The capabilities of the iPad make it a unique educational device. There are also reports that faculty and students both use the iPad devices for convenience, portability, communication, information gathering, note taking, reading, and interactive work (Gawelek, Spataro & Komarny, 2011). Other reasons include having an instant button to turn it on making it great for younger students.; the long battery life and lastly the option to connect to the iPad dock allowing it to be used with other technological devices in the classroom (Steighner, Oentojo,Wright,Groves 2011).
However there were also some negatives that came with this technology these included money for lower-funded schools for not only the iPad itself but the ongoing cost of educational apps can be high (Steighner, Oentojo,Wright,Groves 2011). New models are continuously being made as shown above so the question of what will happen when the school buys the iPad only for it to be replaced in an year is a problem(Steighner, Oentojo,Wright,Groves 2011) . iPads were designed to be personal devices so for this particular technology to be effective, each student needs his/her own (Steighner, Oentojo,Wright,Groves 2011). The management of these devices require time commitment from the teachers, including keeping the iPads charged and keeping track of which students were using it (Steighner, Oentojo,Wright,Groves 2011). Lastly the durability factor if an iPad is dropped, the screen can be damaged and maintenance costs can be expensive or it may sometimes even have to be replaced with a new one(Steighner, Oentojo,Wright,Groves 2011).
Despite this, i believe the implementation of iPads in the classroom is worth the effort as the positives far outweigh the negatives. This new mobile device are leading to innovative new ways for teachers and students to interact with each other and to access information(Steighner, Oentojo,Wright,Groves 2011).
However there were also some negatives that came with this technology these included money for lower-funded schools for not only the iPad itself but the ongoing cost of educational apps can be high (Steighner, Oentojo,Wright,Groves 2011). New models are continuously being made as shown above so the question of what will happen when the school buys the iPad only for it to be replaced in an year is a problem(Steighner, Oentojo,Wright,Groves 2011) . iPads were designed to be personal devices so for this particular technology to be effective, each student needs his/her own (Steighner, Oentojo,Wright,Groves 2011). The management of these devices require time commitment from the teachers, including keeping the iPads charged and keeping track of which students were using it (Steighner, Oentojo,Wright,Groves 2011). Lastly the durability factor if an iPad is dropped, the screen can be damaged and maintenance costs can be expensive or it may sometimes even have to be replaced with a new one(Steighner, Oentojo,Wright,Groves 2011).
Despite this, i believe the implementation of iPads in the classroom is worth the effort as the positives far outweigh the negatives. This new mobile device are leading to innovative new ways for teachers and students to interact with each other and to access information(Steighner, Oentojo,Wright,Groves 2011).
Ipads in the classroom
In my recent practicum school they had 15 iPads for each grade. Despite this, unfortuantley none of which had been used in the classroom during my time at practicum.
I did however have a session with a specialist tech teacher along with other student teachers from a different university. In this session we were given an overview of the technologies that were used in the school. We then got the opportunity to play with some of the apps that the school had downloaded for their ipads.
The apps that were on the iPad i had were for early stage 1 ( Kindergarten). I noticed the vast number of educational apps that was aimed for kindergarten students, which seemed to amaze me. I often thought that as a teacher it would be hard to find apps for young children but this seemed not to be the case. When i played some of the apps, i found it not only engaging, fun and educational but it allowed students to develop learning skills that was necessary to live in this constantly evolving technological world.
Overall through my pratciucm experience i was able to learn of the vast array apps available for teachers that can be used within the classroom. I was also able to learn during my professional experience 3 tutorial that apps can be modified against its purpose for its use in the classroom which is great. I am excited to apply the new knowledge i have gained on the iPad into my follow up practicums.
I did however have a session with a specialist tech teacher along with other student teachers from a different university. In this session we were given an overview of the technologies that were used in the school. We then got the opportunity to play with some of the apps that the school had downloaded for their ipads.
The apps that were on the iPad i had were for early stage 1 ( Kindergarten). I noticed the vast number of educational apps that was aimed for kindergarten students, which seemed to amaze me. I often thought that as a teacher it would be hard to find apps for young children but this seemed not to be the case. When i played some of the apps, i found it not only engaging, fun and educational but it allowed students to develop learning skills that was necessary to live in this constantly evolving technological world.
Overall through my pratciucm experience i was able to learn of the vast array apps available for teachers that can be used within the classroom. I was also able to learn during my professional experience 3 tutorial that apps can be modified against its purpose for its use in the classroom which is great. I am excited to apply the new knowledge i have gained on the iPad into my follow up practicums.
For more information on education apps for the iPad check out the web-link below
file:///C:/Users/User/Pictures/Images/Apple%20-%20Education%20-%20Apps.htm