IPADS IN EDUCATION
IPAD HISTORY
The iPad was debuted to the world in 2010. It was announced as a personalized device which offered multiple features such as ereading, mobile gaming, web surfing, apps, presenting, and blogging, all of which were integrated within a multifaceted interface. Five years later, this revolutionary device (Rinconscente, 2013) has become an advantageous teaching and learning tool for professional contexts such as classrooms. Students, teachers, pedagogy and technology help form a classroom ecology which impact the way learning takes place within the education system (Nardi, 1999).
Today’s classrooms include students with diverse learning needs who require opportunities to be engaged and innovative. Looking back to traditional forms of learning, the teacher acted as the main source of knowledge. Today’s 21st century learners require educators to encourage problems solving, critical thinking, collaboration and communication (Alber, 2013). The iPad offers several applications which allow students to nurture this type of learning environment. Teachers become facilitators in learning and students learn how to question, create and think deeply about what they are studying. Imagine having access to a tool that can give students access to the world wide web and be thoughtfully engaged more often.
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The iPad has secured a strong foothold within classrooms due to its:
The iPad allows educators to:
The educator’s interest to explore a technology like the iPad is suitable for today’s learners because technology is woven into our everyday life. To keep up with the fast pace of 21st learners, educators need to shift their thinking and teaching approach to accommodate and integrate tools which improve collaboration, enhance personalized learning and encourage creativity. Many studies indicate that the use of iPads in classrooms increases student and teacher engagement and improve teacher’s ability to meet a variety of learning needs (Government of Alberta, 2011). Several short-term studies both support and negate the direct positive impact iPads have on student achievement (Rinconscente, 2013; Sheppard, 2011; Toby, Boya, Garrett, Lin, Jaciw & Education, Inc., 2012), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt funded a year-long study of four school districts in California using HMH Fuse, an app they designed to help guide students through Algebra 1. The results indicated a positive effect on math problem solving, however less effective results in math procedures achievement (Toby, Boya, Garrett, Lin, Jaciw & Education, Inc., 2012). A study on the iPad game, Motion Math, has shown that it significantly improves children’s understanding of fractions and their attitudes towards fractions. In addition, students who used the App, scored on average 15% higher (Rinconscente, 2013). Elementary schools across the world are motivating students to learn by bringing iPads into the classroom. Both teachers and students are enthusiastic to have them as a part of the learning process. While teachers agree that it is worth the necessary time to learn about how to most effectively use iPads in the classroom, schools are not providing adequate training and support to help teachers integrate iPads into their curriculum appropriately. Teachers have to rely on teaching themselves and seeking their colleagues support to develop content that aligns with curriculum standards (Benton, 2012). This is why an educational tutorial for teachers to learn how to use iPads is essential.
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WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO LEARN?
Please double click anywhere on the picture below and share what you hope to learn so we can get a better sense of where to guide you.
Please double click anywhere on the picture below and share what you hope to learn so we can get a better sense of where to guide you.
References
- Flexible learning with mobile devices. (2011). Edublogs teacher challenge: Kick start activity 1 [photograph]. Retrieved from http://flexi- learn.com/tag/ksyb/
- Hcanadyics. (2011, February 21). History of the iPad [video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=901zC6-pYmA
- Macentee, S. (2012). ipad [photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/smemon/6972694584/in/photolist-8SZoaF-co2sg5-bR4Anv-bC9Tb9-bC9SiJ-bR4xvR-85Drnr-7U3tFF-8sdWbQ-82LS7x-bC9ZcN-7SrnWv-86jtsU-7QPvjg-9ak3TJ-7SuDto-85mvbX-bR4Dpc-ddc8v8-7Sj2pq-7QuJpi-7QuJyr-896JtC-85mvj6-7Sj2uG-bR4Gdv-bR4vGi-87sGcE-87sG4Y-7YZ6hF-nCMRgX-9oQej1-8saSzM-dawCCx-7RuUYh-bR4HfT-bC9Qvj-8saSGv-87pvpZ-7T3Yq9-7RrE24-7zCVaE-9zvgtG-81Ryga-7RrE6p-9UiHV1-898cDd-7YZqgD-8Wr9o8-bJRoAr
- Mrandrewsonline. (2012, August 19). iPads in education? [video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq9yss1KRwE
- Phonearena. (2014). Which iPhone and iPad models will get iOs 8? [photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.phonearena.com/news/Which-iPhone-and-iPad-models-will-get-iOS-8-Apple-posts-iOS-8-release-details_id56788