Persuasive Essay- Ipads in Kindergarten Essay Example for Free

Persuasive Essay- Ipads in Kindergarten Essay In 2011, ten years after Maine began issuing laptops to all seventh graders, the Auburn School System launched an initiative to provide an iPad 2 for each of its students entering kindergarten. At a cost of roughly $200,000- representing a 5% increase in the school budget (Opinions Divided†¦) some taxpayers were less than pleased- calling it a complete waste of money. But in Auburn- and schools around the country- trends are emerging and showing the iPad to be a powerful learning tool and a necessary investment in our children’s future. For over a decade, Maine has been at the forefront of integrating technology into public schools and there is no reason to stop now. Despite the high cost to institute this program, Auburn should continue to provide iPads to students entering kindergarten. Auburn is not alone in providing iPads to kindergarteners. In fact, kindergarten students in Maine, Tennessee, and South Carolina have received iPads to supplement their teacher’s instruction. While the iPad cannot replace the human interaction of a teacher, it is a great addition to the classroom, at a time when the teacher to student ratio keeps getting larger and larger. Laura Shaw, principal of Sherwood Heights School recently said, â€Å"When you have eighteen kids in the classroom and you see ten kids, hands raised up, the teacher does her best to get around. But sometimes with the iPads and certain apps the kids get immediate feedback. They know what theyve done is correct and they can move on, or they know Oh, I need to ask for help,† (Porter). For example, a child can play â€Å"Feed the Hippos Hot Peppers. † In this app the child counts aloud while feeding the hippo. The teacher can adjust the app difficulty to â€Å"count† or â€Å"add† peppers, depending on the child’s capabilities. When the child answers the problem correctly, the iPad responds with a round of applause; an immediate cue to the child that they were correct (Lemeshow). Initially, Auburn Schools split the children into two groups when first issuing the iPads in 2011. Half of the children received iPads during the first week of school, the other half received their iPads in mid-November; effectively creating a control group to gage learning. Although the study lasted just 9 weeks, the results were promising. When tested, students who received their iPads in the first week of school scored higher in 9 out of 10 areas, compared with children who did not. One area in particular really stood out: recognizing sounds and writing letters. Kindergartners with iPads gained 13. 72 points, compared to an 11. 58-point gain for students who did not have iPads. That difference is significant, said Mike Muir, the Multiple Pathways leader for Auburn schools (Auburn Report: iPads). When pupils use iPads, more learning does not seem like a far stretch. With 100’s of learning apps available for download, teachers are able to customize the iPad and tailor the lesson to the individual child’s needs. This way, advanced children can reach their highest potential without becoming bored while the rest of the class catches up. On the other side, if one or two children are struggling, the rest of the class can move on, while the child receives the help she needs. Sherwood Heights Elementary School kindergarten teacher Susan Lemeshow called the iPads â€Å"one of the most powerful teaching tools I’ve ever used. †¦ I can put her on one book, her on a different level book,† she said of two girls in her class. Pupils are doing the same lesson, â€Å"but at the level they need,† she said (Report Say Giving†¦). So what is the problem? Those who oppose the program site the cost- around $800 per student entering kindergarten- as a major issue and wonder if a kindergartener is responsible enough to handle such an expensive piece of equipment. Others worry children may not learn to read and write properly. Auburn hopes the high level of testing done in the beginning of the school year will line them up for educational grants to relieve taxpayers of the burden from having to foot the bill. At the end of the year, the school system will also be able to compare this year’s kindergarten to previous years, with hopes of even better results. Regarding concerns of the students learning to write, it is important for people to understand that children are not using the iPads all day. The use of iPads is balanced. Students are still using crayons, markers, and traditional books. They are still learning how to hold pencils or crayons, and how to write (3 Auburn Teachers†¦). The iPads are a â€Å"center-based† activity with the children using them in 15-minute increments 2 to 3 times per day. Each iPad has a protective case, and students are not allowed to bring them home (Lemeshow). Providing iPads to students as an educational tool is invaluable. With the iPads children have become excited about learning. â€Å"We are seeing high levels of student motivation, engagement and learning in the iPad classrooms,† said Sue Dorris, Principal of East Auburn School (NooNoo). Children born in today’s world grow up bombarded by technology in every aspect of their lives- except school- so an iPad as a learning tool is appealing to them. It really gets their attention and keeps them engaged. The results are more learning and better test scores. With technology always evolving, newer apps, and programs, the possibilities really are endless. Auburn’s plan is to purchase and iPad for each new pupil entering kindergarten. The iPad will stay with the student from kindergarten through 6th grade. With this plan Auburn hopes to have an iPad in the hands of every elementary student in the district by 2017. If every student is equipped with an iPad, the world of digital text books emerges- which could amount to huge savings. In this digital world, it is not really a question of if we can afford this; but more a question of if we can afford not to? Works Cited Lemeshow, Susan. Telephone interview. 27 Apr. 2012. NooNoo, Stephen, ed. â€Å"Kindergarten iPad Initiative Reveals Modest Literacy Gains. † T. H. E. Journal. 1105 Media, Inc. , 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. http://thejournal. com/? articles/? 2012/? 02/? 17/? kindergarten-ipad-initiative-reveals-modest-literacy-gains. aspx. Porter, Tim. â€Å"A School System in Maine Gives iPads to Kindergartners. † Voice of America. N. p. , 23 Nov. 2011. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. http://www. voanews. com/? learningenglish/? home/? education/? A-School-System-in-Maine-Gives-iPads-to-Kindergartners-134428658. html. Washuk, Bonnie. â€Å"Auburn Report: iPads Help Kindergartners’ Learn. † McClatchy Tribune Business News (Feb. 2012): n. pag. ProQuest Central K12. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. http://search. proquest. com/? docview/? 921559906? accountid=40168. -. â€Å"Opinions Divided Over iPads for Auburn Kindergartners. † Sun Journal [Lewiston, Maine] 8 Apr. 2011, Lewiston-Auburn ed. : n. pag. Sun Journal. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. http://www. sunjournal. com/? city/? story/? 1012022. -. â€Å"Report Says Giving iPads to Auburn Kindergartners Increases Test Scores. † Bangor Daily News 16 Feb. 2012: n. pag. BangorDailyNews. Com. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. http://bangordailynews. com/? 2012/? 02/? 16/? education/? report-says-giving-ipads-to-auburn-kindergartners-increases-test-scores/. -. â€Å"3 Auburn Teachers Give iPads High Grade. † Sun Journal [Lewiston, Me. ] 20 Oct. 2011.

John Grays Men from Mars and Women from Venus Essay -- John Gray Men

John Gray's "Men from Mars and Women from Venus" In his work "Men from Mars and Women from Venus", John Gray explored the intrinsic differences between men and women in a way that has helped millions of people to understand why relationships between the two sexes could be so frustrating. Gray was correct when he talked about women cherishing love, communication, beauty, and relationships. However, he oversimplified the gender differences between the two sexes. Though women appreciate the beauty in life and want to live with tranquility, they also corrupt by their desire for power, love for competition, and want for achievements. The premises of John Gray’s essay were set many years ago when all men lived on Mars and all women lived on Venus. Once they got together, they respected and enjoyed their differences--until one day when everybody woke up, completely forgetting that they had once came from different planets. Ever since, men mistakenly expected women to think, communicate, and react the way men do. Gray also believes that Venusians are more concerned with living together harmonically, communicably, and loving cooperation. Instead of building highways and tall buildings, they prefer building a Utopia. â€Å"Relationships are more important than work and technology† says Gray (523). Rather than developing new technology, they build up their relationships with others. On the other hand, Martians get their sense of self from achievement, usually focus on a goal, ...

Race Without Color Essay

In this article written by Jared Diamond entitled â€Å"Race Without Color†, he explains about the difference of race in humanity and how humans should not be classified that way because there are too many variations. Depending on how a person looks, they would be put into a certain race categories such as â€Å"African blacks,† â€Å"whites,† â€Å"Mongoloids,† â€Å"aboriginal Australians†, and â€Å"Khoisans.† However, this classification of humans only affect how we view others; it does not involve our senses or who we are as a person. This can be discriminating. Anthropologists believe that humans should not be classified into a particular race. There are other ways to group humans, such as natural selection, sexual preferences, and fingerprints. Diamond goes on to explain how confusion may come up in classifications. In the human race, people in different races are visibly different. This also holds true in the animal world. He gives the example of a common bird, the yellow-rumped warbler. The bird’s throat color in the west is yellow and in the east is white. They have different songs and environmental preferences yet have the same name. Racial classification for these two birds is simple; the color of their throat, song, and their environment. However, their differences in these areas lead to different varied offspring. Some traits in animals alternate because of natural selection. Natural selection has to do with the survival in a particular environment. For example the hare who is white to blend in with snow so that it is invisible to predators. As humans, we live all over the world in different areas and climates. We have traits brought out by natural selection to adapt to the area we live in. Our skin color, body type, height, and hair color all play a role in the environment we live in. Thus is why race is not always a good way to describe cultural differences in humans. If we were to classify the human race by this different criteria, it would produce different groupings. Racial classifications are not a good way to describe biological differences in humans. If we were to classify races by body chemistry, it would be different than races defined by the color of our skin. When it comes to skin color, it plays a role in the climate. People look a certain way in certain parts of the world so that they can survive in that particular environment. For example, someone with very light skin would not do well in an environment with a lot of sun. Other traits have to do with sexual selection are our hair, eye color, and other beauty traits play a role in sexual preference. In America today, we don’t dye or hair or change our appearance to survive. It’s to become more sexually attractive. Science does not play a part in racial classification, but the way our body reacts to someone does. There is another way to classify humans and that is by fingerprint. To do this, everyone with the same pattern would be grouped together. However, fingerprints have nothing to do with survival. Fingerprints also have nothing to do with sexual preferences. There is no real function to a person’s fingerprint. There are certain traits in humans that play a function such as the color of our skin for survival. Others have no function such as fingerprints. Particular traits play a role in sexual preference, such as eye color or hair color. Science does not play a role in racial classification, but attraction does. Our body can tell us if we are attracted to someone or not. People now are more varied in appearance. Now, it is unnecessary to rank people with many difference appearances into a racial classification.

Comparing The Station Twelve And Brave New World By Aldous...

In my report I have chosen to examine the four texts of ‘Station Eleven’ by Emily Mandel, ‘Brave New World’ by Aldous Huxley, ‘1984’ by George Orwell and ‘Harrison Bergeron’ by Kurt Vonnegut from the dystopian genre. Throughout these texts, I studied the two connections: the use of Shakespeare and the setting of a totalitarian government. The texts Station Eleven and Brave New World both use Shakespeare as a symbol of art and culture. In Station Eleven, Mandel uses this symbol to tell us how important art is to our lives. Despite the disease wiping out 99% of the world’s population, art managed to survive through it. Upon a performance of Midsummer Night s dream, an audience member exclaims â€Å"Thank you so much for this beautiful respite†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦Huxley shows us that art is a vital factor in our lives because it is a method of expressing ourselves and communicating our emotions. For example, by writing the books, the two authors Mandel and Huxley are doing exactly that communicating to us these messages. The books we read and music we listen to are all forms of ‘art’ and is something that we never doubt the presence of. Through the examination of this connection, the magnitude and greatness of art is made apparent; and also how we must appreciate it. This message has further relevance to me being a musician myself. The significance of it has allowed art forms like Beethoven, Shakespeare, and Picasso to be passed on through the long courses of our history, through war and peace, continuing to have an impact on our lives today. The other two texts 1984 and Harrison Bergeron both have a totalitarian government setting where a single party manipulates and operates everything of the citizens. But, the governments take different methods to achieve this. In 1984, many tools are utilized. This includes telescreens for constant surveillance, propaganda like â€Å"BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU† and threats such as ‘vaporization’ and physical torture. All these tools have the idea of implanting fear in common. Along with this implanted fear, the subjects are only given minimal knowledge, limiting their power to rebel. Through these methods, the