IPads in the Classroom

In the article Touch, Type and Transform: Ipads in the Social Studies Classroom the authors, Ilene R. Berson, Michael J. Berson and Meghan McGlinn Manfra discussed the benefits and cautions of using Ipads in the classroom. I agree with many of their points and found this article interesting and helpful to a future teacher.

In this article the readers learned about Ms. Wei’s social studies class. This Florida teacher approached teaching her diverse class in a unique way using new technology, the IPad. There were two Haitian girls in her classroom that often isolated themselves from the other students. By teaching a Caribbean geography lesson and making good use of a few apps Ms. Wei managed to include these girls and make them feel more comfortable in the classroom. I think this is a great use to the IPad. Collaborative work always brings students together and these girls were able to teach their classmates a little bit about their lives in Haiti. As a future social studies teacher, I think I would definitely try this out in my classroom.

The article also went over many advantages the IPad has over other tablets and mobile devices. For example, the screen is bigger than most devices and has a special widescreen display which is great for sharing one tablet in a group. Also the IPad can store textbooks and other documents and videos. It also has a prolonged battery life ideal for taking this device where ever the class goes. There is a small downside however. These computers are expensive and not all schools have them. Also, teachers and staff need to be trained how to use them. I think this is especially important because if a teacher doesn’t know how to use this technology properly, it would be wasted in the class. It is important for a teacher to plan out the lesson in advance and test out all the media and apps that he or she plans to use with the students. This is to ensure that they are appropriate and will help in the learning process.

If these technologies are used correctly, students will enjoy learning much more and get more out of their daily lessons. This device could also help students with special needs communicate. The possibilities are endless and this is an exciting thought for a future teacher.