Opinion: The Introduction of Ipads

In the 2024-2025 school year, Waukee Northwest High School switched from MacBooks to iPads, and opinions differ on the change. 

On August 23, 2024, in advisory, Waukee Northwest students officially received brand new iPads instead of starting the school year with their pre-existing computers.  The change to iPads has been an eventful shift this school year for several Waukee Northwest High School students. Leaving the burning question in many Northwest High School students’ minds: why switch? As it turns out, there are many reasons. 

The Waukee School District’s Executive Director of Communications, Kayla Choate, summarized, “The reasons include longevity. iPads are much more durable and long-lasting. They have a significantly lower breakage rate than MacBooks. Our tech team was constantly fixing and replacing MacBooks, so iPads will be able to last longer.”

Waukee school district superiors value longevity, hence the switch in the 2024-2025 school year. However, some Waukee Northwest High School students also have opinions and queries on the switch, especially regarding the switch school-wide. 

Waukee Northwest High School Junior Ryker Haas stated, “If they are really that good, why aren’t the school board members using the iPads they voted for? Why aren’t they using the iPads that they preach?”

If students are led to believe that iPads have superior functions and longevity, then why are the Northwest High School teachers not using them? This poses a very strong question, especially regarding what other benefits and advantages the iPads provide and why only students benefit from them.

Choate stated, “Security was a really big thing. IPads provide better, more enhanced and superior security. They can better prevent security threats, and the IT team can more efficiently manage updates. They can do mass updates to all the devices in the district.”

IPad security is clearly a value for the Waukee Community School District. However, the change has led some students to wonder if this newfound security will limit or benefit Northwest students’ academic performance.

 Northwest Junior Tessa Battani said, “[The iPads] don’t work half the time, the security software causes a launch error, and the teachers have to send the link for the assignments. They are such a hassle!”

Additionally, this decision impacts not only current Waukee Northwest high school students’ learning but also future students in the Waukee school district elementary and middle school buildings who are currently using and learning off of iPads.

Waukee Community School’s Director of Teaching and Learning, Charles Folsom, said, “Our kindergarteners have an iPad through 12th grade. Over the course of our time, kids are going to be so used to utilizing them and know how to best use the device for their needs.”

However, some current Northwest students still struggle with the change, especially those later in their high school years. Not only has this change caught students off guard, but for some Northwest seniors, it has been a difficult adjustment to make in their last year.

Waukee Northwest Senior Ella Rinken reflected, “I have to do work where I have to write essays and paragraphs, and so I feel like it was a huge adjustment for me my senior year.”

Overall, Waukee Northwest students, teachers and executives’ opinions aside, the decision was made. While opinions may change, the iPads are here to stay in Waukee schools.