- Stay Connected
Follow us:
Should high school students have games on their iPads?
Ever since the introduction of the iPads to the high school, more and more students find themselves playing games from Apple's app store. Photo by Brian Wiegand
When Gull Lake High School was gifted their iPads, they were also given a specific set of usage rules. It didn’t take people very long to discover different ways to abuse their iPad privileges.
It’s hard to go even one class period without seeing a fellow classmate playing a round of Plague Inc, or checking in on their Clash of Clans account. So, the question that one must logically ask is: Should high school students be allowed to have games on their iPad?
Unfortunately for most teachers, I believe the answer is yes. When our iPads were given out, it was also explained that the higher purpose of using these iPads was to become efficient users of technology in today’s world.
That is, I think, a very noble intent. As society grows, technology becomes more advanced, and in most careers workers have to be fluent users of this advanced technology. It was good of the school to give us these iPads and give us the opportunity to grow in our technological fluency.
A large part of our youthful lives is the desire to be entertained by trivial things such as games. While iPads have great educational power, we are more intrigued and more willing to work with learning the dynamics of games.
Should high school students be allowed to have games on their iPads? Probably. Should they be playing them in class? Well, that’s an entirely different story.
By Brian Wiegand
Daniel Heidarisafa
February 4, 2013 at 2:46 pm
It’s a tradeoff. If there’s no games, nothing of entertainment on the iPad, then people will not bring them to class. People hate carrying around big books, and if people make the iPad a “Book” in that sense then simply nobody would use then and they’d be a waste.
Jerry
December 6, 2012 at 4:43 am
Young man, back when I went to Gull Lake High School (class of ’47) it wasn’t necessary to teach with these new tablet devices. Cell Phones didn’t exist and teachers were actually able to engage their students. I voted against adding these “tablets” to our schools and here’s why: Studies show that increased usage of both mobile devices and tablets in schools have contributed to plummeting test scores and increased drop out rates among students. Not only does it hurt a teachers ability to engage his or her students, it also undermines real social interaction between students, a key to any high school experience. In fact, young man, my granddaughter is constantly using her new “Droid” phone both in school and in the home and it appears to have completely cut her off from reality. Her grandmother and I can’t get a word out of her when she comes to visit and we feel as if she’s abandoned her actual life for this “virtual reality.”
You also indicate that having games on iPads is “Ok” but playing them in class is an “entirely different matter.” I would disagree. Having games on tablet devices is a guarantee that children will use them in class. My granddaughter tells me that almost every kid in her 9th grade class uses their iPad device to play games. Not only are the games on the iPads, they are CLEARLY used quite often. I think you should reevaluate your argument and repost this article. Thank you.