Someone said yes to one of my crazy ideas.

I am excited.

Happens a lot I know, but this has been a couple of weeks in the thinking and today I can talk about it.

I am always on the look out for ways to work creatively with a brand. I get the odd email from PR reps and business owners asking me to write about their products on my blog. Lots are great products, events or services but writing about them is boring for me AND for you and rarely do people take me up on any creative ideas I suggest...usually they just ignore me and actually, most just never even write back. 

But not this time. 

I had been reading some articles that indicated learning your way around the computer we use today is really a waste of time for kids at school entry level (Prep for Victoria) so fast is the technology moving, Kinder kids of today won't be using a mouse and clicking file/open/ gdrive/... in twenty years time.

They already swipe, use apps and most won't have a CD player when they leave home.

Popps' school teacher had mentioned they wanted IPads to use in the prep classroom.  As a public school, they have limited resources but they could see the potential of iPads as a teaching tool.

They also know much much more about teaching children and which games/apps are really of use to a child then me. I could tell you that Popps liked a game, but I can't really tell you the real benefit, if any, it gives her education wise.

So I replied to EA Mobile that I would love to talk about their products while in use at my daughters school. To do that they would need to gift an iPad filled with all of their games on it to my daughters school. Not to me, the school. I told them it was a public primary school and that's all. 

They said yes. 

Today the iPad arrived filled with games. I have had a couple of meetings with the principal and some teachers. They are pretty excited about this arrangement. It has meant they have had to set up an itunes account and start thinking about what that means. They are already listing the many ways students at different levels can benefit from access to an iPad.

The EA Mobile iPad will be used by Popps in the classroom as the teacher sees fit. Other children in the class will also use it for their own needs, dependent on their own independent learning plans. 

In three months the teacher will give me some feedback on how she found the games, any that were particular favourites, those that were used for learning and development or others that are used for rewards or in any other ways.

I am keeping this treasure for one day simply to take a little look at all the games options. Though I might need it for two, Immy has been hanging out with the Little Pet Shop Game in the moments when she can get it out of the hands of Mr H as he tries to beat his own score  in a soccer game. 

So thank you EA Mobile for being the first people willing or crazy enough to trust in your own product to do well and take up one of my crazy ideas. You have made a number of people rather happy.


What do you think of using iPads in the classroom?