I think editorials such as the one under discussion are both wake-up calls, and evidence of the failure of tech leadership.
Two of the reasons iPads are bought en mass and distributed, often with less planning than the day’s hot lunch menu, is because the iPad is easy to understand and is sexy. Those qualities make it easy to talk about, and easy to drop-ship into classrooms.
So while it is fun to bash spontaneous iPad integrations, it should really be cause for some serious introspection from tech directors. So rather than trying to stop integrations, tech directors should be moving to the forefront of the integrations forcing the issues of teaching, learning, pedagogy, and yes, device management across the existing infrastructure.
We know that a significant amount of tech will appear regardless of the presence of district tech personnel in the decision-making. So think about this. Who, exactly, should the enthusiastic masses turn to when they want to integrate iPads? Especially when there is a donor or funding source at the ready.
Like it or not, the animosity between wide-eyed teachers and grounded tech directors is growing. And the iPad is simply a catalyst just as the Internet, the laptop and class websites have been in the past. The iPad is just more obvious.
Here is another article from THE Journal. For me, this kind of story is infinitely more helpful then an opinion piece that offers problems, but no solutions except to "Stop."
If "stop" is the message of tech leaders, then their days as leaders are numbered.
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