Friday’s iPad rollout was fantastic — thank you to the RISD iTeam, RLA department, Jen Yon for organizing a seamless process, and Jennifer Moore for assisting with password resets and device distribution. Please remember to purchase you iPad insurance to protect your student’s device.
The decision to have iPads was made after careful review by our instructional and technology teams, with a focus on providing students with a more robust, flexible, and engaging digital learning experience. iPads offer several advantages over Chromebooks that better align with the evolving needs of our learners and our instructional goals.
Why the Switch?
Greater Versatility: iPads combine the power of a computer with the portability and touch interface of a tablet. Students can type essays, annotate PDFs, create multimedia projects, and interact with digital content using Logitech Crayon and touchscreen functionality—all on one device.
Enhanced Creativity Tools: With access to apps like Keynote, iMovie, GarageBand, and Pages, students have a wide range of creative tools at their fingertips for presentations, video projects, music composition, and more. These tools support deeper engagement and personalized expression.
Better Integration with Learning Platforms: iPads support all major learning platforms and tools, including Google Workspace, Schoology, and Microsoft Office, while also enabling access to high-quality educational apps specifically designed for iOS.
Improved Accessibility and Ease of Use: Apple’s iPad offers industry-leading accessibility features that support diverse learning needs, including voice dictation, text-to-speech, magnification, and guided access. The intuitive interface also reduces learning curves and technical issues.
Longer Device Lifespan: iPad hardware receives consistent software updates (application and security) and hardware will last longer (fewer refreshes) than comparable Chromebook models, ensuring a longer usable life.
