30 pupils at a London secondary school have been supplied with Apple's iconic iPhone in the first project of its kind in the country. The pupils were selected based on their submission of essays outlining how they felt the iPhone would aid their education.
Girls in years 7 to 11 at Gumley House Convent School in Hounslow, will use the phones in class over the next 7 months, as part of a trial to understand how mobile devices can be used to facilitate learning.
The trial is the result of a two-year research project based on the use of technology in a learning environment carried out by Professor Michael Gibson, an education expert.
Brentford City Learning Centre (CLC) partnered with Academia, a provider of technology solutions, to implement the Apple iPhone roll-out.
"The iPhone is currently the best in its market, and with its 3G internet connectivity, pupils will have the web to hand for any learning requirement," Mark McCormack, Apple business director at Academia enthused.
"The girls will have access to thousands of different applications to aid learning, while also bringing an element of fun to the classroom."
Gumley House Convent School was selected after a competition to design the classroom of the future revealed a high interest in technology amongst pupils.
Gumley House Convent School bills itself as: "a school that knows where it is going, a school that's proud of where it has been."
The iPhones, on pay-as-you-go accounts with O2, will give pupils access to a range of potentially useful and educational applications and resources including Periodic, which allows access to the periodic table and the use of the calendar and tasks for personal planning.
The use of iPhones in the classroom has already attracted positive feedback from both school staff and pupils.
"The girls are already downloading applications for document management, language translations and anatomy study. We are offering monthly prizes for the pupil who can find the most creative use of apps for learning," Stephen Byrne, assistant head teacher at Gumley House said.
"This is all part of Gumley’s commitment to being at the forefront of technology in education, and we are hoping it will lead to the ability to easily produce blogs, podcasts and DVD presentations."
"It’s all about embracing the technology as opposed to outlawing it. We are anticipating this will minimise the ‘texting-under-the-desk’ culture that exists in so many schools and instead encourage pupils to use their mobile as an academic aid."
Emma Hardy, a Year 10 pupil at Gumley House added:
"I’ve really enjoyed having the iPhone in this first week. I’m taking my time deciding what to spend the 15 voucher on as I want to make sure I get the right applications. So far I’ve downloaded some free ones that have already come in useful at school."
"I’ve been using Quick Graph for Maths, and periodic table applications for Chemistry. I’ve also downloaded a tube map application that really helps me get from A to B!"
Last month, Macworld reported on a group of Bolton students who each received a 8 GB iPod touch in a 250,000 tech drive.
Headteacher Showk Badat of the Essa Academy in Great Lever, told the Bolton News website, the addition of iPods would help "secure outstanding GCSE results," and the school recently celebrated its best GCSE results ever.
"The iPod touch will bring equality. Every child no matter what their background will have access to life changing resources. We believe that all can have success," Showk Badat insisted.
"To do this we need to provide everybody with the best resources possible and through this, standards will rise."
Apple offers iTunes U, part of the iTunes Store, which features free lectures, language lessons , audiobooks and more.
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