Week 3- Free Topic: The Use of iPads in the Classroom
Saturday, March 19, 2011 | Noelia Badillo
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| Image made by Noelia Badillo |
iPads in the classroom by Noelia Badillo is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
There have been many articles about the effective use of iPads in the classroom. Even now there are schools that provide an iPad for each student and have begun using it to replace textbooks. Although iPads are good resources in the classroom to watch videos, photos and to read comfortably, we have to accept that although it is a good tool, it is not effective enough to use at 100%. In my experience, I tested the iPad with my 5 year old daughter and I have to say honestly that at her age the use of this equipment is much more effective than for my high school students. A 5 year old can develop visual skills using the iPad, also with the use of various applications can strengthen language, writing, numerical operations and creativity. My 5 year old girl used an application called "Puppet Pals" in which she selected several characters and added her voice by creating a script instantly using her imagination. Many of these skills are appropriate to apply them in a classroom at an elementary level, but at a higher level there is a lot more that needs to be covered, maybe developing the same skills but with more difficulty and making them more challenging for the student. Another skill that can be covered largely with little ones is the musical, that with the use of several applications available, young students can create music using interactive tools. The older students often prefer to use laptops or netbooks mostly because the capacity of these is bigger and what they can do with them is more complex. In my opinion the iPad is a great resource for elementary and special education students, but for middle and high school students there is much more needed and it has many limitations.
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5 comments:
Noelia,
I will have to agree and disagree with you on several points. I agree that the iPad is not the only tool that teachers should use. It is just another tool in the teacher's tool chest. There are times when a laptop or desktop is a more appropriate tool.
I will have to disagree with you on the point that there are not apps that require a higher skill level. There are over 400,000 apps that are out there. There are many apps that are specific to algebra, chemistry, literature, astronomy, multimedia creation and the like( just for example I just searched the app store and found 385 Algebra apps and 369 Chemistry apps). I also disagree that students prefer laptops or desktops to the iPad. Many schools are finding just the opposite. Students prefer to carry their content and work with them and the iPad allows them to do that. Many high schools and universities are going to a mobile platform for the delivery of content to students. Several medical schools are using these devices for medical students. Several hospitals are also using iPads for patient education.
One thing to remember is that the iPad has only been out for a very short time and it is already changing the landscape.
I agree that it is a great tool for elementary and special education. We are seeing that. And you are totally correct that we need to remember that this is just another tool for teachers to use.
I agree with you Mark. From my perspective I can't really do much in my high school technology class because of the fact that I still haven't got the opportunity to integrate other subjects in my class. I am only a technology teacher and the school's expectations are that I teach them purely software. So when it comes to the iPad, I only have one for all 9-13 students and there isn't much I can do with that single one. I agree with you that educators who teach math, science, languages can use it effectively if they have iPAds for each student, but in my class is just not the right time I guess.
Interesting observations by both you and mark. I'd like to include your thoughts on my blog (if that's okay). There are so many opinions about tablet PCs and the iPad in particular. But the one's that I'm most interested in are the ones from those who have actually put the little device in the hands of users and given them some time to explore. Noelia, your observations based on your daughter's usage are so telling as far as how much can come from a device that focuses in on getting out of the way and not about MBs or GBs. Thanks.
Sure I can include the video she made with the application Puppet Pals!
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