One of education's new hypes seems to be the ipad. Thousands of schools are buying hundreds of them, thinking they are going to work miracles. But are they really going to? Can the ipad do everything? Simply, I believe the answer is no. I am supportive that the ipad can be a great tool in aiding learning especially in special education. But is it necessary for schools to be spending so much of their budget on hundreds of these? The problem I have with this, is that not a lot of schools know how to correctly use the ipad for education. I know the ipad can do a lot, but it can't teach it students for you. Teachers need to first know how to use an ipad, which apps are reliable and appropriate, and if the tool is benefiting for the students.
I really love the ipad, but I am not sure it should be taking over the way it is. I have seen it do amazing things with students, especially the students I have worked with who are diagnosed with Autism. I am on the fence about this issue. Where do you stand? What do you think?
I agree with all of your stances on this topic. As a person who has worked with children and adults with special needs, I have seen technology work and not work in a school setting and out of school setting. I believe this is solely because of the education of the person presenting the individual with the piece of technology they deem appropriate. I think it is MOST beneficial for teachers to have workshops on the ipad and apps. Of course it would be easy to download an app designed to teach a child how to read with more accuracy, but if that app does not do what it claims, how is this helping our children? To learn about the technology before presented to students would help not only the students' learning, but the also the teachers' point of view. Great blog! Your going to be an amazing SED teacher one day! Proud of you :)
ReplyDeleteI think having ipads in the classroom could be a wonderful learning technique. They are easier to use since they are more compact than a laptop. I think a lot of students would benefit from taking notes on an ipad, if they are anything like me they can type a lot faster than they can write. I seem to always leave out full sentences because I get too behind on my writing from the teachers lectures.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your blog completely! I have the same views on ipads. I find ipads to be extremely interesting and innovative. They have changed technology in vast ways, but the ipad is not our only answer. I think that some schools may be becoming to dependent on ipads. It would be great to say that ipads were the answer for everything, but realistically they're not. I think that it is important for us to know exactly what apps and programs to use on the ipad to increase learning for our students. There are other means of technology out there though that may benefit our students more. It is important to weigh all the options.
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