There are iPads flooding into just about every classroom and school these days. Or so it seems. Judging by the amount of interest from educators, students, and administrators, it’s easy to see that the iPad is a becoming a topic of discussion (at the very least) for many of us. So what are some of the more interesting ways schools use iPads and how are schools currently implementing them?
Below are just a handful of examples but there are boatloads more. In fact, we at Edudemic would love to hear from YOU! How are you implementing iPads? In a 1:1 environment? A BYOD classroom? Weigh in down in the comments so the rest of the readers can learn from you. After all, isn’t that what this is all about?
To Encourage History Discussions
Bringing the past to life is a great reason to integrate technology into any classroom or lesson. Wabash College’s 19th Century European History class has begun using iPads in order to allow students to take notes, do reading, check out their course syllabus, and more. The school has stated that the overall response to the iPads has been positive and that the various apps have let students have a more immersive experience. For example, they are able to take a virtual tour of Napoleon’s castle. Neat!
To Bring Teachers To Rural Areas
There’s a rural area of Sweden (Vindeln) that has seen iPads become a critical tool in filling teacher vacancies or simply bringing instruction to many areas not normally reachable by standard education systems. In other words, students in rural areas can have access to high quality teachers without either party having to travel very far.
To Streamline Med School
You may start seeing your doctor carrying around an iPad. In fact, I’d be surprised if they’re not already. That’s because iPads are becoming the standard piece of must-have tech for med students. The Perlman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has already implemented a program to give every new student an iPad and, get this, a white coat with a pocket that is large enough to fit an iPad. Brilliant.
To Enhance Learning For Students With Disabilities
Some school districts are seeing an influx of grants for bringing iPads to students with disabilities. The Council Rock High School (PA) has had grants for bringing more than a dozen iPads to students with disabilities. Personally, I love the Proloquo2go app despite it’s price. Definitely worth checking out.
To Create Interactive Textbooks
What if your college’s bookstore offered a custom-made digital textbook option alongside your printed textbook? Which would you choose? Salem State (MA) has more than a dozen interactive digital textbooks available thanks to the influx of iPads on campus. Only time will tell where this goes but it’s exciting to see schools take on the challenge of developing high-quality interactive textbooks.
Teachers in Michigan schools are taking example #5 into their own hands and starting a collaborative effort to create and share free digital textbook modules using iBooks Author. The end goal would be to give teachers high quality, interactive files for them to further edit and personalize for their students and school. Check out the project details here: bitly.com/ibahack
Cool! This is definitely the future, as long as schools can afford the technology to put into kids hands, inside the classroom. Our school district is working on creating one of these iBooks this summer for each of the content areas. There are so many times when I am reading a text and need to go to my computer to look something up. I envision a link for google or credible outside sources, integrated within the chapters.
What is the name of the app that is pictured?
It’s exciting to think about where education might be twenty years from now and how different it could look. The need for lecture, discussion, reading, homework and human interaction will always be needed but the control students will have over their own education will certainly increase. In a time when many students are admittedly saying their lack of success in academics is due to boredom, this may be just what the doctor ordered. Teachers will no doubt have to relinquish some control and let students take more control of their learning. I just hope schools can soon find a way to finance it.
I get that iPads can help students learn and it can open up new opportunities to learn. But at -school name removed by Edudemic editor, Jeff- the teachers get their own iPad. they play games all throughout class and give us huge packets to work on. They don’t even teach us the material, they just say here’s your work do it by next class. Then they give us hard tests and wonder why no one get’s good grades on them. -teacher’s name removed by Edudemic editor, Jeff- is one of these teachers. They get paid to be here and do nothing, I’m forced to come and do more work then them. Our school would be better off without iPads.