A new report tells us that after hearing students and teachers overwhelmingly say that iPad computers are used to play games in class, while laptops are better for schoolwork, Auburn and other districts are sending iPads packing and returning to laptops; MacBook Air laptops to be exact.

The Maine Department of Education and Apple are offering Maine schools a "Refresh" swap offer at no additional cost.

Laptops and iPads ordered in 2013 can be returned for new and improved Apple MacBook Air laptops, which cost less than the Apple laptops three years ago.

Schools can also opt to get new iPads since both devices have been improved.

Before Auburn decided what to do, the district surveyed grades seven through 12 students and teachers, Auburn School Department Technology Director Peter Robinson told the Auburn School Committee on Wednesday night.

The results were overwhelmingly in favor of laptops: 88.5 percent of teachers and 74 percent of students favored them over iPads.

The results "are pretty darn clear," Robinson said. The survey findings "made the decision for us."

Three years ago, after seeing success with the iPads in primary grades, "I thought iPads were absolutely the right choice," Robinson said. Now, he said, iPads have shortcomings for older students.

One teacher wrote in the survey that iPads "provide no educational function in the classroom. Students use them as toys. Word processing is near to impossible … I applaud this change." For more on this see the full report here

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