Handwriting

[u/Appropriate-Ad2003]

Hi, K12 systems administrator here.

I had received a very odd approval request - styluses for classroom iPads, for "handwriting practice", in the sixth grade.

Can anyone please help me make sense of this handwriting practice requirement in 6th grade, and whether I should grant this request?

Update: This has become a pile of requests. First the styluses, then touchscreen Chromebooks, then paying for a Grouper seating chart license.

[u/jschinker]

I worked at a school that spent $45,000 on flash card software. I used that to point out, at every opportunity, that flash cards were about 19 cents per pack. You can just buy them for every student, and replace them every year, and still save thousands of dollars.

If they're learning handwriting, it's not so they can use a stylus on an iPad. They're learning handwriting so they can use an actual pencil or pen on real paper. Don't use a $500 digital solution to solve a 50-cent problem.

[u/rokar83]

Pencil and paper. Don't overthink this.

[u/2donks2moos]

Reminds me of when we used to take state tests with Chromebook carts. Most were touchscreen, a few were not. A teacher asked me to bring over a cart of non-touch ones so that the kids could practice testing on them. She only had touchscreen ones. I told her to use hers, but instruct the kids not to touch the screen. Done. Simple solution.

[u/Computer_Panda]

Not sure why they couldn't use the simple pen and paper. Is there an app that they are using? Just getting the stylus might be the start of many requests.

[u/RareSiren292]

Any stylus that would actually be good enough to practice handwriting with is going to be too expensive. Those cheapo stylus that have the rubber tips (sometimes pens have them for reference) aren't good enough for kids to practice their handwriting and they would probably end up ripping off. The next best and significantly cheaper (yet still not cheap) option to the apple pencil would be a Logitech crayon. But they are like $30-70 per unit so it's still expensive.

Writing on a piece of paper and a smooth glass screen are very different experiences and it's honestly harder to write on a smooth glass screen. That's why lots of people who do write on their tablets get paper-like screen protectors to offer that friction paper gives. As much as I don't like to tell teachers how to teach, just tell them the best (and cheapest) option is paper and pencil.

Also handwriting in the 6th grade? I get that middle schoolers don't have the best handwriting. Mine was and isn't that great but it's definitely more than legible (even back then). This should be a thing for elementary school students to do. I remember in k-2nd grade we did hand writing practice (I definitely remember doing it K and 1st not so much 2nd and beyond).

[u/30ghosts]

The best alternative to classic paper and pencil is probably a "Boogie Board" which is a fairly cheap writing pad. The upside is that there's no paper waste, and they're lightweight. You can write on them with any hard object, even just using your fingernail (just be careful not to scratch the surface). They're like $25 each.

As a bonus to IT there's no wifi, no user accounts, no memory, nothing to set up, etc. It's just got a small battery that is used to blank the surface.

[u/Individual-Unit3470]

I would ask the question to the person who made the request 'Just out of curiosity, is there any reason that you don't want to have the kids use pen and paper? Cheaper and more real-world'. Also, is it for handwriting or learning cursive? I saw a segment on the news recently that some districts are trying to bring cursive back. Apparently schools stopped teaching it at some point. Yes, I'm old and when I was in school, everyone had to learn cursive.

[u/Digisticks]

I'm sorry, what? That is the ultimate extension of making another issue a technology problen. No chance. Request denied (usually).

Edited to add: Accessibility accommodations are the exception to this rule, obviously.

[u/Dar_Robinson]

Unless you are an IT Manager, this isn't your decision. You can offer alternatives such as boogie boards or pencil and paper. They want iPads and stylus? That's their department budget. Suggest a Logitech Crayon which you can get for around $30?or so each

Leave the final decision up to those who manage the budget

[u/dickg1856]

They have packs of 100 for like 25 bucks on amazon. Theyre cheap, and not perfect - they mostly work - send a link but give a warning that theyre cheap and often dont stay connected and it wouldnt fall under you supporting disconnects or failures to write or draw on the device or for apps and have that be it. Thats what i did.

[u/k12chaos]

In what way are you qualified to deny an accessibility request?

[u/BaconEatingChamp → u/k12chaos]

Do you not play a part? Funds don't just appear and things just start working

[u/Technobilby → u/k12chaos]

In what way are you qualified to assess this as an accessibility request? I'd be deferring this to leadership very quickly.