(Pad from Iconbug.com)

I managed to land in an upscale suburb for the day when the iPad tech person arrived to help students set up their devices. Students can rent, rent to own, or bring their own iPads. Last year, those students who rent or rent to own had access to the App Store, creating a large traffic jam of gaming, as students walked through the halls with iPads blocking their view. Sometimes they would set the date ahead on their iPads so they could get more cars for a favorite game. That led to occasional havoc with district programs and mail.

The App Store has been shut, at least for renters. Those with their own iPads were told that school rules prohibit playing games on the premises. I watched various students smirk at that information.

Games will be played, if fewer than last year. Consequences will be dealt out to students who cannot keep those games stashed for later. Education will trundle along as books are replaced by software and students adapt to a less paper-laden life.

We can’t put the technogenie back in the bottle. I wrote about my own recent problems with the worm game a few weeks back. No small part of today’s cyber-challenge rests in the fact that many adolescents are faster and better with their devices than the people in charge of those devices. I’m betting the renters will have games. I can already think of one way to add a few games, admittedly less easy and elegant than a quick trip to the App Store. Once you give kids access to the internet, the game to add games is over.

So what can be done? My latest tip applies to more than iPads and the technobeasts they spawn. Walk the aisles. Walk the aisles regularly and walk them often. Set up your desk so you can see screens but also be sure students sense that you may turn up at their elbow at any time. These strolls prevent chatting, note passing, texting, and other distractions, while keeping discipline. You might want to count steps, adding these trips through the classroom to your fitness routine.

Eduhonesty: I have to admit I was entertained by the idea of students advancing the date on their iPads to get more cars to play their game. I wonder how many months or years worth of cars were created. Were some students living in the year 2020?

This post also seems ironic. I’ve spent nearly two hours today playing my favorite. game. But, fortunately, I don’t have to get me ready to go to college.