Desktop or laptop for elementary/middle school student? (games, play, son)
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1. What year does a typical student need to start using a computer for assignments?
2. Is there any reason a desktop would not work well for a student during K-12 years, with emphasis on K-9?
I'm strongly leaning toward desktop for my kiddos as I don't want them hauling their computer around everywhere, desktops last longer, and no batteries to have to replace.
Our children's school has "optional" homework that could be done on either the computer or the iPad starting in Kindergarten (online math games and the like, where the school buys a subscription and the kids play it at home). I have provided a desktop for my kids, but honestly it is more convenient for them to do their homework on the iPad, because they can do it while eating dinner, or while waiting for their sibling to finish at Tae Kwon Do, or pretty much wherever there is wi-fi. One of my daughter's classmates just got a Kindle for this reason, but found that the homework apps don't work on the Kindle, so she still has to do her homework on her mom's computer, so watch out for that.
If you can only afford to get one thing though, then get the computer. All things can be done on the computer, even though it's less convenient, it's more of a guarantee that whatever your kids are assigned, that they will have access to it.
Laptops are more useful in middle and high school when they start having to take notes in class and do research.
For K-8 in most cases a Tablet or Netbook would work 99% of the time. (The Tablets do need to be IOS/Android compliant for alot of the apps to work, Many Amazon tablet don't work on all Apps).
Many schools that were issuing Laptops to Middle/High School students are also moving to Tablet/Netbook since most of the "Stuff" is in the cloud, and there is no real need for that much processing and storage power in the device anymore.
For K-8 in most cases a Tablet or Netbook would work 99% of the time. (The Tablets do need to be IOS/Android compliant for alot of the apps to work, Many Amazon tablet don't work on all Apps).
Many schools that were issuing Laptops to Middle/High School students are also moving to Tablet/Netbook since most of the "Stuff" is in the cloud, and there is no real need for that much processing and storage power in the device anymore.
Can you explain what kind of homework can be done on a Tablet or? Homework for me when I was in K-5 consisted of book reports, an occasional school report, typing & printing for science fair reports and displays. Tablets really aren't setup well to accomplish these kind of tasks very efficiently.
What kinds of stuff that students do is in the cloud?
Essentially, what do you see students using tablets for at home that is required homework for school?
Our children's school has "optional" homework that could be done on either the computer or the iPad starting in Kindergarten (online math games and the like, where the school buys a subscription and the kids play it at home). I have provided a desktop for my kids, but honestly it is more convenient for them to do their homework on the iPad, because they can do it while eating dinner, or while waiting for their sibling to finish at Tae Kwon Do, or pretty much wherever there is wi-fi. One of my daughter's classmates just got a Kindle for this reason, but found that the homework apps don't work on the Kindle, so she still has to do her homework on her mom's computer, so watch out for that.
If you can only afford to get one thing though, then get the computer. All things can be done on the computer, even though it's less convenient, it's more of a guarantee that whatever your kids are assigned, that they will have access to it.
Laptops are more useful in middle and high school when they start having to take notes in class and do research.
Just about all Tablet can have a separate keyboard "Attached" (Most are BlueTooth attached), "Word" Document can be created, Saved, Email'ed, Uploaded to the Student Portal.
Book can be read/downloaded as PDF (Or other Reader Pgms).
Printers can be WiFi attached to the device, or the Document can be saved in the "Cloud" and printed from a HardWired printer, or printed at school.
Student Portal (Website or App) Can be setup for homework (Multiple Choice Questions, Short Written answers) directly into the students space on there class page, so the teacher can grade them directly on them (Also on Multiple Choice can do Submit Grading so the grade is produced at the end of the assignment.
Just about anything that can be done "Local" on a laptop/desktop can be done "In the Cloud" (All the "Cloud" is a Computer/Storage in Data Center somewhere).
Both of our kids each have their own desktops that my husband built for them. They can go on the school programs (Dreambox, iReady, Tenmarks etc..)easily. I also downloaded one of the programs to my son's Kindle but he prefers the desktop at this point.
My son is a 3rd grader. He had an assignment to make a brochure that needed to include pictures on all sides and specific information. He also got more points if it was typed. I have a laptop so I let him use my laptop to type it up as their desktops don't have Word/powerpoint (which he also needed to use earlier in the year for another presentation he needed to do) at this point.
Our school district use google account for students. They share and edit document assignments there. I started my kids with full size desktop and keyboard. I made sure they know how to type correctly by 4th grade.
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