The Power of Ipads in the Classroom LRC 320 Alex Suarez Marlene Grayson Philip Porter Tess Donovan

The Beginning On January 27, 2010, Steve Jobs introduced the Ipad. The Ipad was a device that mixed the Iphone and the Macbook perfectly. By April 2011 the Ipad had sold 15 million units! That is more than every other tablet sold combined.

The Technology The Ipad is very easy to comprehend. As a whole it only has four buttons: the home button, volume keys, and lock screen. The main technology is the large touch screen. Having such a huge screen makes apps (applications) much more user-friendly for all ages. Also now that there is an app for anything the Ipad is completely customizable.

Elementary ●The Ipad has begun to be used as a teaching/learning tool in schools in grades as early as elementary school. ●This new form of teaching helps hold the attention of children in a school setting by keeping them engaged on fun learning activities. ●Ipads allow for customized learning for each individual student, because all children learn at a different pace and with different learning styles. ○ Teachers can monitor which questions each student got right and wrong, along with which level each student has passed, allowing for a more individualized lesson plan for each student.

Elementary ●Many studies have shown that the implementation of the Ipad in elementary schools have had a positive impact on children’s learning. ○ According to the US Department of Education, students using technology based instruction take 30-80% less time to reach a learning objective. ○ A PBS survey concluded that 77% of teachers found tablets to “increase student motivation to learn”. ●Along with being beneficial through the learning aspect, Ipads will save money in the long run. ○ According to a 2012 study conducted by FCC, K-12 school districts spent more than $8 billion per year on textbooks. ■ E-textbooks cost 50-60% less, saving schools between $250-$1000 per student per year. ○ E-textbooks can be updated immediately, while new print textbooks need to be purchased for an updated version.

High School ● High Schools are beginning to recognize the concept of Ipads inside the classroom as an extra learning tool to students with basic understanding and familiarity with technology o Ipads allow students to condense their semester reading from printed paper textbooks to a singular device o Digital note taking and the creation of many study- related applications allow students to quickly take notes with a keyboard rather than a pen and paper. o Ipads eliminate creative limitations on assignments, as students are able to use audio, photo, and video capabilities within the classroom

High School ● Case study at Burlington High School, Massachusetts o Burlington High School created a curriculum surrounding the understanding that technology is already extremely prevalent in high school student’s lives. This was called “The Ipad one-to-one Program”. o The addition of Ipads was meant to allow kids to get excited about learning through familiar technology.  Teachers noticed strength in the student body’s attention and engagement in the subject matter  Students claimed to feel more in charge over their schedules  Students became more organized and gained excitement about learning

Ipads and Special Education ● Students who otherwise couldn’t communicate well, type or read, and schedule their days now can ● Ipads also allow them to fit in more o Because many apps fit on one ipad, schedules, timers, communication devices and much more adaptive technology can now be held in one hand with a mainstream device

The Independence of Ipads ● Scheduling o Students can use Ipad picture schedules to understand their activities for the day and communicate what they want to do ●Communication ○ With pictures and apps that speak for students they can efficiently communicate with a touch of their finger ●Reading Skills ○ Traditional books don’t have the capability to enlarge font, read words out loud, be interactive, or present sounds and pictures, but ipads do ●Timing ●For some students, the concept of time can be unclear, but many apps are available to present students with timers Here’s a link to some awesome ipad and iphone apps for special needs students