Well blogger friends I am back. This time through I unfortunately will not be talking about potato chips. (Sorry all you pickle chip lovers.) Instead I will be switching my focus to tablets. Yes folks we will be talking about IPads in the hands of students.
Today's topic comes from the k-12 Horizon Report. This report focuses on the up and coming technology that could soon be in the hands of our students. Well of all the new and exciting thins going on in the world of technology why would I pick the tablet? There are many reasons why I love the tablet but I will limit it to just two today so that I don't find myself writing another novel.
First of all I own a tablet. It was a birthday present from my parents and I am very thankful for all the ease of accessibility it has brought me. You see I own a laptop but its going on being seven years old. And for all you computer junkies out there you know that the older a machine gets the slower it gets. (My first laptop lasted me almost nine years so I'm hoping this one will do the same.) Also as time goes on many of the operating files become obsolete and let's face it my computer weighs a ton and is such a burden to carry around. With the tablet I have been able to explore its potential in terms of education apps. While granted most of the apps are built for younger audiences I find its potential to be extraordinary. While messing around with my tablet I found one geology app. So I downloaded it and gave it a shot. (Because what kind of teacher would I be if I didn't experiment with the new technology.) The app was really useful. It was able to give me a contour map (a map with various height lines) for famous geologic sites from around the world. (For those of you who have ever had to do this by hand this app will truly save you time and energy.) The large screen and easy touch access also make it a great tool for today's classroom.
The final reason I love the tablet actually comes from my past. When I was twelve years old my family and I moved from a small town in New Jersey to a medium sized town in Washington state. As I was reading the Horizon report I came across Snoqualmie Valley School District and my jaw nearly hit the floor. Snoqualmie Valley School District is where I went to middle school. The middle school is experimenting with a program in which students and teachers are using the IPad to find areas of weakness throughout their studies. Well I have to say Snoqualmie Middle School I am jealous. Why couldn't we have had IPads back in 2003. It definitely would have made class way more fun. I have attempted to reach three of my former professors to see how they enjoy using the IPads in their classrooms. Hopefully my friends they will remember me and get back to me soon.
So overall the large screen the lightweight and the cross curriculum uses make the tablet one of the new and exciting technologies that should be in today's classrooms.
Julie, another plus of tablet computing is their batteries last longer unplugged than a laptop so students don't have to constantly looking for an outlet. Now that mobile computing is becoming more prevalent, there are tons of resources available for teachers looking for apps in the classroom. Two that might be useful to you are iEar (www.iear.org) and Appitic (www.appitic.com). This will help you find apps for students of all ages as well as apps for you as a teacher.
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