Articles

=Articles Highlighting the iPad and Its Uses in Education =

How will the iPad change education? Summary: Rob Reynolds highlights the key attributes of the iPad that make it practical for educational use. The iPad size is larger than a phone, but also less cumbersome than a laptop computer. It's mobile at a convienent size. In addition the iPad is multifunctional. While the E-readers might make a great reading device, they are limited to that sole function. iPads have the ability to servew functions that you can master on a laptop. The iPad is mobile and the price is lower than that of an Apple laptop. The iPad will engage sudents into community-based learning which is a major focus of 21st century skills. Reynolds, R. (2010, January 27). How will the iPad change education? [Online forum message]. Retrieved from PBS TeacherLine: [[[]‌teacherline/‌blog/‌2010/‌01/‌how-will-the-ipad-change-education/]].

__Will iPad fail in school? __ Summary: This article provides an overview of various reactions to the launch of the new iPad. The reactions ranged from minimal enthusiasm expressed from a teenager in Florida to teachers who were curious about the potential the iPad had in the classroom, to the enthusiasm of a principal analysyst of a mobile company who is able to see the endless possibilities the iPad will initiate. The article suggessted that for teenagers this technology is just about access and availability, they are not as impressed and have come to expect this kind of interactive device. The article even suggests that teachers don't always use the technology available to them in their classrooms. The bottom line is that this device will open doors and much like how the iPhone opened doors to the possibility of things, the iPad will only continue to push the paramaters of where innovation will take education next. Look in the future to interactive textbooks and a community of learners extending beyond the classroom walls. Kaneshige, T. (2010, June 15). Will iPad fail in school? //Bloomberg to Businessweek//. Retrieved from [[[]‌idg/‌2010-06-15/‌will-ipad-fail-in-school-.html]].

__The iPad: Bringing people together? Technology can isolate, but this device could offer a 'new model' of sharing__

Summary: The focus of this article is on the size and dimensions of the iPad. Because of its mid-range size and touch screen navigation, it is allowing for a more interactive technology tool. Computers are independently operated devices where individual users hover and fight for mouse control. iPhones and iPod Touches are not large enough for more than one viewer. The iPad opens the door to allowing interactive social groupings around one tablet. Many areas will benefit from this. In the medical field it will allow doctors to use it as a tool to communicate with patients and their families. Families at home can sit next to one another and navigate the tablet simultanousely. In the education world, students can work in groups around one tablet. The image can be rotated to meet individual needs in all four directions. Students can work on the same project together, access information together and brainstorm/capture ideas together all around one machine. Cave, M. R. D. (2010, June 7). The iPad: Bringing people together? Technology can isolate, but this device could offer a 'new model' of sharing. //USA// //Today//, p. D1. Retrieved from eLibrary database.

Solaro tutors students via the Web, iPhone, and iPad. This article highlights a Canadian company, Solaro, that has created a 6-12 educational program through the use of Apps and high tech computer programing. All major content areas are covered and lessons, assessments, and feedback are all available with a subscription. Students are able to connect with one another through forums that are monitered for content ensuring that students are only discussing topics relating to education. Students are not allowed to seek personal information through these forums. Solaro has said that the launch of the iPad is only going to enhance what they have been able to do thus far. In the future they plan to produce new Apps capable of even more learning potential due to the larger screen size available with the iPad. So far Solaro has tapped into families that homeschool, but the company says that it would be excited to bring this software into the public sector as well. It is looking for direction from teachers to learn how it can enhance education and assist teachers, not replace teachers.

Kavur, J. (2010, May 18). Solaro tutors students via the Web, iPhone, and iPad. //ComputerWorld Canada, 26//, 14.


 * __Apple iPad vs Kindle DX: which is better for education__?**

This article highlights the advantages and disadvantages of the two most competative e-Readers thus far, the iPad and the Kindle. E-readers in the long run have the advantage of being more ergonomical, less back-breaking, and cheaper over time. Textbooks are able to be updated and enhanced. The iPad beats the Kindle when it comes to resources. IPads are multi-functional and have hundreds of additional uses. The article points out that this may also create an educational hinderance in that there are too many distractions built into the iPad and that future generations of the tablet might want to limit the applications on some models for educational settings in order to keep students on-task. The display and sizes are comperable but the iPad does have a backlight and color that makes it the stronger of the two for graphs, charts, and maps. For English majors the E-ink of the Kindle might be easier on one's eyes over longer periods of time. The Kindle battery charge of one week far surpasses the iPad's of only ten hours. The iPad has a lot more storage capacity, but the Kindle has free 3G connection. The keyboard on the Kindle is more natural and built onto the device, where the iPad's touch screen keyboard can be difficult to use over a long period of time. The article notes that the wireless keyboard that can be purchased is inconvienent to carry around. The article believes that these two devices will adapt and change over time to make themselves even more competative in the future. Bertolucci, J. (2010, January 31). Apple iPad vs Kindle DX: which is better for education? [Web log post]. Retrieved from Today @ PC World: [].

[|Six ways the iPad will transform education]

This blog is from an educator speculating the way the iPad will be used in the education fields. He highlights six areas and explains the potential in each. First, the greatest impact will be textbooks. Textbooks are costly; many schools only order classroom sets to reduce costs which limits the access of information to students only when they are in the classroom. In addition textbooks are either only minimially changed, or the information can be outdated before the textbook was even published. E-books can be updated and the online resources can be imbedded right into the iPad software. Second, note taking could be transformed. Notes can be taken digitally and stored and filed in a central location where students aren't as likely to lose them. This blogger suggested that the future iPad will have a stylus and that one's handwriting would be recorded in legible text. Students could simply e-mail each other notes for comparison. Third, this can reduce the cost of paper ultimately creating a paperless classroom. Recently teachers have been limited on the amount of paper they are given and this limits the number of worksheets and handouts a teacher can use in his classroom. Teachers could assign homework digitally and students could submit it to the teacher on-line as well. In addition, the use of Apps could allow for immediate feedback. Fourth, studying and reviewing will be more manageable. All your files, study aids, and even textbooks are in this tiny device. Right now students can chat with each other and in the future web-camming may be possible. Fifth, involves student interest. Students are used to engaging with technology. This suits their learning style and interest. Finally, iPad apps have the ability to individualize education. Students can review content at a slower rate when they don't understand while other students can work ahead so they don't get bored. All in all, teachers would do better to embrace the technology of digital natives than restrict it. Students will only learn how to work past these restrictions.

M, T. (2010, February 3). Six ways the iPad will transform education [Web log post]. Retrieved from Edutechnophobia: [].

__U Cincinnati education researcher trying iPads in multiple classrooms__

A federally funded grant is taking place in an urban elementary school in Utah. University of Cincinnati educational researcher, Carla Johnson, will be overseeing this project. 35 iPads will be used in the elementary classrooms to increase math and science scores. A pretest and postest will be submitted electronically, providing data. Because the data will be submitted electronically via the iPads, this will cut down on paper and provide fast results. In addition, surveys and evaluations of the research study that usually take months to enter in all the data can be processed within the same day. Carla Johnson is also an educator of science teachers and intends on bringing this information and practice to her science teacher method courses. Johnson is hopeful that she will be able to encourage her students to engage their future students in all of the excellent Apps available for science students. Teaching this to students can also decrease the poverty gap.

Schaffhauser, D. (2010, August 3). U Cincinnati education researcher trying iPads in multiple classrooms. //Campus Technology//. Retrieved from [].