Ipads in School: Various Considerations as Future Educators

I was actually really surprised to see iPads in an elementary setting, mainly because I am amazed that schools are actually able to approve a budget to provide such expensive devices to smaller children. However I was still very glad to see this technology implemented in younger classrooms.

Some of the main controversies surrounding iPads in the classroom that were discussed in our Technology class today involved how much impact iPads really have. Does it actually have a large effect on upping our learning for the kids or is it just a shiny new toy to keep them occupied? I think that the issues that one might have in the classroom is not the technology itself, but that the technology is actually used properly by the educators. If the educators are not trained to properly implement the technology in the classroom, or are unaware of supportive applications and programs to use, then the teacher should receive more training to properly implement the technology to the classroom. 

A plus for teachers using iPads however is the prevalence of research and assessment. They can gather information from their students in an instant using iPads and other new technologies. You can check on a student's individual progress, as well as actually monitor what is currently happening on their screen (to keep students on task). This however can be tedious, but overall it will be easier to evaluate where a student might be struggling.

There are, however, limitations to using iPads in the classroom. First and foremost there will be many schools or individual classes that there will be no budget for iPads. If there are certain classes in a school that are approved to use iPads, and others that are not, that creates a level of unfairness to other teachers and students who otherwise might want to use the technology but do not have access to it. There are also disabilities that could prevent students from using the iPads properly (blindness, dexterity issues, etc). And some students might not take care of the iPads properly or may break them, and then the school would have to deal with getting a broken iPad replaced or repaired (depending on if their insurance would cover it or not). 

There is also the issue of safe web practices in the classroom. Even if the iPads are used only for in-classroom activities, teachers will still have to create personal accounts of some kind for each child more than likely, and that information needs to be protected. Can someone come into the classroom and get any information about it's students? Can this information that is gathered on the iPads in the classroom make it to the web via Cloud? These are all things that need to be taken into consideration as well for the safety of the children.

Overall I believe that iPads in the classroom are a great idea, but should not be considered toys in the classroom. While it can be a fun tool to engage your students, as an educator all proper prepping, training, and precautions MUST be taken! You have to protect your students, and set them up for success by choosing proper applications and programs to give them the best chance of being successful. in using tablet technologies.