Schools Love the iPad

(picture credit: NY Times)

Whether I like it or not, schools are beginning to embrace tablets. Specifically, the iPad. And by whether I like it or not, I mean I love it, but unfortunately, my low-budget school wouldn’t be able to afford them in a millennia or so.

Schools from all over the United States have been acquiring new iPads to use as learning tools. New York, in particular, has ordered over 2,000 iPads for students and teachers, and that number is still growing. Due to its light weight and slim, flat design, it allows students to use their iPads without losing contact with teachers.

“There is very little evidence that kids learn more, faster or better by using these machines, iPads are marvelous tools to engage kids, but then the novelty wears off and you get into hard-core issues of teaching and learning.” said Larry Cuban, who is a professor at Stanford University.

However, Mr. Reiff, a theatre teacher, counters his attack with “If there isn’t an app that does something I need, there will be sooner or later,” Which impressively is very true; the iPad has access to about 5,400 educational apps and about 1,000 can be downloaded for free.

I think giving kids and teachers tablets is a wonderful idea. They can process word documents, do homework, read books, eliminate excess use of paper, and so much more than I can list here. It also prepares students for our technology-driven world.

However, this brings up a lot of issues. Will history be monitored? Will restrictions be added to the iPads? How will teachers detect if students are furtively Googling test answers? Even worse, Apple is only offering a 10% discount for educational purposes. (Sup with that, Apple?!)

Imagine going to school and using your iPad to read your textbook. Then the teacher announces your homework, and uploads it to Evernote where you download it and AirPrint once you’re done. You’re finished early, so you switch apps to iBooks and begin reading your favorite novel (maybe they could even integrate some kind of library system). You then leave the class, carrying only your iPad, not stopping at your locker, and go to your next class. How amazing would that be?

What do you guys think? Express your feelings in the comments.

[NY Times]