iPods are not compulsory and remains an option.
However, if you’re thinking of getting one, you should get one that can play video. A lot of good academic resources now integrate video. iPod Shuffles and the old iPod nano are severely handicapped by having no video-playback.
Here’s my breakdown:
iPod Nano
PROs: Slim and small (very cute), casing comes in many colours, video playback is good quality.
CONs: Small screen, small hard drive capacity.
iPod Classic
PROs: Bigger screen. Huge hard drive and so, can double as an external drive for back-up purposes.
CONs (compared to the Nano): Bulkier. More expensive.
iPod Touch
PROs: Awesome screen. Has wi-fi ability– so can surf the internet, retrieve email, Maps. Able to view notes exceptionally well.
CONs: The most expensive iPod. Small hard drive capacity, compared to the Classic: cannot be relied upon as an external back-up drive but the capacity is pretty substantial (especially now that it comes in a 32GB model).
There are presently 3 models available. All are available through the School.
i. 2.0 GHz White MacBook -entry level, processor speed is respectable, 80GB hard disk space.
PROs: Very good value (cheapest of the range).
CONs: Cannot burn DVDs (but can burn CDs and read CDs & DVDs).
ii. 2.2 GHz White MacBook-mid-range model, processor speed slightly higher, 120GB hard disk space.
PROs: Higher processor speed, bigger hard drive, can burn DVDs.
CONs: Higher price tag.
iii. 2.2 GHz Black MacBook-mid-range model, processor speed slightly higher (same as model ii), 160GB hard disk space.
PROs: Bigger hard drive compared to model (ii) but other specs are the same. Some prefer black to white.
CONs: Highest price tag.
RECOMMENDATION
First know this:
i. Increasing the MacBook’s RAM will make a bigger difference than the higher processor speed.
ii. Hard drives may be upgraded separately (e.g. you may increase the entry-level model hard drive to 250GB if you like buy purchasing the hard drive separately).
iii. The white MacBooks may be cleaned by using a non-ketone-based nail polish remover. (Note that ketone-based ones may damage the notebook!)
Therefore my recommendation is this:
Get the entry level MacBook (i.e. 2.0GHz White) if burning DVDs is not important to you. Otherwise, you should look at the 2.2 GHz models.
All three should do an OK job for desktop publishing/video-editing activities. Here, you would want to upgrade the RAM to the maximum (Corsair RAM is very reasonable at the moment at RM70 for 1GB and RM150 for 2GB RAM at Low Yat Plaza in town). Increasing your hard disk space is an option which can be done at any time and can be looked at later. Heavy-duty desktop publishing and video-editing are best done on a MacBook Pro or desktop (and really not necessary until perhaps when you get really serious later on.
New to the One to One learning environment and not sure what to do? Not to fret, we shall have a technology orientation session with all secondary school students when school restarts. See you then! Remember: bring your MacBooks, fully-charged!
MacBooks are currently available for purchase at both campuses. Please do not buy this elsewhere because: 1. They will work out to be more expensive (regardless of “special offers” and the like- we’ve checked extensively). Prices at stores will be 3999 or perhaps lower (with some offers), but you will end up spending far more than the RM4300 the package at school is going for. The school package includes all software that you will need to use in class which , as at 24 Dec ‘07, is valued at more than RM1000. Do note that we have moved on from our previous vendor, Machines. 2. Technical support and warranty issues are far more straight-forward and easier to resolve for machines bought through us. The deal we have at school has been specially packaged for Cempakans and has been subsidised, thus the attractive pricing. This has been made possible through volume purchasing and in order to ensure that we can continue offering these prices, we need your support to buy through us and create the volume. It really is a win-win situation, so do take full advantage of this offer. If you’re away on holiday, not to worry – you may purchase your MacBook when you come back to school.Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Cempakans!
Yes.
Our main focus is on effective delivery of teaching and learning at school. It is crucial that our teachers and students focus on this, and not bogged down by unnecessary “technical” hiccups: mainly (but not limited to) compatibility issues, viruses & spyware. So, first of all, we decided that we were going to stick to just one platform.
We decided on Apple because, from past experience, we found that this was a safer (in terms of network attacks – Macs are far less susceptible to viruses, etc) and more manageable platform. Furthermore, we were able to do amazing things right out of the box (ie with whatever came with the machines). Macs have historically been more innovative and been better with creative work, which are qualities that are important to us and how we’d like to bring up our students.
We have a long association with Apple (dating back to when we first opened our doors in 1983) and our technology team is more than adequately trained to provide the technical support (which any techie knows is key to the success of any technology programme).
Also, Macs are more fun 
For further information, please visit http://www.apple.com/education/whyapple
What is 1 to 1 Learning about?
The aims of the learning environment is detailed in the About page. The aim is really, about empowering each student in terms of their learning and self-expression. It is about equipping our students with 21st Century Literacy skills (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, self-organisation skills).
It is not about getting rid of textbooks altogether. Or is it about doing homework and examinations on-line, although some element of that is a by-product. There will be some game-playing and even surfing (inadvertently, of course) into sites of dubious nature. Whether we like it or not, this is all part and parcel of the world in which our children are growing up today. This learning environment is about guiding students and teaching them how to navigate the internet and its vast resources effectively and critically, and how to express themselves responsibly and safely.
Too often, adults underestimate what our children can do. They are capable of some really amazing things, if given the opportunity, exposure and empowerment. We’ve seen this year in and year out at the School.
We know what Cempakans are capable of. Our children are, quite literally, a selected group of children, right from entry into the school, which requires examinations and interview. It might also well be true that our children are privileged in their exposure to the world: they travel, meet people from all over and all have ready internet connectivity at home. This is further added by the interaction, learning and sharing in an environment of this collective exposure and experience at school.
We shall continue to create and provide a supportive culture where student growth and creativity can flourish. The new 1 to 1 learning environment will take Cempakans and Cempaka to a whole new level.
For further information regarding 1 to 1 Learning, visit: http://www.apple.com/education/k12/onetoone
If you’d like to subscribe to the podcast of this blog, just copy and paste the following URL into your podcatcher (eg iTunes).
http://www.talkr.com/app/cast_pods.app?feed_id=23242
If using iTunes, here is how you do this:
1. Launch iTunes.
2. In the iTunes menu bar, click on Advances>Subscribe to Podcasts
3. Copy and paste the URL above into it.
4. Go to the Podcasts section in your iTunes Library.
5. You will find that your subscription is now there. Choose entries to download!
Considering it is read using a computer-generated voice, the intonation is pretty impressive.
They are certainly not compulsory, but will prove to be extremely useful for 2 reasons:
1. They will allow students to listen to podcasts (which are an amazing educational resource) on the go, when their computers are not with them. Sure, they will also be listening to music and watching videos (if it’s a video iPod), but I don’t think that’s not a solid enough reason to avoid getting one.
2. The iPod is also a hard drive and will act as a good back-up device. If anything – this is reason enough to get one. (External hard drives of similar capacity are cheaper of course, but will not be able to play podcasts, display calendars, contact, notes, etc).
If parents wish, iPods may be ordered at the School – we have some which we can spare for about RM100.00 less than SRP. They’re te 30GB iPod Video model and brand new (unopened). My advice, if you’re thinking of getting one, is to get one with the largest capacity you’re willing to pay for.
Absolutely. To help with weight burden, we are adjusting the time-table to reduce the number of textbooks required in a day.
All students in Form 1, 2 and 4 at Cempaka Damansara must start the 2007 academic year with an Apple notebook. It does not necessarily have to be a MacBook. It could be an iBook, PowerBook or a MacBook Pro. But it does have to be Apple and run on Mac OS X.
This is an essential tool. Just like before with textbooks, the Apple notebook is a compulsory item for the first, second and fourth formers next year. The rest of the secondary school at Cempaka Damansara as well as all secondary school students at Cempaka Cheras and Cempaka Ladies’ College will follow suit in 2008.
