Taking the lead in 21st century teaching and the effective use of technology in the classroom, Baylor announced that all students will be required to purchase or lease an iPad beginning fall of 2012. As the first phase of the iPad initiative the school has already purchased 110 of the tablets for teachers, librarians, and academic support staff so they can begin preparing for the introduction of the devices to students next year. Professional development throughout the coming year will focus on effective use of the iPad in the classroom.
2012-13 Textbook and E-Books (for iPads) Information
Click here for a spreadsheet that shows, for each of our courses, the format (print or electronic) of each textbook.
For E-Books
For those courses using e-books, teachers will explain to students how
to make those purchases during the first week of school. Our business
office and IT department are still exploring several options, and our
goal is to make those purchases as convenient as possible. So if the
spreadsheet above shows that a course has an E-book, please wait until school
begins.
For Textbooks
For those books that are still in printed form, you may begin purchasing
on MBS Direct beginning Monday, July 2, 2012 by clicking here; For Textbook Purchase or Buyback, click here
iPads FAQs: What You Need to Know for 2012-13
When can a student start using an iPad in school?
Beginning in the fall of 2011, teachers will permit students to use iPads for reading and note-taking, and teachers will provide electronic content (handouts and other photocopied materials) to students who have iPads. iPads will be optional during 2011-12 but mandatory beginning August 2012.
Must students purchase or lease their iPads through Baylor?
No. Families will have two options. They may purchase an iPad on their own or lease an iPad from the school. Baylor will not be selling iPads. Since the iPad is reasonably affordable, we think most families will probably buy their own. If families choose to purchase an iPad, they may want to consider the Apple online store which includes free engraving/personalization with the purchase of an iPad 2. Purchasing an iPad on your own will be a cheaper option than the lease due to insurance, interest, and administrative costs.
How much will it cost to purchase/lease an iPad?
The iPad 2 is available in a variety of prices and configurations. The configuration recommended for the students at this time is the 16 GB Wi-Fi only model, which retails at $499. Baylor highly recommends purchasing the three-year extended warranty, which raises the cost to $578. This is the only model that will be available through the Baylor lease program. Baylor will not be selling iPads.
When will we be able to begin leasing the iPad?
Leasing will be available for the 2012-2013 school year no later than June, 2012 for those families who have enrolled and paid their deposit.
Can a student use the iPad 1?
Students may use an iPad 1 at least through the 2012-13 school year. Baylor will reevaluate during the spring of 2013 to see if that policy can be extended another year. There are some hardware limitations to the iPad 1 (chiefly, no camera and a video format that is incompatible with secondary screens), but there are workarounds that should not be too inconvenient. Several other limitations of the iPad 1 have been corrected in Apple's most recent upgrade to the iPad operating system. Please note, however, that we do not advise families without iPads now to go out and purchase iPad 1 devices on the used market because they would be purchasing technology that is already somewhat outdated.
Can my child opt out of using the iPad?
Baylor is committed to using the iPad 2 to supplement and enhance the traditional classroom experience, and each student will be required to have an iPad 2 or a later version for class.
When will WiFi be available on campus?
All academic areas are scheduled to have WiFi access in August 2011.
Is there insurance in the lease agreement that covers damaged or stolen iPads?
No, insurance must be purchased separately by the responsible party. We strongly encourage families to purchase insurance if they buy an iPad. Insurance will be required for those choosing the lease option. Some home insurance policies can be extended to cover technology purchases, and separate policies can also be purchased to cover damaged, lost, or stolen devices.
If students already own an iPad or another tablet can they use it rather than leasing from the school?
We are committed to using the iPad 2 in the classroom for the 2012 school year. Those students who have the original iPad may experience some difficulty completing assignments that utilize features exclusive to the iPad 2. We will not be supporting other tablets.
Will my child still need a computer even if he/she has an iPad?
It is important to note that the iPad is not a replacement for a computer. Baylor will continue to provide access to computers on campus to support specific programs. Students may feel more comfortable completing some assignments off campus on a computer.
I have a PC at home, not a Mac; will the iPad work with my PC?
Yes, the iPad 2 requires the use of the iTunes program, which is a free download available for both PC and Mac.
Will next year's juniors and seniors have a one or two-year lease option? What happens if a student transfers to another school?
Leases will be renewed annually. If a student leases continuously for three consecutive years, he or she will have the option to own the iPad after the three years. Students who leave Baylor will be responsible for returning the iPad to the school and completing any financial obligations to the school.
Will students be able to keep their iPads over the summer?
Students who lease the iPads and have completed the enrollment contract and made the deposit for the next school year will be allowed to keep their iPads over the summer. Families who have not completed their contract and deposit will need to return their iPad for the summer.
Will students and parents be trained on using the iPad?
We will be working with students when school begins in the fall of 2012 to help them learn and manage their iPad2s. Optional student and parent training is anticipated to be available in the summer of 2012. (Note that students who bring iPads to school during the 2011-12 school year will have the opportunity to join informal discussions about the devices with other students and teachers.)
What apps will be required?
We are still determining what Apps will be required for fall of 2012. We will have a Baylor App Store available for students to buy required Apps. App costs will then be charged to their Baylor accounts, negating the need for students to have credit card information stored on their iPads for school-related App purchases. While we are deciding which Apps will be required, we are keeping in mind any associated costs with the Apps and will be able to provide information regarding the anticipated costs later this year.