新西兰英语 461 Technology in schools

 　　Orewa High School in Auckland expects all year 9 students next year to have their own iPad, netbook or other mobile¹ device² like a Smart phone. The school says the most suitable is the iPad which costs between $800 and $1,000. The reason that the school wants students to have their own device is that there are not enough computers in the school for everybody.

　　Although Orewa is the first high school to want students to have their own electronic device, the school thinks that within five years most schools will be copying them. Orewa is a decile 9 school. The highest decile is 10 and that means many people living in that area are quite wealthy. The lowest decile is 1. People in that area have low pay.

　　Some private schools expect their students to have a laptop computer but Orewa is not a private school. It is a state school. Orewa says the problem with laptops is that their battery life is short whereas³ the battery of an iPad will last all day. Laptops also create a barrier between the student and the teacher – it is hard for the teacher to see what the students are doing. The iPad has many applications which students could use.

　　In today’s world, technology is important and students need to access information from the internet and record their work on their own device. This will also make it easier for students to share their learning⁴ with other students. The school says they are preparing students for work in a changing world.

　　Vocabulary

　　device – a piece of equipment used for a special purpose

　　mobile – can move, portable⁵

　　decile – means each group of 10%. Decile 10 is the top 10% and decile 10 is the bottom 10%. Low decile schools get more funding from the government.

　　barrier – like a fence

　　applications – apps. Different programs

　　access – get

　　Questions

　　1. If all schools will expect their students to have an iPad or something similar in the future, what will happen to students whose parents do not have enough money to buy one?

　　2. Is the iPad the best choice?

　　3. Why is the iPad so expensive

　　4. Do you think students in the future will be able to write by hand?

　　5. Do you think many students know more about these devices⁶ than their teachers do?

　　6. What are some of the advantage and disadvantages of expecting all students to have their own personal electronic device?

1 mobile   

adj.可移动的，易变的，机动的；n.运动物体

参考例句：

• The old lady sits on a mobile chair every morning.那位老妇人每天上午坐在一把可携带使用的椅子上。
• She's much more mobile now that she's bought a car.自从她买了汽车后，活动量就大多了。

2 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

3 whereas   

conj.而，却，反之

参考例句：

• They want a house,whereas we would rather live in a flat.他们想要一座房子，而我们宁愿住在一套房间里。
• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。

4 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

5 portable   

adj.轻便的，手提式的；n.便携的东西

参考例句：

• I have a portable typewriter.我有一个便携式打字机。
• There is a pretty portable pair of steps in one corner of the room.屋角放着一架小巧玲珑的折梯。

6 devices   

n.设备；装置( device的名词复数 )；花招；（为实现某种目的的）计划；手段

参考例句：

• electrical labour-saving devices around the home 节省劳力的各种家用电器
• modern labour-saving devices such as washing machines and dishwashers 诸如洗衣机和洗碗机之类的现代化省力设备