Australian college gives out 11,000 iPads to staff, students
updated 01:26 am EST, Thu December 20, 2012
iPads used as lynchpin of new classroom integration technique development
Joining several other Australian schools, the University of Western Sydney will distribute 11,000 iPads to all faculty and entering Freshman class. The iPads will be used to renovate the curriculum, unify it across six campuses, and give the students better study opportunities and a "blended learning model."
"With digital technology revolutionizing how we connect and interact with the world, university study should be no different," said Kerri-Lee Krause, pro vice-chancellor of education at the University of Western Sydney. Krause said the iPads would blend traditional lectures with interactive apps to create a more hands-on learning environment.
"Mobile technologies will be a key part of this strategy. We want to support our academic staff to make the most of iPads and custom-designed apps in class so that, even in the largest lecture theatre, students have access to just-for-me, just-in-time interactive learning experiences," Krause added.
Earlier this fall, St. Andrew's Cathedral School in central Sydney required parents to puchase iPads for enrolling seventh- through tenth-graders. Officials claim that as e-book textbook prices fall, the savings on textbooks alone would offset the price of the iPad. The wave of Australian adoptions comes shortly after Apple launched the volume purchase program, allowing bulk purchases of apps with a savings of up to 20 percent if bought in large quantities.
