iPads in the Classroom

April 3rd, 2010 will go down as one of the most game-changing days in history.  This was the day that the first generation iPad was released for sale.  Ever since that day, classrooms have never been the same.  Children in K-3rd grade want to be excited, and that is what the iPad can do.  Gone are the days of standing in front of a room and lecturing to your students.  Welcome to the days of interacting and moving around.

The iPad has unlimited uses, and now it is even easier to use in the classroom.  Thanks to the education section in the App Store, it is extremely easy to spice up a lesson by integrating the iPad into the curriculum.  There are thousands of apps that will energize your classroom, including:

• Adventures Undersea Math - students can solve puzzles and work through math problems while exploring under water!
• Sight Words Second Grade - help your students learn to spell and read all in one place!
• SUPER WHY! - students can play games to help with spelling, rhyming, reading, and more!

Not only does the iPad have fantastic apps, but it is extremely useful in other ways as well.  AirPlay is an extremely valuable tool for the classroom.  Using either Apple TV or Reflection, you can project your information onto a TV or screen with very little effort.  This is a simple way to integrate the iPad into the classroom if each student does not have their own.  

It doesn't matter whether every student has an iPad, or you as the teacher are the only one; there are unlimited possibilities.  Students are now growing up with technology at their fingertips.  They are becoming more and more comfortable at younger ages.  Do they really want to stare at endless worksheets helping them learn to read? No!  It is truly remarkable how much of a positive impact iPads can make in the classroom. 

One of the most exciting features of the iPad and the App Store, is the price.  There are certainly many apps that cost money and are worth the price, but there are also thousands of apps that are completely and 100% free!  Cost can be an issue for many teachers, but with the iPad, you no longer have to worry about wasting paper or ink, as the same lessons that used to require worksheets can be completed on the iPad!

Overall, it is undeniable how revolutionary the iPad is.  With more and more educational apps being developed everyday, it is obvious that integrating the iPad into the classroom is a no-brainer.  For only a one-time fee of $500, you can completely turn a classroom upside down with free apps, podcasts, videos, and more.  For teachers that want to revolutionize the classroom, they should start with the device that helped revolutionize the world.


References

Elementary Students Use iPads [Online image]. (2011). Retrieved September 5, 2012 from http://www.arkansasbaptistschoolsystem.com/general/arkansas-baptist-elementary-students-to-use-ipads/

iPads Distributed to Auburn kindergartners [Online image]. (2011). Retrieved September 5, 2012 from http://bangordailynews.com/2011/09/08/education/ipads-distributed-to-auburn-kindergartners/