Detroit— It’s a computer-age world, and Mercy High School is right on top of it.
Beginning this fall, students at the Farmington Hills high school will begin using the Apple iPad and Google Apps technology as part of its staff’s teaching technique. The iPad will replace the HP tablet; for students who currently own a tablet, they will have the option to continue to use it or to purchase an iPad.
“The widespread adoption of the Apple iPad by thousands of schools across the country, and the relative maturity of the device, along with its platform and decrease in price, were key factors in the decision to transition to the iPad,” said Cheryl Delaney Kreger, president of Mercy High School.
The reaction has been positive, said Larry Baker, associate principal of operations, who led the review of Mercy’s educational technology program and was a key player in its implementation. “Several have commented that our decision is in synch with the current trends in technology: mobility, cloud computing, and touch screens.”
This is beneficial to both the students and teachers alike, he stressed. “Hundreds of thousands of apps for the iPad have potential advantage for education,” Baker said. “We are giving our staff an amazing toolkit that can be customized for their courses. We will reduce the weight of our girls’ book bags with a device whose battery charge will outlast a full academic day.
“In addition, we are placing a very versatile and powerful tool in our students’ hands at a greatly reduced cost relative to the laptop computer we have used in the past,” he said.
Using the Apple iPad has its advantages, including falling more in line with the school’s usage than the current HP tablet computer, and the accommodation of the school’s Wi-Fi system to the current tablet PC’s and the iPad.
The incoming Class of 2016 will be required to purchase a preformatted Mercy iPad. The specific model with warranties and applications is still being determined. All teachers will be provided with an iPad and maintain their HP tablet, and will receive specialized training and be ready to maximize the potential of the iPad once the new school year begins.
Students who wish to switch to the iPad will be offered a buy back discount on their current HP laptop toward the purchase of an iPad. Mercy will support a “mixed environment” of iPads and HP tablets for at least three academic years.
The approximate cost of an iPad would be $500-600 before accessories.
Jacqueline LaPres, a junior, said, “Since I will be a senior next year, I believe I will be sticking with my HP tablet mainly because of financial reasons, although I would love to switch to the iPad! I think it is a lot easier to carry around and more user-friendly.”
“I am looking very forward to the switch to Apple technology,” she said. “ I love the apps available on the iPad. They are great to use in class and on homework, especially in AP Chemistry when I have to visualize molecules. I have found nothing that compares to the educational tools available on the iPad.”
LaPres is aware of the many benefits of the iPad: “For example, learning will be more hands on and easier to access. I think this switch was a great decision.”
Sarah Philo, a senior, said, “One benefit I can see coming out of the new Mercy 2.0 Technology Plan is, because iPads are less likely to malfunction and obtain viruses, students will be more willing to use them.
“I was fortunate enough to test an iPad for the school and I found it much easier to log into the network and remain in the network without any problems,” she added. “I also think that they will be a much better study tool as many apps available on the iPad are extremely integrated with each other and easy to use. Also, there are many apps available specific for school use that I think will be essential to the students.
“I would definitely use the iPad, and I have used my tablet over my past three-and-a-half years at Mercy. However, I think I would prefer using an iPad in the classroom because, like I said before, it is less likely to malfunction,” said Philo.
Certainly, teaching methods have changed quite a bit from the days of chalkboards and erasers, when the Sisters of Mercy opened Our Lady of Mercy High School in 1945 at Outer Drive and Southfield roads in Detroit.
“We are very excited about all of these changes and even the challenges they bring,” said Kreger. “Many of the details are still in process, but we expect our ‘reboot’ to benefit all students regardless of device.”
For more information about Mercy High School, visit mhsmi.org.
