This article is about how the iPad is only two years old and already begun to change many things. Reading and Work are two of them. In January 2012, Apple entered the digital textbook market with the launch of iBooks 2 and the iBooks Author production tools e-books. According to John Titlow, in a way, Apple didn't enter the education market. Rather, it followed its customers there. A growing number of college students have, on their own accord, made the device a standard in their backpacks. More importantly, several school districts wasted no time launching pilot programs to use the iPad in the classroom in an official way.
According to this article, early on Chicago's pubic school district brought iPads into a number of its classrooms and even allowed students to take them home. Programs like this can ultimately save districts money on textbooks, since e-books are cheaper than the printed textbook. And of course, the iPad is lighter on the back than a bag full of textbooks.
One question asked, "does the iPad help learning?"... students at Riverside Unified School District have said "that using an iPad makes learning and doing homework more enjoyable and teachers confirm that students seem more eager to participate thanks to the iPad. Also, testing scores conducted at Riverside show that Algebra students using iPads tested at 90% proficiency compared to 60% textbook testing.
According to educator, Mike Muir "the iPad has enormous potential to positively impact education." The tablets make a great tool for self-directed, independent learning. The iPad has a wide range of tablet-based tools. Some predict that tablets will outnumber desktop computers in schools before we know it.
I love the idea of classrooms full of glass touchscreens on every desk. In my opinion, textbooks are often obsolete the moment they are printed, so why not an iPad? I think iPads are fun, exciting, and useful. As a teacher, I would love to have the opportunity to incorporate iPads into my classroom.
Good job!
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