At the start of this school year, restrictions were implemented on the NHS student iPads. The App Store was deleted, and a new app portal was added. The new app store is a list of verified apps that NHS students can download that have been approved by administrators.
“Taking away the app store creates a system where everyone has to use the app portal now,” Technology Instructional Coach Christy Steffen said.
Some websites on the schools wifi have also been blocked from use.
“We have a filter, and the filter has certain criteria. If a website is labeled adult or has an unmoderated forum or anything like that, then It’s automatically blocked.” Steffen said.
If a website isn’t harmful and could potentially be beneficial for students and teacher, then changes can be made. This includes allowing the site for student use.
“As teachers and students find blocked websites that they need… they can request for it to be unblocked.” Steffen said.
These restrictions have drastically changed students performances in class which many teachers have agreed on.
“Attention is much better. My homework completion is better. My students are actually working on it when I give them time to.” Econ teacher Debra Marcum said.
Many teachers stated that the restrictions were due to a survey that all the teachers took.
“[The administration] did a teacher survey, asked us what should be improved. Overwhelming, the teachers wanted to get rid of the distractions on the iPad. That was the driving force.” Marcum said.
iPad use in general affects different classes in different ways. Depending on a class’s curriculum and size, students may have more or less leeway to use the iPads as a distraction. For instance, a class with less students has more opportunity to become indulged with the lesson. Whereas a much larger class has more ability to stray away from the lesson.
“I do see less distraction, and I get more eye contact from the student’s,” English teacher John McKinney said.
Although the restrictions have lead to many positive results, negative consequences, such as technology issues, are also apparent. In addition to difficulty with the app portal, another effect of the restrictions is teachers’ avoidance of certain apps because of their lessened accessibility.
“I know there was a couple of apps that I’ve used that aren’t on there anymore. I just adapt to it.” Marcum said.
Additionally, students often struggle with websites and apps.
“There are times when students need access to something academic. Some of the restrictions, whether it be website or app restrictions, would be helpful for them to have access to it.” McKinney said.
While the majority of teachers have mostly positive things to say about the restrictions, some of them are finding that students are simply shifting to other distractions.
“Yes, they’re paying attention more, but I’m seeing a lot of people sleep. They used to stay up during class to play games, but since they can’t do that, they sleep or do other things.” senior Tyler Gonzalez said.
It seems that students will drift to different things if one is taken away.
“It makes getting apps very inconvenient and the web filter outside of school makes websites load very slow when you’re on your own wifi.” sophomore Brayden Rainey said.
The technology itself is a big factor in the new restrictions, causing many problems for highly needed every class day things.
“When I’m trying to do work and need to look something up to better understand it, the school has most websites blocked.” sophomore Reilly Roberts said.
Many students use the iPads as an easy way to get information for papers, presentations, and homework assignments. The problems students have on the schools wifi is already a substantial amount. When off the school’s wifi and at home, most of the time those problems get worse. Including worse loading time, approved apps not working, and apps not deleting.
While students may not favor the restrictions, they can’t deny the overwhelming teacher testimony of the restrictions’ positive impacts.
It’s like when you were a child and you had to take that nasty cherry flavored cough medicine. You hated it, but it was to benefit you. Maybe the restrictions are like cherry flavored cough syrup.