Yes, you read correctly and l know there will be some raised eyebrows, but let me explain.

Our school has recently become a part of the Victorian iPad Trial in Melbourne, Australia. We currently have up to 140 devices on a 1:1 program with our Years 4 & 5 students. They have access to the devices 24/7 and so far, the majority of the experience has been extremely positive.

As educators, one of our biggest priorities is keeping our children safe. While I used to be a bit skeptical, a 1:1 program provides the best opportunity for our students to learn the positive and negative aspects of technology. It provides our students with the chance to experience the power of the device, but also, and more importantly, the opportunity to guide them through what is a daunting new world.

In a real partnership with parents, primary/elementary schools have a chance at helping students to form responsible and safe habits when using technology, as well as empowering them to know what to do if something is not going as they would like. In my opinion, once you hit your teens, it is too late to start forming these habits.

I recently attended a Cybersafety information evening at my son’s school, presented by a friend who is a police officer and has worked in this specific area. I encourage all educators to attend one of these sessions run by a real officer with real scenarios. While I was aware of many of the issues, there were some that were real eye-openers, which also reiterated to me what an important responsibility we have when encouraging our students to utilise this technology.

He indicated one of the most difficult issues to control is the way in which adolescents are using the technology to share images. In saying that, imagine having to deal with the issues an in-built camera on the iPad will pose for schools? One silly photo taken and emailed, or uploaded to Facebook or YouTube = a digital tatoo for life!

While I sat in the presentation, confident the weekly sessions our school runs on Cybersaftey and the focus we have placed on informing our students and parents on their responsibilities, I was encouraged by the lack of a camera in the iPad. There are a number of ways students and teachers can share images for school work which can be accessed and used on the iPad, but the fact there is no camera immediately available on the device is was rather comforting.

Many schools utilising the in-built cameras on iPhones and iPods at school no doubt find them to be a welcome addition. But many of these devices are held by schools and returned at the end of the day. I would be interested to hear of any schools allowing students to have possession of such a device on a 24/7 basis and how they are managing them.

So, of course I see the benefits of an in-built camera in the iPad, but I encourage educators to stop and think of the implications it could have for the use of this device in schools. I think it is a topic worth reflecting on.

Have you considered the implications this feature could have on the students at your school?