Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC?

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Thu, 29 May 2014 06:31:06 GMT

sharonkhoo — Thu, 29 May 2014 06:31:06 GMT

Porky Pig:
I may be too late in implementing controls and guidelines on my DS but Simkhoo, can you share with me what you are using on your DDs? I hope to learn, improvise and use it accordingly.

It all starts with trust - they trust us to have their best interests at heart, and we trust them to understand and comply. When they started watching TV and using the PC as preschoolers, we set time limits and enforced them strictly. As they got older, we explained why in more detail. So they are accustomed to limits and we have explained to them the repercussions of too much gadget use - time wasted, effects on eyesight, reduced social interaction, opportunity cost. Both of them did internet school for a few years while we lived overseas, so they are accustomed to working online - our rules were that they should switch off email and social media while working and not toggle back and forth.

When we gave my younger girl a smartphone last year (Sec 2), we explained how we wanted her to use it and why we wouldn't get her a data plan. We also made clear that if we felt she was not managing well, we would take it away again! She is fine with that, and since she also enjoys doing other stuff, she realises that she has to apportion her time or something will have to give. Currently, she checks her whatsapp before leaving in the morning, after getting home, and maybe a couple more times in the evening. We don't allow gadgets at meals or during homework, and she knows we don't want her on the phone for more than a few minutes (10-15 mins or so, but we don't really time it) at a time. She even chose not to have games on her phone as she says they waste time. She plays them on her PC at home instead. She does spend time on her PC doing non-work stuff, but again, we limit that to under an hour even if she has more time available than that. Seeing that she is quite sensible, we generally let her be. I just make a few 'mother'-sounding noises if I think she's been using her PC or phone too much, but that's not often. And I think it really helps that the whole family abides by the same rules. We try to maintain some normal face-to-face time, reading, chatting, games etc. Hearing how so many teens seem to be addicted to their gadgets, I'm really thankful that my girls seem to have it under control.

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Thu, 29 May 2014 01:25:46 GMT

rains — Thu, 29 May 2014 01:25:46 GMT

slmkhoo:
rains:

I know technology is a part of our lives but 13 or 14-year-olds are still too young to decide not to get addicted to ipads.
At the cost of major conflicts at home, I feel that parents do need to make some kind of stand and convince kids to use such technology responsibly. And for those whose kids are still not addicted, start implementing the controls/guidelines early!

You can be sure there are major conflicts in the households. I am all for guidelines but teenagers are a different species altogether! My kid was the perfect girl I ever wanted. I always asked her \"where are your wings and halo?\" But when she became a teenager ...

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Thu, 29 May 2014 01:23:03 GMT

Porky Pig — Thu, 29 May 2014 01:23:03 GMT

slmkhoo:
rains:
I honestly think ipad is the bane of the school. Whoever suggested the use of ipad and got it implemented must have got an A for his or her work review, but this person ought to be shot a thousand times over. ...

I totally agree! And when I see in the press that they are even introducing it to Pr schools and kindys, I really wonder if they live in the real world? Do they seriously think it's a good time to introduce such technology?

It's difficult to control the use of ipad as the girls tell you they need to do work on it. Although we have checked with the teachers how much time they were supposed to spend on ipad for work, it doesn't seem to add up.

I know technology is a part of our lives but 13 or 14-year-olds are still too young to decide not to get addicted to ipads.
At the cost of major conflicts at home, I feel that parents do need to make some kind of stand and convince kids to use such technology responsibly. And for those whose kids are still not addicted, start implementing the controls/guidelines early!

I may be too late in implementing controls and guidelines on my DS but Simkhoo, can you share with me what you are using on your DDs? I hope to learn, improvise and use it accordingly.

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Thu, 29 May 2014 01:17:16 GMT

sharonkhoo — Thu, 29 May 2014 01:17:16 GMT

rains:
I honestly think ipad is the bane of the school. Whoever suggested the use of ipad and got it implemented must have got an A for his or her work review, but this person ought to be shot a thousand times over. ...

I totally agree! And when I see in the press that they are even introducing it to Pr schools and kindys, I really wonder if they live in the real world? Do they seriously think it's a good time to introduce such technology?

It's difficult to control the use of ipad as the girls tell you they need to do work on it. Although we have checked with the teachers how much time they were supposed to spend on ipad for work, it doesn't seem to add up.

I know technology is a part of our lives but 13 or 14-year-olds are still too young to decide not to get addicted to ipads.
At the cost of major conflicts at home, I feel that parents do need to make some kind of stand and convince kids to use such technology responsibly. And for those whose kids are still not addicted, start implementing the controls/guidelines early!

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Thu, 29 May 2014 01:11:54 GMT

rains — Thu, 29 May 2014 01:11:54 GMT

haha, the threadstarter was asking for his 2nd daughter. Ri, Cat high and Victoria won’t apply.

I think there’s a whole lot of difference between the need to use computer to do projects and using ipad. Ipad is highly portable so the girls bring it everywhere they go, even to bed.

They are too young to use ipad for work I feel. Often, the line between work and chat and youtube-watching is blurred. The use of ipad promotes distraction - even for adults, and they think kids can handle it.

I honestly think ipad is the bane of the school. Whoever suggested the use of ipad and got it implemented must have got an A for his or her work review, but this person ought to be shot a thousand times over. My kid was hardly an addict to computers. It was strictly for work. Now she’s totally hooked on ipad, so much so that she uses it late into the night and can’t wake up in the morning. Her ipad also allows her to explore different chat avenues and get to know ‘friends’ she has never seen but thinks she has known them for a hundred years.

It’s difficult to control the use of ipad as the girls tell you they need to do work on it. Although we have checked with the teachers how much time they were supposed to spend on ipad for work, it doesn’t seem to add up.

I know technology is a part of our lives but 13 or 14-year-olds are still too young to decide not to get addicted to ipads.

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Thu, 29 May 2014 00:00:30 GMT

sharonkhoo — Thu, 29 May 2014 00:00:30 GMT

jerrylizhiming:
I am looking for a secondary school that does not use Tablet PC / iPad to teach. My first daughter is at NYGH and plays iPad day and night. Now my 2nd daughter is going to secondary school soon. I so hope her new school does not force students to buy tablet PC.

I can't help you with a list, but my impression is that nowadays, most students make use of whatsapp etc. even if the school doesn't officially do so. Unless your daughter is willing to be left out to some extent, you will probably find that she will want a smartphone. I have 2 daughters - the sociable, active one has a smartphone as she doesn't like being out of the loop; the other, more introverted, one doesn't have a smartphone and is always finding out things later than everyone else (or missing things) but doesn't care. For my daughter without a smartphone, I have been asking her to use one, but she says that since the most important things are on the school website, she feels that it's OK even though she misses out on the other stuff!

My feeling is that since smartphones are here to stay, rather than forbid their use, it's better to set clear rules and impose restrictions from the beginning, then relax gradually as the child shows greater responsibility. My daughter with the smartphone does not have a data package so she only accesses whatsapp etc at home. We have set strict rules about PC access since they were small, so when we set similar rules for other devices, she was fine and has shown herself to be quite self-controlled (sec 3 now). So far, we have had no issues with overuse.

Just saw that your question was about tablet PCs - I think a lot of schools now use websites for assignments and other teaching tools, so even if your child doesn't need a tablet, she will need PC access at home. And they can play the same games etc on PCs, tablets and smartphones now! So the same sort of rules and control are needed whatever the device.

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Wed, 28 May 2014 19:10:42 GMT

bubbles_ling — Wed, 28 May 2014 19:10:42 GMT

today's age. It is impossible to go without the internet. Just have to educate and trust your kids

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Wed, 28 May 2014 16:39:35 GMT

Dreamgear — Wed, 28 May 2014 16:39:35 GMT

Catholic High also dont use device or notebook.

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Wed, 28 May 2014 15:52:44 GMT

ngl2010 — Wed, 28 May 2014 15:52:44 GMT

RI doesn’t require tablet PC or iPad.

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Wed, 28 May 2014 14:57:00 GMT

ChiefKiasu — Wed, 28 May 2014 14:57:00 GMT

Victoria School does not use PCs or tablets either. In fact, the school staff is very much concerned with students’ addiction to these devices, as evident by the constant reminders that they send to us parents regarding such behavior.

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Wed, 28 May 2014 14:48:06 GMT

sleepy — Wed, 28 May 2014 14:48:06 GMT

jerrylizhiming:
My first daughter is at NYGH and plays iPad day and night.

Need tackle that addiction
Very tough though, since ipad readily within reach

Is it the same situation with other classmates?

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Wed, 28 May 2014 14:36:40 GMT

Augmum — Wed, 28 May 2014 14:36:40 GMT

rains:
I would like to have such a list too!

Let's see:

Dunman High
St Nicks
Anderson
Chung Cheng High
Anglican High
River Valley
MGS
SCGS

Hope someone can correct me if I am wrong.

I thot RV uses ipad ? as there were much discussions on the topic of ipad some time ago in RV thread...

Confirm DHS not using tablet PC or ipad...even at JC level...(as per now)
Though yes....Some students do bring portable PCs to sch for PW...

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Wed, 28 May 2014 13:58:04 GMT

bebebub — Wed, 28 May 2014 13:58:04 GMT

I think PC is fine. School based portals r fine, too. Afterall, today’s kids need to know how technology works. I’m not keen on schools that over-rely on devices, too. I heard some teachers uses whatsapp chat to keep the students informed of school stuff. I hv no intention of giving my dd a smart phone when she goes to sec sch.

Thanks for the above list.

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Wed, 28 May 2014 13:43:11 GMT

Dreamgear — Wed, 28 May 2014 13:43:11 GMT

Do note that though some schools do not have device based system, there is still web based school works as well as projects works which require the usage of device or pc…

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Wed, 28 May 2014 10:13:46 GMT

rains — Wed, 28 May 2014 10:13:46 GMT

I would like to have such a list too!

Let’s see:

Dunman High
St Nicks
Anderson
Chung Cheng High
Anglican High
River Valley
MGS
SCGS

Hope someone can correct me if I am wrong.

Reply to Any good secondary schools without using Tablet PC? on Wed, 28 May 2014 08:10:34 GMT

jerrylizhiming — Wed, 28 May 2014 08:10:34 GMT

I am looking for a secondary school that does not use Tablet PC / iPad to teach. My first daughter is at NYGH and plays iPad day and night. Now my 2nd daughter is going to secondary school soon. I so hope her new school does not force students to buy tablet PC.