iPads... for kindergartners?

A Maine school district will spend $200,000 on 285 iPad 2s for its kindergarten classes. Coolest education idea ever, or big waste of money?

To the envy of adults everywhere, kindergartners in Auburn, Maine will get iPad 2s as part of an educational pilot program.
(Image credit: CC BY: Toca Boca)

Shoppers looking to snag a new iPad 2 are still facing shortages in stores, but for some families in Maine, getting a hold of the hot Apple device is now child's play. Last week, the school district in Auburn, Maine, approved a $200,000 pilot program to buy 285 iPad 2 tablets for its kindergartners. "What we're seeing is that this is an essential tool — even more important than a book," says school superintendent Tom Morrill, as quoted at The Huffington Post. It's a learning tool they need to have." Morrill says he will try to get grants and donations to fund the program, and only use public money if necessary. Some kids will start getting their iPads in May, with a complete rollout expected this fall. But is the iPad 2 really a smart buy for 5-year-olds?

Yes, this can really help the kids: The kindergarten classes in Auburn just became "the coolest in the country," says Michael Grothaus at The Unofficial Apple Weblog, but the school board approved this program for legitimate educational reasons. Teachers noticed that children who used iPad apps more successfully learned the alphabet. This technology could significantly boost literacy rates.

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