River Valley High School [*IP]

[Belle2011]

A Bit Kiasu:

Apple has just released a new application called iBooks textbooks for iPad.


http://www.apple.com/education/#video-textbooks

How is this going to impact the RV students who have ordered iPad2?
Thank-you.

[MXYMum]

Belle2011:

chewy9110:

i am not against IPAD being selected as an enabling tool or enhancer for education.


Like most parents, what I am not comfortable with is the pressure
of the deadline of submission to purchase the tool, with the imminent launch of IPAD3 - rumoured to be on 24 Feb (Steve Job's Birthday). Somehow, I just hope that what we are purchasing is not a \"stock-clearing of obsolete products\" process and which I strongly think is not in this case.


Basically, I would like to seek clarification from the RV contracting vendor aboutthe concern of the lowering ofthe price of IPAD2 when IPAD3 is launched.

To allay the fear, the vendor could give price assurance - should the price of IPAD2 is lowered due to IPAD3, then a money-back refund of the price difference be given back to the purchaser who has bought the IPAD2 in the early or this round of purchasing process.


i am not sure who is the appropriate authority to address regarding this issue and help the parents/students -

to the Principal, parent-student group or MOE?

any one can advise ?

or

anyone can help to inform the school of this concern and assurance urgently as the deadling is closing ?

I am sure this is the concern for most parents affected by the IPAD2 vs IPAD3 issue.

If the vendor can give the price assurance of money-back refund, I am sure RV will have the blessings from most parents of the success of IPAD as the enabling tool.

Some Y1 parents have already voiced similar concerns during the briefing held in first week of Jan.

Have all Y2 parents over here submitted their cheques for purchase of iPAD2? I've signed the form and returned it to my daughter by yet to write her a cheque. I'm still waiting for a last minute announcement of price reduction due to the earlier launch of iPAD3.... :? Still hesitating ... wonder if I should wait for a while and get it directly from Apple later... Maybe I can get a better price???

[octopusmum]

i have yet to fill the form, neither have i decide which one to get for ds!! according to ds, the school told the pupils that they shouldn’t wait for the launch of ipad3 cause learning can’t wait! well, i think the school is assuming all parents own a bank or sth…

[WeiHan]

octopusmum:

i have yet to fill the form, neither have i decide which one to get for ds!! according to ds, the school told the pupils that they shouldn't wait for the launch of ipad3 cause learning can't wait! well, i think the school is assuming all parents own a bank or sth....

But you see, you don't need to own a bank to afford ipad right? Maybe, some really poor families should be given subsidies. majority of the family can afford ipad.

I heard the news just now that even Thailand is distributing ipads to primary school children and will continue to enlarge the usage. Maybe, MOE have heard complaints from some parents and was trying to broadcast that news? Forgot to mention. there are many voices of objection in Thailand too. One of them is the worry that children may use the ipad to play computer games which a professor refuted. The children ipad will not be connected to the internet but only to the school educational network. Is that the case in Singapore?

[octopusmum]

Of course, we don't need to own a bank to get an iPad . Just that, it doesn't feel good to know that the price is going to drop and that there is a new one coming up. Why r we paying more for sth older??


And I don't think the school is doing the right thing by not helping us to find out if we can get refund for the price diff. Most of us will end up buying fr the school in the end but for me, I can tell u I am forced to do so and it doesn't feel Gd to be forced

[Belle2011]

Yup, I shared the same feeling of being strongly encouraged to buy the iPad2, not fully aware or convinced how this device would help or facilitate my child in learning. However, when I chose this school, I should have full confidence and faith in grooming my child to be a better citizen. Thus I decided to part that amount of money and move on.

[sall]

WeiHan:

But you see, you don't need to own a bank to afford ipad right? Maybe, some really poor families should be given subsidies. majority of the family can afford ipad.

I heard the news just now that even Thailand is distributing ipads to primary school children and will continue to enlarge the usage. Maybe, MOE have heard complaints from some parents and was trying to broadcast that news? Forgot to mention. there are many voices of objection in Thailand too. One of them is the worry that children may use the ipad to play computer games which a professor refuted. The children ipad will not be connected to the internet but only to the school educational network. Is that the case in Singapore?

The P said those families who need financial help can apply for subsidies. If ipad is only connected to sch education network, then the use is so restricted. They need the internet to get info. P said in sch, they can monitor the students' use, but after sch, parents got to do their part.
My greatest worry is the eye degree will shoot up with such heavy use of the ipad.

[Poet2010]

Dear Parents,

the iPad is a useful tool for e-learning and it connects you to the world-wide-web readily for referencing check. e-Books are also available online for free. I'm a new iPad user myself and it's a great tool. Kids playing games on the iPad is undeniable, personal discipline in this area is of key exchange in understandings between parents and children. Cheers

[MXYMum]

octopusmum:

Of course, we don't need to own a bank to get an iPad . Just that, it doesn't feel good to know that the price is going to drop and that there is a new one coming up. Why r we paying more for sth older??


And I don't think the school is doing the right thing by not helping us to find out if we can get refund for the price diff. Most of us will end up buying fr the school in the end but for me, I can tell u I am forced to do so and it doesn't feel Gd to be forced

Oh well, whether I like it or not, I've succumbed to pressure and issued a cheque for the iPAD last night. :sad: My daughter told me that most of her friends have submitted their forms and cheques. They were told to submit their forms by this Friday even though the deadline is 1 Feb.

I've thought of getting one later after iPAD3 is launched, but what if Apple ran out of stock and I can't get an iPAD2 in time before Term 2?? Our kids will lose out if the teachers start using iPAD2 in class and our kids don't have one. And what if the price didn't drop afterall and I end up having to pay more?? I gave up and just follow suit lah ... :scratchhead:

Is this the consequence of putting our kids in an IP school? I hope that RV can really make a difference to our kids after 6 years ... :xedfingers: These certainly do not happen in 'normal' neighbourhood schools as parents may not be able to afford expensive gadgets like these.

[Belle2011]

dd’s locker settled; paid $15 which $5 is refundable.

Today filled up CCA form (indicated 1st choice as ELDDS & 2nd as Cross Country) and the outcome should be known quite soon.