iPads and iPods in the Classroom

Joyce Moore

INST 6031

Summer 2011

Advantages:

High student engagement Battery will last for 8 to 10 hours Lightweight Portable Less time to start up than laptops

(Quillen, 2011)

Disadvantages:

Devices are still new and Apple is still revising them

Apple products are not compatible with Adobe Flash Player

No file structure for saving work Teachers are still learning how to use them Easy to overload lessons

(Quillen, 2011)

Uses in Classroom

High school computing program

Highlight key vocabulary words for reading

Book publishing projects

Math workstations

(Quillen, 2011)

More Uses in the Classroom Listening to books being read

Making video/audio presentations

Practice sight words

Grammar

Enhance any curriculum area with drill and practice or extensions

Abilene Christian University in Texas iPad pilot program – Student’s experience More convenient

Enjoyed using them for collaboration

Gave them experience for their future careers

(Schaffhauser, 2011)

Abilene Christian University in Texas iPad pilot program – Professor’s experience Increased class participation

Increased student involvement and interest

Increased contact between students and professors

(Schaffhauser, 2011)

Are we ready to replace printed textbooks with digital ones?

Not yet. Why?

Professors want a variety of textbooks to choose from for their courses

Cost of the digital textbook plus the reader makes it too expensive

Professors want the digital textbooks to be much more than just the words on a computer screen

(Schaffhauser, 2011)

Until then:

Continue to find ways to use iPads and iPods to enhance student learning

Use your imagination!

A final word on why we should use iPads and iPods in the classroom:

“It keeps them engaged so they focus on what we are learning over time” - Maria Kisner, Third grade teacher, Warren County, Virginia (quoted by

Luther, 2011).

Resources

Luther, M.K. (2011, May 26). Warren teachers putting iPods to use in classroom. NVDaily.com. Retrieved from http://www.nvdaily.com/news/2011/05/warren-teachers-putting-ipods-to-use-in-classroom.php

Schaffhauser, D. (2011, June 15). Is the iPad ready to replace the printed textbook? Campus Technology. Retrieved from http://campustechnology.com/articles/2011/06/15/is-the-ipad-ready-to-replace-the-printed-textbook.aspx

Quillen, I. (2011, June 15). Educators evaluate learning benefits of iPad. Digital Directions, 04(03), 38, 40-41. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2011/06/15/03mobile.h04.html?tkn=SLQFwFfpimLBJITf6n%2Fu9Wd%2F9azw68BJ6ylc