iPad in the Classroom

Now that Apple unveiled their new "toy", I was wondering what impact this might potentially have in the classroom.

I really think that there are endless possibilities when it comes for K-12 education.

Mobile Labs for El Ed can be replaced w/ easier to use iPad touch devices. 1 to 1 programs that are very expensive could become more affordable w/ the new iPad. Finally, imagine if it could create a truly "paperless" environment where the text book is obsolete and everything is purchased through their new "app", Books.

I know all of this is bit presumptuous but w/ a new version of iWorks built specifically for the iPad and the ability to sync w/ either a Mac or PC, this provides an excellent solution for an "Office" suite.

It just seems like there are so many great things that can still be done in brand new innovative ways, such as: blogging, podcasts, browsing, etc etc.

I'm curious to what others have to think about this matter as well.

Thanks!!!

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Permalink Reply by Jayne Bowen on October 20, 2011 at 5:44pm

I agree that the younger students find the iPad so user friendly and benefit from its apps, however, my 8th graders are using it to check definitions, foreign language apps, geometry, trig, and so many other educational apps. Sure, every now and then they created a rollercoaster track or play Angry Birds, but that's still engaging learning. I found an app called Sound Drop that incorporates music and geometry...very soothing, exciting, and it's the educational marriage of two disciplines.

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Permalink Reply by Azael Barrera on October 23, 2011 at 9:13am

Good point Jayne. There you have a good example (using iPad apps to check definitions, etc). I wonder -have not seen them yet- if those geometry, trig apps allow the user to create things or are just presentations of the subject, perhaps interactive and/or animated. If the later is the case, then the iPad is downplaying its capacity and becoming another book/text/story reader/observer, perhaps with more animation and engagement. This moment could be a crucial time where apps need to be more than interactive info providers/players, we need to have apps which make you able to construct ideas/conceptual descriptions/interrelations and see what happens and then go the next step, that of analysis. I hope soon we will have those apps or will have to setup a group of us to sit down and make them.