While some educational professionals still show ambivalent emotions about the use of technology in the classroom, the truth is that technology is becoming more important by the day in American Society. It is important to adapt to the dynamic ways in which education is being transmitted.
According to Open Colleges, both teachers and students feel that tablet usage can augment school learning.
- 81% of U.S teachers think tablets can help enhance classroom learning.
- 86% of students believe tablets can help them to study more efficiently.
- 59% of students would like the implementation of BYOD to enhance their learning.
With the scales leaning towards tablet usage, it is not a matter of if you should implement mobile device learning tools in schools, but when. Here are just a few of many ways to use iPads in the classroom to enhance learning.
Presentations
One important skill for students to learn is public speaking. iPads and other tablets make excellent tools for both creating and delivering effective presentations. Many fantastic apps created for tablets can be used to seamlessly integrate documents, PowerPoint like slide shows, videos, images, and even custom apps into presentations. Students can do real-time drawing, writing, and animation providing an interactive experience. Flexibility is also a benefit, as students are able to circle, highlight and write in important points during their presentation. When done, simply saving and emailing the final product to the teacher for grading is a cinch.
E-Books
Textbooks are inefficient, hard on the environment and often expensive. Replacing old textbooks containing outdated information is something every school ultimately experiences. Using iPads in the classroom allow easy transition to updated information, without the headaches of new textbook purchases and time involved waiting. They are also very eco-friendly, provided the paper savings a tablet like the iPad delivers. iPads may seem like an expensive alternative at first, but after adding up the cost and time of textbooks, you realize how quickly it pays itself back.
Efficiency
iPads are very efficient, providing instant communication for students and teachers. For teachers, grading, arranging, and filing is right at your fingertips. Teachers can have assignments listed for students to see before even arriving to class. Also, as iPads go back and forth between home and school, parents can monitor their child’s assignments, teachers can notify parents, and all around connections can be maintained.
Computer Skills
Forrester Research has estimated that there will be more than 2 billion PC’s in use by 2015. With increasing computer production and common everyday use of computers, why not prepare students early on with the skills needed to benefit them. Having an iPad in the classroom for each student assures that children will have essential computer related skills needed for future jobs.
As you can see, iPads and other technology in the classroom are very valuable learning tools and are becoming fundamental aspects to education these days.
