Chieftain October 2015

BROTHER RICE VOLUME 55, ISSUE 2 Chieftain OCTOBER 2015 Jury Still Out on the iPads Plenty of pluses, minuses with new program Oh, the iPad: “an innovative way of learning.” But define innovative. The definition of innovative means something that introduces new ideas. So, we could look at the term “innovative” with both positive and negative conotations, couldn’t we? As we are all aware, Brother Rice has made the transformation to an electronic school where we all have iPads. Two months into the school year, students and In a common scene this year, Mr. Sanders’ class is fully engaged in an iPad activity Charlie Beauregard Students, faculty adjusting in early stages By Jack Farrar and Kordell Smith Chieftain Staff In a world filled with technology, there are endless resources for learning at our disposal – be it a laptop, tablet, or teachers are adjusting to the change in smartphone. This year, Brother Rice has different ways. There is appreciation for the effort to improve the school; however, implemented iPads into the classroom and, in the very early stages, both stusome argue that the results of the new dents and staff are working to make the program have been negative. transition process as smooth and effecLast week, I overheard a conversative as possible. tion in my Theology class between three The iPads have been an idea for the students. They were discussing how school since the release of the first iPad reading on the iPads causes headaches. I about fi ve years ago, but it wasn’t until found this interesting because, earlier in last year that Mr. Birney, the school’s the school year, I experimented with why President, felt the student body and staff I felt abnormally wired. were ready for the technological shift. In the first two weeks of school, I had There have been many steps since then found myself going to bed much later to bring iPads into the curriculum for the than I did in any of my previous three 2015-16 school year. years of high school. I wondered if it may In August 2014, a group of 10-plus have been because of late-night hometeachers, along with Mr. Birney and work on the iPad. I found that using the Brother Segvich, took a trip to Silicon See BEAUREGARD on Page 2 B ROTHE R R I C E H I G H S C HO O L C H I E F TA I N PAGE 1 Valley, Calif., where they visited Apple headquarters and a school that had already implemented the iPads to learn more about the device and its uses in the classroom. Mr. Birney recalls that they knew from that trip, “We’re ready, we can do this.” The iPads themselves were distributed to faculty in March, to allow them to get accustomed to the devices and for professional development training. Also, prior to the first week of school, the teachers and staff spent a week in training to further develop their knowledge of the iPad for the school year. See ADJUSTING on Page 3 INSIDE Breaking News on the new Wednesday schedule See Page 8 O C T O B E R 2015