$4500 school bag is crammed with high-cost, high-tech gadgets - SMH

An interesting article from the SMH that highlights the sort of hi-tech gadgets many students now carry with them on a daily basis.

The 21st-century school bag is bursting with expensive, high-tech gadgets and some students are carrying up to $4500 worth of equipment each day.

Of particular relevance to the CTN project:

Mobile phones and expensive portable music players such as iPods are often standard items.

Garry Williams, principal of Holy Cross College at Ryde, said mobile phones and iPods were staple items for most of his students.

The article also discusses how some schools are moving towards an emphasis on using digital technologies:

Many used $3000 laptops as part of a 'technology enabled class' program, instead of exercise books and textbooks.

This is one to watch for in terms of mobile devices that can play audio (not to mention play video and browse the web using the built-in wireless!):

Both boys agree that the just-launched portable PlayStation game console, priced at $399, is top of their wish list and would be a welcome addition to their swag.

It's going to be very popular.

But this is not so good:

Mr Williams said that, because of the new technology, the school had to institute strict policies to prevent students from getting distracted during school time.

'We actively discourage students from bringing their iPods to school,' Mr Williams said.

'We confiscate them if [the students] use them during the day.'

But later in the article:

While some schools have set up strict management policies, there is a more relaxed approach at St Andrew's Cathedral School.

Year 10 student John Shoebridge, 15, said: "The teachers sometimes let you use your iPod during class if it's quiet study. I have a Creative MP3 player that cost $350. I also have a Nokia mobile phone where I pay $15 a week.

Rather than banning and confiscating these items, it makes more sense to develop policies on acceptable use and etiquette.

If schools really want to be enlightened, they could seek out educational uses for these devices that students obviously have a passion as a way of engaging them.

The NSW Parents and Citizens Association president Sharryn Brownlee showed great insight into the impact of high-tech gadgets on the role of teachers:

"Teachers have gone from being the fonts of all knowledge to being facilitators of knowledge," Ms Brownlee said of the electronic revolution.

Ms Brownlee also alludes to another emerging isssue - the digital divide:

"There can be a real stigma about what you bring to school. There can be resentment about the lack of equipment that they have."

The students interviewed were from private schools. Other demographics may not be so lucky.

Link: $4500 school bag is crammed with high-cost, high-tech gadgets - SMH