The intent of the recent Mobile Learning Initiative at New Trier was to ease students’ work loads, but it proves to create some pesky problems that make it more inconvenient to use an iPad over a simple pencil and paper combination.

The first grievance was the $350 price tag. Multiple sophomore health classes required the purchase of an iPad, which is quite an investment for a single semester class.

Senior Yang Han has an iPad for her AP French class, but they don’t use it often enough to justify the cost, according to her.

One advantage of the iPad is the ability to carry textbooks without weighing down one’s backpack. Teachers can now ask students to bring books to class for use on homework and assignments. This maximizes class time and access to resources.

However, Junior Laura McCormick says that the inability to multi-task on the iPad makes switching back and forth from the textbook app to a calculator app a nuisance.

The Canvas app has been receiving critical feedback. Though it is useful for and checking and submitting assignments, students continue to experience crashes when doing so.

“It crashes all the time,” stated junior Kate Wall. Until the bug is fixed, this app will be a hassle to use in the classroom. Luckily, Canvas is responsive to such problems, and the issue is sure to be resolved.

The iPad case is bulky and its keyboard fails to function properly, according to junior Christine Kelly. “It seems like it weighs the same amount as two binders. Sometimes, the keys won’t work due to either lack of charging or function, and the digital touch-keyboard on the iPad is a pain to use,” Kelly said.

UPAD is handy for taking notes in class, but when it crashes, the entire document is lost and irretrievable. “It can malfunction a lot. One time it shut down on me, and I lost my document. I had to start all over again,” revealed junior Sarah Fahey.

Many classes benefit from the iPad technology, but in some instances, a glorified note-taking app doesn’t have much significance on the learning experiences of students.

“Sometimes the teachers try to be too technologically-savvy, but it just doesn’t work out,” said Han.

“Everything that we use [it] for is easier if you use a computer [or] if you use a computer or a notebook,” junior Sofia Porta commented.

The advanced technology isn’t always necessary. “Teachers use the iPad just to use [it]…sometimes the iPad is not as helpful for learning [as the more traditional methods],” noticed senior Megan Neuhaus.

Still, the highlights of iPads are appreciated by students and teachers alike. Kinetic Wellness Faculty Andy Milne uses the devices in his health classes. “I have nothing but praise for the iPad program,” said Milne.

As for the inconveniences, Christopher Johnson, the Director of Technology, assured that “there are always some challenges with the implementation of any large program.”