen & protector unknown price, I guess another $50, therefore, total estimated cost is $772. Pls advise if anyone of you have the info on pen & protector.)
NCS offer $786. With the above assumption, we are paying $14 for extra one yr of wty which apple will not give to public. And, extended of one yr wty will definitely worth more than $14 (I guess at least $100 guiding from extension of laptop wty offer by Harvey Norman, etc).
With expectation of ipad2 (or any electronic device such as laptop, table top) to last for 6 years is not realistic. Even if the hardware can last, our kid & we oursleves will want to change every 2 to 3 years as the technology will advance by then. -
NCS offer:
with Wi-fi: $786 (16GB), $916 (32GB), $1046 (64GB)
with Wi-fi + 3G: $966 (16GB), $1096 (32GB), $1226 (64GB)
All include 2 yrs wty, protective polyurethane cover package (leather cover, retractable stylus pen & screen protector), apple is setting up a tech support shop in RV.
Many choices have been put up as above. Somehow I got the impression that the school is recommending the 32GB, which means either $916 or $1096 (+3G). -
Also, any parents here using wired Internet at home? I am one and I have a bigger prob as this device uses wireless!
-
I attended the Sat briefing & I summarized the 2.5hrs iPad briefing as the school is trying to be the 1st school in Sin to embark on full eLearning thru’ iPad2’, meaning, every student in the school as compared to RGS/Nanyang Girl offering FOC for a few classes (feedback from 2 parents during the brief). They have thought thru’ & planned for a year since beginning 2011. Only Apple can offer the solution as of this point & want to work with RV though we know that Android/microsoft is up & coming but not in the educational field in the near future.
We would expect the 1st yr of implementation be lots of teething issues despite the fact that RV has planned for 1 yr.
Overall direction to get the RVians to use electronic device to speed up/enhance learning catching with the fast moving technology & world is right. Now, it is the implementation problem.
What most parent could not understand:
1. Why Apple is so firm on pricing (minimum discount) even RV can purchase almost 3000 iPads. Where is RV leveraging power?
2. Why RV cannot hold on till Apr/May (rumor iPad3 will release end Mar 2012) to be the 1st school to use iPad3 (for those parents who can afford ipad3) as we know that iPad2 price will definitely drop by a few hundred $ after introduction of iPad3. Therefore, help saving the parent some $ if the school can do it just iPad2? (it was explained that iPad2 is sufficient for the next 6 years).
3. School did not demo to the parents some of the learning aid thru’ iPad so that we can appreciate the devices.
4. The school is not making the purchasing of iPad2 a compulsory & advise that we can also wait till the Y3 to 6 purchase iPad3 in Jun/Jul or don’t even need to purchase at all as there would be some loan sets available. But, they did not explain how those kids would learn in class as compared to the rest if their parent refuse to purchase one.
With 400 Y1 parents discussion already have so many questions, not sure how they roll out to the whole school. -
happypie:
Nan Hua, Crescent Girls，ACSI and Maris Stella are few schools that have been using tablet for teaching, nothing new. It is just different device that RV using different (lighter & cheaper compared to a $2000 plus tablet?)
If RV wants to be the first sec school in implementing ICT plan, as parents we may have to support it. -
Tays:
:goodpost:I attended the Sat briefing & I summarized the 2.5hrs iPad briefing as the school is trying to be the 1st school in Sin to embark on full eLearning thru' iPad2', meaning, every student in the school as compared to RGS/Nanyang Girl offering FOC for a few classes (feedback from 2 parents during the brief). They have thought thru' & planned for a year since beginning 2011. Only Apple can offer the solution as of this point & want to work with RV though we know that Android/microsoft is up & coming but not in the educational field in the near future.
We would expect the 1st yr of implementation be lots of teething issues despite the fact that RV has planned for 1 yr.
Overall direction to get the RVians to use electronic device to speed up/enhance learning catching with the fast moving technology & world is right. Now, it is the implementation problem.
What most parent could not understand:
1. Why Apple is so firm on pricing (minimum discount) even RV can purchase almost 3000 iPads. Where is RV leveraging power?
2. Why RV cannot hold on till Apr/May (rumor iPad3 will release end Mar 2012) to be the 1st school to use iPad3 (for those parents who can afford ipad3) as we know that iPad2 price will definitely drop by a few hundred $ after introduction of iPad3. Therefore, help saving the parent some $ if the school can do it just iPad2? (it was explained that iPad2 is sufficient for the next 6 years).
3. School did not demo to the parents some of the learning aid thru' iPad so that we can appreciate the devices.
4. The school is not making the purchasing of iPad2 a compulsory & advise that we can also wait till the Y3 to 6 purchase iPad3 in Jun/Jul or don't even need to purchase at all as there would be some loan sets available. But, they did not explain how those kids would learn in class as compared to the rest if their parent refuse to purchase one.
With 400 Y1 parents discussion already have so many questions, not sure how they roll out to the whole school.
At this moment, I would like to wait for iPad3. -
As a one-year project to implement "1-1", i suppose it is reasonalble to know its feasibility as a teaching tool. I strongly agree "3. School did not demo to the parents some of the learning aid thru’ iPad so that we can appreciate the devices＂by Tays.
I think DEMO is the priority before school’s trying to persuade its affordablity. ipad has almost nothingn to do with leadership but communication more efficiently. Just show us instead of saying "trust me" "if you don’t believe us, you may not apply!"
As parents, we would definitely support school as much as possible if "1-1" is convincable. -
justsay:
Sec 1 boys in ACS Barker seem to be purchasing MacBook (2.2k).
Nan Hua, Crescent Girls，ACSI and Maris Stella are few schools that have been using tablet for teaching, nothing new. It is just different device that RV using different (lighter & cheaper compared to a $2000 plus tablet?)happypie:
If RV wants to be the first sec school in implementing ICT plan, as parents we may have to support it.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login