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Best iPads for education purposes

Educational devices evolve every year, and choosing the best device is not an easy task, since there are many variables to take into account. For instance, the age of the educatee, the type of education, the place, the educational agent (the educator), etc…

Without delving into that too much (yet), it is safe to assure that tablets are one of the preferred devices amongst many educators in many settings.

Sometimes, tablets do not only improve the educational setting drastically, but they can become almost indispensable. For instance, tablets are used for kids with low-functioning autism low spectrum disorder, to facilitate communication in case there are speech difficulties by using graphic aid.

In this post we focus on the tablets produced by Apple: ipad. Why? Because, and that is an opinion, Apple can be questionable in many aspects but ipad’s reputation is to be praised.

In general, ipads are particularly sought by those who are attending formal education such as schools. Are you a student at university looking for the best iPad for your needs? Are you a parent who wants a device that runs nice educational software for your child? Check out which iPad is the best for you!

1. iPad Air 5 (2022)

The iPad Air 5 is our favorite in this category, because we consider it the most price efficient: you get a lot, for… not too much (between 700 and 800€ the base model of 64 GB).

iPad Air 5 (2022), with 11 inches of screen display, offers a wide range of functionalities that 99% of people would not miss. It packs the M1 processor, capable of most of the creative applications for designers and video editors, with 8GB of RAM. The raw power can handle pretty much everything and it will not become obsolete anytime soon. It also has nice features like Stage Manager (help multitasking) and its very lightweight.

Furthermore, like its predecessor iPad Air 4, it supports the fantastic Apple Pen 2nd generation and it has a laminated display so the distance between your finger and the visible screen is reduced. That makes it for more accurate drawing experiene and note taking, which are crucial in educational settings.

On the downside, it has 60hz of refresh rate unlike the Pro model, but some people would not notice it. Another downside is that the storage expansion from 64GB to 256GB is very expensive, which reflects Apple’s strategy to make consumers aim for Pro models.

2. iPad Pro 3 11” (2021)

The second place in our rating goes to iPad Pro 3, with 11 inches display, from 2021. And some may ask, why this one and not the iPad Pro 4 11” (2022), the latest model?

As explained before, we are ranking based on price efficiency, not only on quality of the device. Sure, the iPad Pro 4 from 2022 has the M2 processor and is the latest to be released, so the device is objectively better than any other iPad. However, the iPad Pro 3 11” with its M1 can run almost the same apps with a very similar efficacy. The M2 has more raw power but for most consumers the performance of the M1 is almost the same, with a cheaper price tag.

iPad Pro 3 11” (2021) is comparable to the iPad Air 5 from above. Same display size, similar weight, same processor, same pen, laminated display… However, the Pro model has some little upgrades such as a 120HZ display and a better sound system, that make it slightly better than the iPad Air 5. Furthermore, the base storage option is 128GB, double the base one from the Air.

However, the price tag is also higher (in some refurbished stores it can be comparable), especially when comparing models with the same storage size, and it is slightly older than the Air. These are the reasons why it’s in the second place, although very close to the first.

3. iPad 9 (2021)

Laslty, the iPad 9 comes in the third position. The raw performance with its Apple’s A13 Bionic processor is a bit worse than the M1, so educatees that want to learn advanced creative software might need more power. Furthermore, the screen is non-laminated and it supports the Apple Pen 1st generation, which provides a slightly worse drawing experience compared to the first two iPads. Again, we hold drawing as an important activity in educational settings, thus we also think the experience provided by iPad should be ideally good (iPad is actually good for drawing,we are just comparing it with the top tier models).

If everything is wrong, why is this iPad in the Top 3 then?

The answer is, again, price efficiency. This iPad offers 85% of what the other two provide. It is an iPad after all, so it comes with all the advantages of it: portable size, nice display of 10,4 inches easy to use, reliable and clean system, drawing and taking notes is good, etc… And all this, at a price tag that can go as low as 350€. The value of this iPad is incredible, which is why it is still an excellent option for students in a budget and for schools to provide to the young learners.

So, price-quality, iPad 9 is the best out of all of them, because it offers the most value for the money.

Devices that are not on the ranking and why

  • iPad Mini: arguably a great device for those who want portability and a complement next to their main laptop or desktop. However, while it has great uses for education, the smaller size is a big con for students and educatees that might need to use it for extended periods of time, as well as those whose educational needs require something easy to be accessed and read.
  • iPads Pro 12,9 inches: a great device and, like the Pro 11inches 2022, the best device in this category. However, there are some reasons why we did not include it in the list: the bigger size makes it harder to transport to educational settings such as school, playground, etc. The weight can also make it harder for the little ones to hold. Lastly, the price tag of this (great) device is too high for us to consider it enough price-efficient for students.
  • iPad 10 (2022): the next one after the base iPad 9th generation. The main reason is that its price tag can go up to 570 € approx and its performance and overall specs are not very different from iPad 9, so it is not as price-efficient.

Do you agree with this list? Do you think there is an ipad that should be in the list? Leave it in the comment section below!

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Representation of women in film industry: facts and awareness

Every time more and more people agree with the fact that cinema, as an art form, should include and respect all types of people. This website, as stated in the home page, emphasizes the fact that some collectives are discriminated in society. Collectives like women, for instance.

Despite what we all know that cinema should be, there is discrimination agianst women in the industry.

 

One of this forms of discrmination is the little representation of women in the cinema industry.

Because, what many people are not aware of is that there are actually fewer, fewer female filmmakers than male ones.

Don’t believe me? Try to name famous directors. I bet most of them are men.

 

This is something to think about.

 

The problem comes from the old sexist traditions of the 20th century. Men used to occupy the positions in power, and cinema wasn’t an exception. Society has gained a bit of feminist perspective recently, but it is still uncommon to find women being directors, producers or even writers. 


So what do we do?

The situation is better than years ago, but still deserves constant awareness. On one hand, it is educative and equitative, in terms of the expressed messages, to also have films and products made from the point of view of women. On the other hand, women who are in the industry and women who want to be in it can feel discouraged in this situation.

 

What we, as espectators, can do, is to support female filmmakers. By watching what they do, for instance; by making diffusion; etc.

 

So below we present some (good) female directors, worth checking out. We put one/two films for each director, as example.

(Without any particular order)

 

Celine Sciamma

“Portrait Of A Lady On Fire” (France, 2019)

“Girlhood” (France, 2014)

…

 

Sofia Coppola

“Lost In Translation” (USA-Japan, 2003)

“Somewhere” (USA, 2010)

…


Shirin neshat

“Women Without Men” (2009)

…




Patty Jenkins

“Wonder Woman” (USA, 2017)

…

Claire denis

“High Life” (France, 2019)

“Chocolat” (France, 1988)

 

…



Mary Harron

“American Psycho” (USA, 2000)

“I Shot Andy Warhol” (USA-UK, 1996)

…

 

 

 

Lone Scherfig

“An Education” (USA-UK, 2009)

“Italian For Beginners” (Denmark, 2000)

…


Greta Gerwig

“Lady Bird” (USA, 2017)

…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, do not forget to get informed. There are plenty of more directors out there! Maybe the list will grow soon…

Do you agree with the list? Do you feel like there is someone who must be in it? Leave it in the comments!

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Inside Out 2 Trailer: Is Anxiety an Emotion?

The new trailer for the new movie Inside Out 2 is out since a few days ago.

For those who have not seen the first movie or for those who do not remember, the main plot revolves around personifications of the basic human emotions: happiness, sadness, anger, disgust, and fear. Each of them is a different character living in the head of the human that they ‘regulate’, so to say.

The first movie is very wholesome and has a good message behind it. Long story short, all the emotions are important. It is a crucial lesson to learn in general, since many people do not allow themselves to feel sad, angry, or scared. Feeling sad is something very far from the ideal happy live that we all strive for, that we all see posted on social media, right? Feeling scared shows weakness, and feeling angry shows impatience or disgrace.

This is what many people grow up to believe. However, as the movie very masterfully shows, all these assumptions are only that: assumptions, far from the truth.

Ultimately, the movie sends the message that all the emotions can and should coexist combined, because it’s ok. It’s ok to cry, it’s ok to feel sad, it’s ok to be scared, and it’s ok to be angry, disgusted, and happy.

The truth is, emotions tend to come in response of events, and they are natural responses that most of the time make sense. For example, fear is a response to perceiving something that is menacing and the mind interprets it as bad for you.

In the second movie, new emotions come into play because the girl (whose brain contains the emotions) hits puberty. It is an interesting take because puberty indeed comes with many new emotions for the mind. The movie hints us that these emotions will be envy, embarrassment, and anxiety. The personification of the latter appeared in the trailer as an anxious little women full of baggage in her arms (nice touch displaying anxiety carrying heavy loads).

However, for some people this raised a question. Is anxiety really a basic emotion that resides in the brain?

In big terms, anxiety is a response of the body that creates dread, fear, and restlessness. It comes with a physical reaction that vary from person to person, and may be sweat, dizziness, digestive problems, palpitations, etc.

The thing is, while fear is one of the basic emotions that is present in many every-day processes and events, anxiety comes a bit different. The logic is the same, is like a response that your mind sends to your body to let you know that something is wrong. But that process can also be part of anormalities like mental disorders. In fact, anxiety is present in many of them.

So, is anxiety an emotion that should be considered natural to have for someone’s puberty? That is object to debate, in my opinion. In any case, it is very interesting to see how they tackle anxiety in Inside Out 2 and if they treat is as something that the main human character has in particular, or if they assume that everyone in their puberty necessarily has anxiety.

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Decisions, and the connection between storytelling and professional orientation

This post talks about advices when it comes to orienting people that feel they are lost in life, or people that are faced with an important decision and do not know how to proceed. Decisions such as, for instance, choosing a career.

Photo by Henk Mohabier: https://www.pexels.com/photo/assorted-road-signage-440170/

The post will also make evident the DNA on which KatView is based on, our core belief and the purpose of this website as a whole: the mutually beneficial connection between storytelling and education.

Let’s start with storytelling. More specifically: the basics of fiction storytelling.

Image by jcomp on Freepik

Think, for example, of a movie or a TV show. The basic narrative structure, according to film theory and narrative theory, is the following: first, the main character is introduced. Then, they find an obstacle (what some would call inciting incident or exposition). After that, the character tries to achieve their objective: overcome the obstacle (rising action). After accumulating certain tension, the action reaches a climax, after which there is a resolution and an ending.

This narrative structure will be explored in another post. Here, what matters is the first part: in most fictional stories, the plot itself starts when the character is faced with an obstacle. In Karate Kid, that is when Daniel LaRusso is beaten up by bullies. In Mean Girls, that is when Cady is pressured to blend with the ‘plastic’ girls. In the show The Boys, one of them is when Hughie’s girlfriend is killed by A-Train. All moments that push the character into solving a problem.

However, basic plot structures can always be broken, filmmakers can always unfollow guidelines and rules. Some narratives do not have this ‘problem presentation’, this exposition.

Instead, the main characters engages in the plot action just because they feel like it.

Let’s take the example of one of the best animes in the world, One Piece. The whole series starts because Luffy one day decides that he wants to be the king of the pirates. Sure, the plot structure described above can be seen repeatedly in each of the islands that Luffy and his crew explore. However, Luffy sailing to the sea did not occur in response to a problem, but because that is what he felt like doing. That was his dream.

Another example is the animation movie Up, where Carl ties multiple balloons to his house in order to travel to South America, as he had promised to his wife. After the introductory scene (which it could be argued that follows the aforementioned plot structure itself), Carl appears bored in his house, but is decided to accomplish his dream.

The important question is: why all these characters made such decisions? And this is tricky, because it is not a question that must be answered. There is no answer.

If, by any chance, someone had asked Luffy why does he want to become the king of the pirates, he would not have known what to answer. He would have said a simply, ‘because I want to’, or ‘because I feel it’s my destiny’. There is no reason, and it is still something that determines his life and makes him live so many adventures, meet so many people, and change the world.

In professional orientation, that is crucial. It is crucial to embrace irrationality.

What that means is, that there does not have to be a reason behind the decisions taken. A high school student may find reasons for studying medicine, but also reasons to study biology, chemistry, arts, and so on. Similarly, that same student may find reasons NOT TO study many degrees. On an extra-academical level, another student may not have any explainable reason to be a gardener, or an athlete.

Photo by Matheus Bertelli: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-light-bulb-with-string-lights-inside-1830252/

One could find reasons to follow multiple paths. For sure Luffy could have found many reasons to stay in his town.

However, what counts is what they feel. A student trying to find compelling reasons may end up not choosing anything. Or else, equally bad, a student may end up becoming something that does not fulfill them, just because they tried to ground the decision on tangible reasons. For example, people that follow a career just because it’s high paid, regardless of whether they enjoy it or not.

So it is actually simple. Like the character above, the most advisable thing is to do something because you feel like it. You do not need additional reasons, you do not need reasons at all. It can be, really, something irrational, something no one else would understand. But you feel good in this decision, you feel like it. No reason for it, you just want to become that veterinary, that shipwright, that botanist. You just feel it is one of the right decisions (oh, yes, because most of the times there is not only one single right answer).

Stay tuned for more information or advice about education and orientation using storytelling theories and explanations! I hope this post was inspirational or at least entertaining in some ways. Note that orientational advice does not apply to career only, but in many other aspects of life too!

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Binge-watching – how to see the platform trap

Binge-watching. To watch a series non-stop.

It is very common for users to start watching a series and, before they notice, it’s 4am, they are still on the couch, and the TV/media streamer is still on. And they wonder, how did I get here?

Photo by Marcus Aurelius: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-leaning-on-her-table-4064174/

If that has happened to you, I come here to tell you something very important: don’t feel bad. It’s not your fault.

In reality, the fault is at the streaming platform that you are using.

Without elaborating too much on this, we could argue that, from a very simple scope, there are two ways of releasing new series: all at once, or spread across time. The first one is typical from subscription-based platforms such as Netflix or HBO. Why? Because they don’t care about how you consume the media, they do not care if you watch a series in four weeks or in a marathon of three hours. As long as you keep subscribed to the service, they do not care about your usage (again, in general terms, there are exceptions to everything).

Image by pikisuperstar on Freepik

HOWEVER, when series used to be released only in live TV, they usually followed the schedule of the television station where they were distributed. That meant, that episodes would typically air once a week, and the audience had to wait between each of them.

Which, at the same time, meant that they had to be engaged with the series. After one week of work, sport, leisure, friends, family, etc… they still had to want to watch the series. For the television station, the risk of the audience becoming disinterested was (and still is) too big. Even when the series are released all at once, users can still just turn off the TV if they are not engaged.

How do they solve that?

Well, by employing tactics to keep the audiences engaged. That includes using techniques that can be both narrative or infrastructural. The first ones include cliffhangers, presenting a doubt or a mystery in the very end of the episode, or preemptive narrative, when a scene of a future event is presented in the beginning, making you wonder how the story will end up there.

The second includes platform technniques like the famous autoplay. That means, platforms make it EXTREMELY EASY for users to start the next episode. In most of the platforms, they basically do not have to do anything, the next episode plays automatically.

Image by macrovector on Freepik

So, do not worry, it is not your fault.

And it is important to note, that this post doesn’t want to criminalize bing watching. It is very nice to do it on a rainy sunday, for example, and can lead to very nice moments. BUT, it is important to understand WHAT HAPPENS there, to be aware of these techniques that platforms employ and to know when we watch series because we want, and when we watch series because the platform wants.

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Birth of a new website

Welcome estimeed reader!

This website aims to be a hub of reviews and tips about educational aspects that can affect a broad range of audiences. This aspects include examining media objects such as films and TV shows to study how they are and what values they express. That is important especially for the younger people watching, who will potentially learn all these values.
The website also includes information from an educational perspective about topics such as the use of technology within the family, orientation advice in a professional field, and debates about pedagogical issues of the contemporary times.
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