Last year's parents protest

Teachers had difficulties monitoring online activities according to report

Students using IPads in school were able to switch from schoolwork to online gaming, shopping, or social media during class time, without the teacher's knowledge, according to expert review of the use if IPads at Ratoath College.

IPads in schools cause distraction among students, while teachers have difficulties monitoring online activities according to the review.

The study is the first in-depth review of the use of tablets in Irish schools, and may have implications for the use of tablets in schools across the country.

The school is to drop its iPad-only policy for First Year students following the presentation of an independent report,which recommended books should be reintroduced. 
The college was at the centre of controversy last summer as a group of parents campaigned against the school's policy that first year students must have an i Pad.
The independent digital review group's report recommended that first-year students should no longer be required to buy a iPad and that teaching and learning at the school should be based on a “blended approach” that involves textbooks and technology.

The review has also identified problems around affordability, teaching and learning, and student revision.

The study was discussed at an LMETB board meeting last night (Thursday) and the Board has said the review will be published when third parties have had an opportunity to comment on it.

RTE has reported that the study found "the majority of parents and teachers reported that monitoring iPad use in class was an ongoing challenge".

The study was carried out by a former school principal, Cora Dunne, Dr Ann Marcus-Quinn, who is a lecturer in Technical Communication and Instructional Design at UL, and by Dr Carl O Dalaigh, a former chief schools' inspector with the Department of Education.  

LMETB chairman, Cllr Nick Killian confirmed "the Draft Review of the Independent Working Group was considered in committee by the Board of LMETB at its scheduled meeting last night.

"As a matter of due process and fair procedures, third parties have been given the opportunity to comment on the draft review and that exercise has not yet been completed.

"As the matter was considered in committee I am not in a position to discuss the proceedings other than to say that we welcome the review and the executive will give careful consideration to the implementation of the recommendations in the final review. We will be publishing the final review in full once the third parties have had that opportunity to comment,” he said.