Hays High School is currently discussing the possibility of switching from laptops to iPads for students for next school year.
The district is looking at this change for many reasons, such as cheaper cost. This switch would save more than $250 per student enrolled. This switch would also mean that all students, K-12, in the district would be using iPads.
When buying school devices, the district gets educational pricing. That means that the district would only pay about $330 per iPad. That is assuming that the district would be buying the 10th generation, the newest regular iPad model that is also the most basic, and cheapest. When looking at that base model with no upgrades and no educational pricing, it would cost roughly $350 per iPad.
Last year, the district bought 1,630 iPads and cases for $604,695, for an average of $370 per device. For 1,000 students, which is rounding down, as Hays High currently has more enrolled, the cost of iPads would be $370,000, if going by the district’s latest iPad purchase. For 1,000 students, the cost of the laptops students currently have now would be $666,000. Now comparing cost differences, the savings for the district would be $296,000.
Now, if the district would also switch the computer labs to Apple devices, the M4 base model iMacs with educational pricing are about $1,250 each. Although, it is unlikely the district would go that route, as the current lab computers are not all-in-one desktops, expect in art teacher Heath Meder’s graphic design lab, and in that case, he used the graphic design budget to get those, not the district’s budget. So, because the district already has monitors, keyboards and mice, they would likely get the M4 base model Mac mini, which are $499 with education pricing.
When looking at the districts’ spending, in 2023, they bought 80 student computers for Hays High at a cost of $53,331, for an average of $666 per device. This would be about the same cost as the desktop computers currently in the labs and the additional cost of adapters would be needed. This is if they would even decide to switch the desktops over to Apple’s software. If you look back at the district’s savings from switching from laptops to iPads ($296,000) and add 200 new M4 base model Mac minis for the computer labs, that would be about $99,800. This means if the district switched to iPads and Mac minis (combined together), they would still be saving roughly $196,200.
That amount of savings is huge. So, when looking at it from a cost perspective, the switch would make complete sense. Quoting Niccolò Machiavelli, “The end justifies the means,” it feels as the district’s main goal is to save money. Although, when looking at it from most other perspectives, this is a bad idea, as the ripple effect this would have on students’ lives past high school is concerning, to say the least.
The budget for these technology “upgrades” is pulled from the capital outlay budget, which is generally used for general maintenance and emergency repairs. Although, this is the same budget that the USD 489 Board of Education voted to pull funds from to finish projects at the new high school, such as the tennis courts and the scoreboards, instead of setting aside more funds for technology. This is why the district is focusing on the cost of each device keenly.
Although, this theoretically would make the efficiency of a class higher, especially in high school, as students would not have to adapt to laptops.
“I think it will take some adjusting, but I would be able to push things out to students and project easier,” social science teacher Luke Lundmark said. “They will be easier to use for reading, but typing will be a learning experience.”
This potential switch would be detrimental to students’ education, both secondary and beyond, and even for those going directly into the workforce. Students will lack the basic knowledge that is needed to operate computers, such as managing their files, uploading files to servers or the cloud, running routine updates and understanding computer functions, such as copy, paste, rename, move, drag-and-drop, etc.
Along with that, there are many computer-based tasks that many careers require the knowledge of how to do. Currently, as students come into high school from using iPads their entire education, if they have been with USD 489 the entire time, many of them lack a significant amount of knowledge to operate a computer. While the school gives them some of the knowledge that they need, especially if they take Computer Applications or a class that requires computer use, but if they do not take those classes, they will not learn to use personal computers.
Many staff and students have even expressed concern with this switch. In a survey of 40 students in grades 9-12, only 35 percent answered that they would prefer an iPad over a laptop. Although, after learning that almost every Kansas university strongly discourages iPads, tablets and even Microsoft Surfaces, with some colleges not allowing them, just 15 percent answered that they would still prefer an iPad.
“Laptop skills are essential for college students because they offer more versatility and functionality compared to iPads,” business teacher Lindsay Hart said. “Laptops support a wider range of software necessary for academic tasks. Students having used iPads for all their education, K-12, are missing out on learning how to use the Windows operating system, full-featured Microsoft Office programs and the functionality of their file management. These skills are essential in higher education and the workplace. I’ve spoken with many college students and business individuals, and all have said knowing how to use a Windows device is essential.”
This is concerning. Many students will go into post-secondary education or straight into the workforce with little to no basic skills on Windows, Mac or any other operating systems. This switch will mean students will be uneducated in yet another way, as most students already do not know how to do basic adult tasks. Granted, computer labs for some specialty classes will still be available in the school, but many students many not ever take a class that utilizes computer labs.
A question also arises when looking at the computer labs the school will have. If the district would decide to switch the current Windows desktops to Macs and or iMacs, will we as a district remain a Microsoft school? Being a Microsoft school allows the district to have licenses for all Microsoft Office programs for every staff member and student. If the district would fully switch to Apple platforms, would the Microsoft still partnership remain? While there are Microsoft Office programs on Macs, iMacs, iPhones and iPads, they lack some features that are available when using a Windows computer. This especially holds true when using an iPad, as those lack many features Office programs have.
Potentially not being a Microsoft school would be quite troublesome. Many teachers already will have to rework assignments for functionality on iPads, and if all assignments on Office programs cannot be brought over, there will be a steep amount of work that will need to be put into redesigning/reworking each assignment. If the district would keep lab computers as Windows – which is the current plan, to my knowledge – we should remain a Microsoft school. Although, that raises another question. What will the cross compatibility be between iPads and a Windows system? Personally, I switch from my Windows school laptop to a MacBook every day, and if I do homework on the MacBook, more often than not, I find myself having to jump through some type of hoop to make it work, especially when needing to continue the assignment the next day on the Windows laptop again.
Now let’s look at switching to iPads from the middle school level. Students should theoretically know how to use an iPad efficiently and effectively at this point in their education, as they have used one from kindergarten at least with USD 489.
“If students use an iPad for the entirety of their learning journey, they should be very comfortable with how the hardware and software works on that particular device,” Hays Middle School language arts teacher Megan Bieker said. “Students are generally comfortable with the functions of Apple products, as most of their phones are Apple products. I think that iPads can be more durable, and they are generally lighter to carry verses a laptop computer. I think they also could last longer verses a laptop computer.”
IPads do have their advantages. They generally are found easier to operate, and that is a big factor to as why they are used for primary education in our district.
“I am concerned that, as a high school student, only operating on an iPad, that they will lack several skills that they could get by using a laptop,” Hays Middle School computer teacher Bradley Banker said. “Some issues I see are that some software is a downgrade on the iPad compared to full software on a laptop. Downloading books, using a mouse and files could also be a big change. Students leaving high school and moving onto college will have to learn how to manage a laptop because I do not feel that an iPad will be sufficient to use in college.”
Another advantage that would be seen district wide from an educator’s standpoint is the control that teachers can have over student devices.
“The ability for the staff to keep track of what students are on, change them to a certain screen, lock them on a certain screen, etc., which I think will be very beneficial for keeping students on track and making sure that they are doing what they should be,” language arts teacher Maleigha Siglinger-Albers said.
One more advantage is that students wouldn’t need to spend time learning a new operating system.
“Inventory of one type of device across K-12 would allow us to better plan for enrollment needs across multiple years,” district technology director Scott Summers said.
I genuinely think that, while iPads for middle school works nicely, it is not the right move for high school students. Students switching from iPads to laptops when entering high school feels like a good place for that switch. Hays High provides adequate tools and multiple classes for students to learn to use computers better. Preparing for this switch to a personal computer is not abrupt for new freshmen because, if they are coming from Hays Middle School, then they would have taken a computer class that tries to teach them the basics of operating a computer.
When looking at this possible switch from a university level, there are concerns. Many colleges do not teach incoming students how to use the basics of their devices.
“Teenagers today are more informed and skilled on technology than ever before,” said Nick Schwien, who is the Fort Hays State University Tiger Media Network director. “Most students have a smartphone that they use multiple times a day. Students know how to use the technology at their fingertips. But, it’s also important for students to have a familiarity with technology they will use when in college or the workforce. Many of those do not use iPads alone.”
People have the knowledge to use the basics of technology, but looking at some fellow students, some of them do not know the basics of using a computer, which I find genuinely concerning and think will only get worse if Hays High switches to iPads. While I do not have much power in this decision to switch to iPads, I would strongly advise the district to rethink this switch and to communicate with students and get input from them, as it would affect them the most. I am a “Apple person,” as I have more than 10 of their products, including a MacBook and an iPad, and I think that switching to iPads is not a good idea.
27aarias@usd489.com
