The Boston Globe has announced plans to use iPads as part of its Newspaper in Education program. A pilot initiative will see $65,000 in vacation donation funds from Globe subscribers pay for 75 iPads, plus projectors. 50 tablets will go to Boston Public Schools, while the remaining 25 will be assigned to Stoneham High School.
Each iPad will come with a digital subscription to the Globe, and teachers will be given onsite tutorials to help them integrate the technology. The pilot should run throughout the spring semester, after which teacher focus groups will be asked to help decide a future direction. In the past Newspaper in Education used a mix of print and digital subscriptions, but the iPad is said to be a way around the costs of producing and distributing print newspapers. Another issue is the availability of desktop and notebook computers, since there may be relatively few to spare at any given school.
