Touch-screen tablet computers will soon become standard equipment for students at Mid-Pacific Institute.

In the 2012-13 school year, the private school will launch a program giving each student in grades 3 through 12 use of anApple iPad3. According to Mid-Pacific, the school is one of five in the country and the first in Hawaii to fully incorporate the iPad into its curriculum.

The school is investing $1.5 million to purchase 1,650 iPads, including 140 for teachers. Classrooms for students in kindergarten to second grade will share three carts, each filled with 20 iPads to be used at school. Students in the third through 12th grades will be able bring them home.

School President Joe Rice said the school saw a need to change its approach to the curriculum as school technology labs were constantly overbooked.

"It’s coming to the time now that we need better tools," said Rice.

This school year, Mid-Pacific acquired 75 iPads, which are divided among three carts shared by middle and high school classes. Since then, Middle School Technology Coordinator Brian Grantham said, teachers have observed students gravitating more to iPads than to laptops.

Sixth-grade English teacher Cheryl Funk said the iPad carts are in high demand among teachers who want to incorporate them in their daily lessons.

"You have to wait your turn," she said.

Student Olivia Collis, 11, said having an iPad for each student will allow more flexibility. "I think it’s going to be pretty cool," she said.

With thousands of educational applications available on the iPad and the flexibility given older students to take the device home, Rice said, "The depth of learning that will occur will greatly exceed what has happened in the past."

The devices will be used in ways that include taking notes and tests, accessing assignments and turning in homework.

The 40-acre campus is already set up for iPads, with wireless service implemented campuswide three years ago.

"This is the future of technology," said Mark Hines, director of educational technology for the school.

"I’m excited because we get to use a different type of technology instead of just working on computers," sixth-grader Jaren Saiki said. "I think it’ll help us because it’s more portable than a laptop so you can take it to more places."

Mid-Pacific Institute One-To-One Education Initiative – http://www.midpac.edu/one-to-one/