iPad or jetBook Color - what schools will choose?

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by slex

The JetBook, of course, as it uses e-ink and while some people are OK reading reading from LCD screens, most are not. I would personally find it somewhat annoying to be forced to use a device, which causes me a fair amount of discomfort, in the presence of an alternative that doesn't.

I agree. I don't want my kids spend hours for reading textbooks from LCD screen. I think parents must have a choice what type of platform to use for textbooks.
If San Diego school district purchae 20000 iPads for students I don't think they asked parents if they like this idea or not.

[X read X]

I have debated with friends about this quite a bit. I have one argument and i feel its a solid one. There is a level of distraction associated with any electronic used in schools. You need something that will assist students and not distract them.

If it is a device for long term reading, and utilizing of tools for assisting learning i feel the jetBook Color is the way to go.

If you are looking for playing videos and other media, go with a laptop ($300 or under).

IMHO i don't see any reason at all why a student should have an iPad. A much cheaper laptop performs all the same functions.

Why is it (iPad) even a consideration among schools?
1) Its the only option they think they have (huge marketing by Apple).
2) iPad is a status symbol, it has been spoken of as 'fashion' in many articles. As sad as it is some educators don't care about well-being of the students. They would rather be able to say 'oh we have iPads' then say 'oh our students are actually improving scores'.
3) They underestimate a students ability to distract themselves with ANYTHING that is not being directly used during class time with strong supervision.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by X read X

3) They underestimate a students ability to distract themselves with ANYTHING that is not being directly used during class time with strong supervision.

On this point, I agree. We had locked down Linux desktops and we still found ways to play around with it instead of doing schoolwork. And that's considering we had no internet access.

[anamardoll]

I'm personally frustrated with JetBook because I wanted to buy their reader but realized that the price they were advertising was for teachers only. I really feel like if they want market saturation in schools, they HAVE to get their reader into the hands of the parents, teachers, principals, politicians, etc. who make these purchasing decisions. You have to have familiarity in order to become a disciple of a product.

Most people don't want to take a chance on an unknown platform that they haven't personally held and touched, but $500 (iirc) for an eReader that does one thing -- color -- and does it possibly a bit poorly (I wanted the JetBook for a comic reader, but was distressed that the reviews talked about the color being very washed-out) is too much to expect for even most dedicated techies.

[Giggleton]

We are still a few years away from eink being all it needs to be for schools IMO. At least for early education anyway. Also the students are going to want to access everything.

[Barty]

I know the advantages of eink -- I have a kindle -- but to pose this question as if the iPad and the jetbook are interchangeable is very misleading. You can make arguments for the jetbook, but really it's hard to justify paying for not ready for prime time tech from a little known company vs the latest and best lcd display on a popular and proven platform with huge support and number of apps. Sorry, I would not buy the jetbook for myself, and I sure as heck would not recommend schools to do it. (I actually wouldn't recommend iPads to, either. The schools that can afford them are fine w/o them; those that can't have more serious problems that can't be fixed with technology)

[mod186k1]

Originally Posted by Barty

... but really it's hard to justify paying for not ready for prime time tech from a little known company vs the latest and best lcd display on a popular and proven platform with huge support and number of apps...

Yeah, you are right: and iPad3 could run fantastic 3d games too! You can also use it as powerfull lamp in case of black-out.

Seriously the question is: schools want to substituite the plain paper (because of, for example, the huge weight or for pratical reason) or they want sometingh more? I belive the answare to this question is propedeutical for the discussion

[Penforhire]

Laptops have become standard use in college. Is there some reason to think their flexible power is not useful in lower grades? I think we sell our children short if that approach to learning doesn't eventually make its way into grade school.

I'm not sure if tablets are the right answer but they do have a nice portable form factor. The length of essays and complxity of other content creation is significantly less in the lower grades so perhaps an on-screen keyboard is sufficient there. What they don't have, yet, is enough durability. Devices for kids have to be kid-proof.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

i understand there are 2 high schools in New York deploying JetBook Color next month . I do not have the names of the schools.

At this point in time from what I have seen the Ipad is more versatile versus the JetBook. JBC might to do very well at the High school or middle school level but at elementary not so much. The IPad is more flexible and can I think be used from 1st onwards. I see it already being used well at our local elementary school

It looks like one of this school is Brooklyn Technical High School in NYC
http://www.jetbookk12.com/jetbook-brooklyn/


Ectaco jetBook Color Educational eBook Reader gets deployed to Brooklyn Technical High School

March 21, 2012 - New York, NY

ECTACO, Inc. and E Ink Holdings partner to bridge the gap between students and eTextbooks with the jetBook Color, the only color E Ink educational eBook system developed specifically for schools. This new device is now being implemented into New York City's largest high school - Brooklyn Technical High School.

ECTACO, the preeminent handheld language translation company, has developed and distributed devices and linguistic software in over 200 languages since 1990. E Ink Holdings is the world's largest supplier electronic paper displays. A natural union of both companies occurred when ECTACO developed a dedicated eBook reader - ECTACO jetBook Color - which carries the highly regarded concept of "healthy reading" and features an E Ink Triton color ePaper display.

The jetBook Color was conceived by ECTACO to provide schools with benefits that cut costs and increases student productivity. In addition to being the only touchscreen color E Ink eReader in the world, it's preloaded with many academic tools and resources such as Oxford talking dictionaries and SAT prep courses; Math, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, and Biology references; graphing, accounting, and scientific calculators; multilingual talking translators; fluent Text To Speech for all books - a useful feature for students with dyslexia - and more. Most significantly, it enables schools to add their own content in a multitude of formats at no additional cost. This means that every eTextbook purchased can instantly be loaded to the jetBook Color, along with any notes, homework, and other reading materials. The revolutionary color ePaper display delivers a high-contrast, sunlight readable, low-power performance that further closes the digital divide between paper and electronic displays. This is the only eye friendly type of display developed exclusively for the education community.

Brooklyn Technical High School has a reputation of being at the forefront of progressive education. By using the jetBook Color in their classrooms they've continued the trend. Instead of lugging around suitcases of books, students will be equipped with units weighing just 1 pound and capable of storing every textbook for every class and more. Students will also have the ability of using the jetBook Color as a notebook where they can freely write on the screen using a supplied stylus that fits into the device. This methodology eliminates textbook defacement and allows students to study how they want without the fear of ruining or losing textbooks.

"With the tremendous success we've had in schools across Europe using the jetBook Color, we're glad we can do the same thing here in New York City", states David Lubinitsky, CEO, Ectaco, Inc. "And with Brooklyn Tech picking up the device we look forward to even more schools following the trend in making both student and teacher life easier and more successful."

[JSWolf]

I have to say, but Brooklyn Technical High School made the wrong choice. Between any eink reader and a New iPad, the New iPad is going to win hands down. It's a no-brainer. But it seems like the school boards is a no-brainer since they made the wrong choice.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have to say, but Brooklyn Technical High School made the wrong choice. Between any eink reader and a New iPad, the New iPad is going to win hands down. It's a no-brainer. But it seems like the school boards is a no-brainer since they made the wrong choice.

JSWolf, if you read from iPad for a long time you may have the same eyes as on your avatar


The jetBook Color is a lot better if you only want to read as the screen is a lot more like paper than the iPads screen and can be read in full sun and any other lit conditions. So I think this school made the right choice because they really care about their students.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by monkeyluis

Re: Teachers

Teachers teach to a test. All year that's all they do. I know this because I'm struggling with my son in 3rd grade right now. They don't teach to a child's interests or to truly understanding material. Not necessarily the teachers fault, but they could rise up and demand that schools get rid of these standardizing tests. Teachers unions and tenure are the bane of our educational system. Not all teachers are bad, and I think my son's current teacher could be a decent teacher. But all I ever here is FCAT FCAT FCAT. My son does not do well on standard tests like that, his mind wanders a lot. But get his attention with something interesting, or put a different spin on a subject in a fun and interesting way and you've got him hooked. My wife and I work with him at home a lot, as we should be..that's our job as parents, but I also trust these teachers who are with him for 8 hrs a day to teach him in a manner appropriate for learning, not transmission of content. I'm a trainer in the corporate world, so while adults and children do learn different, the basics about engagement are the same no matter the age.

Anyway, rant over. Sorry.

Just curious. Do you teach the same amount of students for the same amount of time and basically the same curriculum year in-year out for 8 months straight. Might be a bit difficult to individually teach each of 20+ students or several classes of 20+ students and come up with fresh approaches for any or all on a normal basis. And to be fair to the teachers a fresh approach would have to appeal to all students to satisfy all parents.

Helen

[mod186k1]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have to say, but Brooklyn Technical High School made the wrong choice. Between any eink reader and a New iPad, the New iPad is going to win hands down. It's a no-brainer. But it seems like the school boards is a no-brainer since they made the wrong choice.

Why? We see only Jetbook color, but It seems the eReader is only a piece in a complete infrastructure (more specialized software and more hardware) providing teaching support. But I see it only on some video and review. I would like to see how actually works.

Anyway I use JBC to deepen my knowledge for my job and, even if I bought it only for studying, I discover I like to read books when I am not busy (at home: I prefer use a smaller 6 inch to read epub or small PDF when I travel).
Honestly I don't think I am "no-brainer" and I know now I've done a good choice.
I consider JBC a full replacement of paper.

Another point of view: my wife has an iPad2: she enjoys much using it when we travel to go to work. She used to read newspaper and email with her iPad2. She never wanted read books on it: she consider that tablet a very comfortable ultra mobile PC. But just a PC.

[monkeyluis]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Just curious. Do you teach the same amount of students for the same amount of time and basically the same curriculum year in-year out for 8 months straight. Might be a bit difficult to individually teach each of 20+ students or several classes of 20+ students and come up with fresh approaches for any or all on a normal basis. And to be fair to the teachers a fresh approach would have to appeal to all students to satisfy all parents.

Helen

I'm a trainer in the corporate world & I have to adjust my teaching style to different types of adult learners. I have to adjust for a virtual environment as well & compete with other distractions to someone who is in another time zone. So I think I know what it's like.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Kris777

JSWolf, if you read from iPad for a long time you may have the same eyes as on your avatar


The jetBook Color is a lot better if you only want to read as the screen is a lot more like paper than the iPads screen and can be read in full sun and any other lit conditions. So I think this school made the right choice because they really care about their students.

The JBC is just too slow. It doesn't have as good a markup as some of the apps for the iPad. GoodReader blows away any eink reader for PDF reading/annotating. If the school needs something done that the iPad cannot do, they just hire someone to program it.

I know the iPad is not as good in direct sunlight, but it is better for web browsing to look stuff up when doing homework. Overall, the speed of the iPad is much better for a classroom environment.

Lots of kids use computers to do schoolwork and if they can do that, they can use an iPad.

One thing you never mention is the software. What about the JBC's software makes it better then an iPad?