School requires more students to use iPads instead of books

After a successful year of implementing the country’s first iPad pilot program for second year high school students, Foundation University (FU) is expanding the program to cover Grades 4 to 6 and all high school levels.

Victor Vicente G. Sinco, FU vice president for finance and administration, made the announcement to parents during the meetings of the Parents-Teachers Association held separately for elementary and high school levels.

“We want your children to be globally competitive,” Sinco said.

FU is a 62-year-old nonstock, nonprofit and nonsectarian institution founded by Sinco’s grandfather, Vicente G. Sinco, eighth president of the University of the Philippines. It required second year students to have iPads in lieu of textbooks last June.

When parents threatened to look for other schools, FU braced for the worst.

“We thought enrollment would go down but we just had to go on because we had to show everyone that this program will work,” Sinco said. “To our surprise, enrollment actually went up.”

Based on current enrollment, about 350 Grades 4-6 pupils and high school students will be affected by the program. Parents will shoulder the cost of the iPad, estimated at P35,000.

Michelle Angana Tinio is starting to enjoy the wonders of information technology through her son Cyrus Paul, who belongs to the pioneer batch of the iPad program.

“I noticed that my son is eager to learn and his grades have improved,” Tinio told the Inquirer. And because part of the iPad program is to also orient the parents on how to use the device, Tinio uses the iPad on weekends.

“I go to places with Wi-Fi connection and I go on Facebook and send and receive my e-mail. Even my 74-year-old mother enjoys browsing on the iPad,” she said.

Fe Cena, a mother of four students enrolled at FU, said the iPad “makes research easier.” But the downside is with the printing of requirements because they have to send them to a computer with a printer by e-mail. They also cannot use a USB to transfer files.

Cena said her daughter, Alessandra, “has improved her presentations using iPad software like keynote.”