Ever since my last two posts related to this topic (one about general apps and one related to science education), I have thought more about various apps that could and should be developed for the iPad. Some of these ideas may be based on existing iPhone apps or other software platforms, but all of these could prove invaluable to K-12 and/or college students. Many of these are more geared towards science education since that is my expertise, but I have included other apps as well.
There has been so much hype and free press for the Apple iPad that another tablet PC has gone almost unnoticed. It is the enTourage eDGe. Chances are you have not even heard about the eDGE unless you are technophile or a fan of Google’s Android OS.
Recently, one of my blog readers posted a comment asking me about my views on how the iPad will impact science education. He has written his own opinion on the issue here. As a physics teacher myself, this is something I have thought about quite a bit. I will not go over its potential as a textbook again since I have addressed that issue in a previous post.
Lots of people have been bringing up excellent questions about implementing and using the iPad in classrooms. Some of these comments and concerns have come from my own blog, while others have come from the blogs of others as I have tried to learn as much about the iPad as possible. One thing I have noticed through my research is that no one has really attempted to address these concerns. As an educator, I know that a teacher’s time is invaluable and often does not have time to seek out the answers themselves, and I know how frustrating it is to have lots of questions and not being able to find the answers. That was part of the reason behind me developing this blog.
Below is a work in progress of something that I thought of earlier today. I was thinking about the current state of Education in America and how it seems that nearly everyone agrees that things could be done differently and better. I think it is about time that We, the People, stand up in unison so that it is known that we want real change. The movement would require commitment from all across the country, from groups in individual schools, school districts, states, and the entire nation. In order from real change to occur, it is about time we state that we want more independence and control of the education of our children. The standards and mandates from the federal and state levels are making this increasingly more difficult to achieve.
My previous post about iPads mentioned the power the iPad has for dramatically changing the way that teachers teach and students learn. I also casually mentioned that the success of the iPad will depend greatly on the apps that will be developed for the iPad. There are apps out there for the iPod Touch and the iPhone that may be similar to what I will describe below, but my intention is not to copy what others have already created. Instead, my intention is to provide the conceptual framework for three apps the iPad will definitely need in order to succeed as a game changer in schools. The three concepts relate to note taking, studying and reviewing, and individualizing curriculum. In my previous post I outlined how the iPad can impact these areas. Below is a description of the function of the apps necessary to make this work.
At the end of January I wrote an article about the iPad and it’s potential impact in education. Since that time I have done more research and pondering on the topic. I have also convinced my wife to allow me to purchase one when it goes on sell. I can hardly wait!
Apple Computer, Inc. officially announced their latest product will be released in March 2010. Apple is hoping to revolutionize the industry once more with the advent of the iPad.
The iPad is supposed to fit the niche between smart phones and laptops. Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Computer, said in order to do this, the iPad has to be better than the smart phones and better than laptops at certain things. It cannot compete with these items on all levels. Besides, Apple already has the iPhone and the Macbook in those markets. They are wanting to open up a completely new market with something in the middle.
