How can the new Apple iPad be used in education?
There is certainly a buzz about Apple’s new iPad computer/book reader/media machine. We thought we should take some time (previous article) and consider whether or not the iPad will have any value in the education field. At first glance, I think there are lots of possibilities.
Reducing Costs – Maybe not the first thing people consider when they see a price tag around of $500 but let’s consider the cost of text books. I don’t know how much it costs to outfit a high school student with his/her textbooks for four years but, if I look at what we are spending on texts for 2 university-aged sons, I bet it’s a lot. Even if it’s half of what we are paying for our boys then we can estimate $2000.
$2000 versus $500 plus the cost of digital versions of texts on a machine that will have a lifespan of about four years. I think we’re ahead. The bonus is that the textbooks can be updated constantly as new knowledge is acquired. (Aside: In high school, I once had an English book that had belonged to a friend of my fathers – a friend from when he was in grade 12. Time for an upgrade)
Plus, when the web is as easily available as your textbooks you get access to all of the world’s knowledge – sitting at your desk.
Environmental Impact – Yes, I know it’s a computer made with nasty chemicals but I wonder if you balance that out against all of the paper, inkject cartridges and copy toner that would be used over four years in a school of 1000 students. With the iPad you could have your students take their tests (remember to shut off the classroom wifi) and send them to you without even using up one tree.
Another positive change in portable computers is the benefit of low wattage components and great battery life. Laptops (and therefore a tablet computer) will use up less juice than a desktop computer.
Engagement – I am a big believer in the power of peace and quiet (heck, I was a camp director in Muskoka for 15 years) but I also think that education needs to engage students. Having a computer like this in every pair of hands means that your lessons can include video, audio clips and great photography. Poetry can be so much more interesting when you can hear Dylan Thomas reading his own work. That is how we gain an appreciation of a topic.
The other piece of this is how teachers can use the technology to keep students focused on the lesson in front of them. It’s a perfect interactive tool. You can have a place for students to post their questions (even the quiet kids can get equal attention), you can share a common calendar and have a class assignment board available to the student at home, in the class and at the library.
Life Skills – Media literacy has become an imperative topic in a modern education. But, besides learning how to filter the good from the bad on the internet, with a personal computer like the iPad students can learn how to produce content for the new economy. Writing for the web, video content created in collaboration for a project, large scale photo essays, discussions, wikis – these are the skills that students are going to need to succeed in this century.
For some further reading check out Campus Technology: Pioneering Mobile Learning
My final thought: There are going to be lots of possibilites now that people can start to develop for the iPad format. I could never have guessed all of the cool things that I can now do on my iPhone back when it was announced. Still, it seems to me that it will be worth waiting two years to see what is in the second generation iPad. That, I think, will be when we have our minds blown just a little bit.
What changes would enable full scale education adaptation? Leave us your answer in the comments.
Related posts:
About Travis Allison
I think the iPad has tremendous potential for revolutionizing education. I have written a blog post about six things that the iPad will change in education. Yes, it isn't a laptop, which actually helps it succeed where the netbook will not. Read my blog post at http://www.edutechnophobia.com/2010/02/six-ways....
It will be interesting to see how schools embrace this new technology. We recently conducted interviews with some leading leading schools on this topic. Interviews will be available as a podcast soon.