The excitement surrounding the iPad prior to its release and since that time has been astounding. Many edubloggers have seen it as an amazing tool to improve schools. Others have criticized it for the things that it cannot do. Prior to receiving my iPad, I was very skeptical about how it could change schools. It seemed like a tool that would only allow students to remain as passive consumers of information as opposed to creators of information. My opinions have swayed somewhat since getting my hands on one, but some concerns still exist. Below I have listed things I see as major concerns and benefits.
Concerns- Students can’t create on an iPad like they can on a laptop.
- The iPad may promote the traditional model of school as opposed to transforming schools.
- Schools may need to purchase numerous applications to make the iPad more useful.
Benefits
- Students will have access to much more information.
- Information can be presented in multiple ways (print, video, and audio) which may increase student engagement.
- Students may be more engaged because teachers can use information in classes that is more relevant to students.
I believe the jury is still out on this debate. Even if the iPad isn’t the tool that helps move students to the top of Bloom’s Taxonomy, it may enhance education. It certainly has the potential to increase student engagement, which has been found to also increase student achievement.
So how should schools proceed?
At workshops I deliver with Scott McLeod or other CASTLE members, we talk about how it is important to have “scouts” in education. Those scouts are teachers in the district willing to experiment with new technology and report back their experiences with it. Did they work in their classes? If the tool is no good…..ditch it. If it looks, feels, and acts like it could have a positive impact on education, latch onto it.
It will be interesting to see and hear back from schools that have already embraced the iPad. Those schools may serve as scouts for others who are a little more leery about this new technology. It will also be interesting to track the future generations of the iPad. As amazing as the iPad is, it is only generation one!
Please weigh-in on this conversation if you have feelings
about using the iPad in schools.
Nick Sauers
I feel you are too good to write Genius!Thanks for posting, maybe we can see more on this.
Posted by: buy essay | July 30, 2010 at 05:53 AM
Interesting topic - my vice principal and I were debating last month the possibility of our own students showing up with digital books this coming year. I was predicting the Nook or Kindle, and he predicts the iPad. He also predicts that e-textbooks will be next, as the college students will be demanding them soon.
Posted by: Susan | July 31, 2010 at 10:15 PM