You can lead a horse to water (or you can give him an iPad)
by Lisa Dubernard 7 Comments November 13, 2010
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Let’s face it. Not all board members are tech savvy.
But more and more, it is so important that leadership can use technology to access important information (such as online meeting agendas, policies as well as news, registering for conferences…the list is endless).
But what about the board members who’ve been led to the water but just won’t drink (for whatever reason). Do we try to force, shame, cajole… or should we look realistically at the tools themselves?
Perhaps the answer is in the newer simpler tools that are becoming available now.
Oooo, maybe…. like the iPad.
What? An iPad is for young, cool students who like to download gaming apps, watch netflix videos on the bus and check their facebook status.
Maybe not. According to a recent report on CNN called “The iPad is for Grandparents”
“First and foremost, the iPad is incredibly simple to use, and easy to learn. (After more than 100 days of owning one, I love it.) For older people, or especially for inexperienced computer users, that’s very helpful…”
and the story also said,
“Second, the iPad is easy for the sort of stuff we imagine our grandparents would want to do with it: Reading the web, e-books with large-as-you-want-it text, magazine articles, and email; looking at photographs and videos; filling out crossword puzzles; and writing short messages.”
Imagine an iPad with your board members. With it they could easily access meeting agendas to read up on items (at home or at work) prior to a board meeting. They could take notes on items. During the meeting they follow along with the agenda with an inconspicuious little rectangle laying on the table. (Less “in your face” than a laptop screen would be.)
So maybe iPads for board members is a very good idea. For the young and tech savvy and also for the ones who, well, let’s just say they’re not reading this blog.
And btw, eBOARD runs on an iPad. 
Other related links:
Press release of eBOARD Meetings app for the iPad
Fun video showing features of eBOARD Meetings app for the iPad
Story of a school board in Albertville City Schools in Alabama who are using iPads.
How true! iPads are so easy to use that even my 74-year-old dad figured it out!!! Technology can be intimidating for some board members – it’s great that eBOARD is reaching out to ALL levels of technological expertise with the iPad app!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lisa Dubernard, eBOARDsolutions and eBOARDsolutions, Lisa Dubernard. Lisa Dubernard said: Board members not tech savvy? Try an iPad. Check out my latest blog. http://bit.ly/b1LKmR #edtech #education [...]
I think it’s important for Board members to use all sorts of technology. (though I do think iPads are more for consumption of content, than creation of it.)
But you might also consider having them use the the prevailing tools provided to students in the school district. It might do them well to see what students are using to create and share their learning.
I am sure board members somewhere are using innovative technologies (iPads, PDAs, mobile phoens, etc) to conduct their business but I wonder if it is the norm not to? It is extremely important for administrators and board members to model the use of 21st century technologies in education environments especially considering all the school reform that is taking place right now in the United States. Thanks for the post.
Here’s another interesting blog on this topic.
http://bit.ly/hgu6FA
3 Reasons an Administrator Needs an iPad
I agree, the iPad might be the technology that engages an older generation in using technology. It is relatively easy to use as a document reader. With the right apps, it might also be quite useful in keeping board members up-to-date and connected to school system administration. I think we are just getting started with the potential of tablet technology.
[...] You can lead a horse to water (or you can give him an iPad.) [...]