Over Spring Break, which seems like ages ago now, I spent one morning lining up inside one of our local shopping malls, eagerly anticipating the release of the new IPad.
I hadn't owned a tablet computer prior to this and have been using both a laptop and a desktop at home for the past few years. Admittedly though the desktop is used more for gaming and video editing than it is for practical purposes.
After I got my iPad I couldn't wait to get it home and try out all the bells and whistles. Well it has been almost two months now and I am still figuring things out. The first few weeks were all about using the device for entertainment purposes; consumption of media. Very little in the way of creating new content. I read newspapers and listened to radio stations from around the world, watched video's on YouTube and generally enjoyed the 'fun' aspects of the device.
More recently I have been looking at the device and related apps and investigating how I might be able to integrate them into my classroom.
Admittedly the lack of a Flash Player on the IPad is one significant drawback for using web-based applications, however, I feel that this setback is mitigated by the ease of use and the significant number of creative, connective, and functional apps out there fore education.
Many of these I am still playing around with, and I am sure that using some of the apps that involve me entering some information about my students (such as first and last names) may bring about some issues with my district and FOIPPA. However I am starting to see some of the creative potential of the iPad that could be useful in my Social Studies and English classes.
From creating 8mm video's, editing them with iMovie and providing a soundtrack with GarageBand to sketching and taking notes with students, using a stylus, and projecting the process to the class and beyond there are many doors that can be opened. Reading books with the class and highlighting passages with notes may possibly transform the way my students do novel studies. Managing the information with my class and connecting with them are some other ways in which I have discovered I can use my iPad within the classroom.
Like any other technology there are drawbacks associated with using the iPad in the classroom, not the least of which is the aforementioned issue of the lack of flash capability and the cost of purchasing the iPad, related apps and other materials. Though I won't be diving head first into the pool and incorporating iPads into my teaching I am starting to get my feet wet. What I have found so far is that it is a large ocean but that the waters are warm and inviting.
Comments welcome.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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