1. Itech 7445 Emerging Technology report Ipads change the classroom
Ryan Ridgely

2. What the iPad brings to education.
The iPad is a mobile device that offers students many educational options.
The iPad has wifi capabilities which enable it to access the internet and utilize its vast resources.
The iPad also has access to the Apple Appstore which gives it access to many different types of applications. These applications can be integrated into math, science, history, and language arts classrooms at any grade level.
The applications range from simple games to professional tools.

3. Why the iPad?
There are many different tablet computers available. Some at much lower prices than the iPad.
Why then should schools invest in the Apple iPad?
The answer is the Apple Appstore, which offers a much wider availability of educational content than competitors.
The iPad is also much easier to lock down with administrator controls than its competitors. Teachers and IT professionals can control what content students have access too.

4. Equitable
One great feature of the iPad is that it can be used by all students.
The iPad comes with built in functionality for screen reading, speech to text, and text enlarging. These features should make the device easy to navigate by students with physical and mental impairments.
The iPad also promotes differentiation.
The iPad allows students to access many different types of resources to learn content. Students with difficulty reading will be able to see pictures, videos, and easier readings to supplement the material being covered.
Many of the educational games have difficulty levels that can be adapted to the students understanding of the material.

5. How the iPad fits into our school system.
The goal of the Bartow County school system is to provide students with state of the art technology.
In Bartow County, schools have been modernizing with wireless networks and offering mobile labs consisting of laptops to the High Schools and Middle Schools.
Bringing iPads into all classrooms would give more students access to the technology and make many new resources available to both students and teachers.
iPads would utilize the infrastructure already in place and utilize it in a greater capacity to engage all students in positive and interesting learning experiences.

6. How can the iPad benefit our classrooms?
The iPad is an appropriate tool for many different subjects and grade levels.
One excellent example of how it can be integrated into all high school classrooms in Bartow County would be USA test prep. USA test prep is a website that all high school students in Bartow County use to prepare for standardized tests.
Currently students must leave the classroom and access the website using the computer labs. Through the use of iPads students would have easier access to the site and would be able to access it more frequently.
USA test prep tracks content that students have mastered and also content that students need more help with through quizzes and games that students use on the site. With more frequent use teachers would get a better understanding of which content they need to focus on.

7. Other uses for the iPad
Apart from just making the internet more widely available, iPads have a lot of unique software available to them.
The software ranges from simple games based on different content areas to professional tools.
An example of a great professional grade tool students could utilize in a geography classroom would be ArcGIS.
ArcGIS is a geographic information system in which students can collect information about an area such as population growth or income distribution. Using the GIS software students would be able to create highly customizable charts and maps to analyze their data.
This is the type of application that real geographers use in their day to day jobs. ArcGIS is available free on the iPad and brings an authentic experience to students.
ArcGIS

8. Content Creation
The iPad also simplifies content creation for students.
Using the iPad’s built in camera and microphone students can use software such as iMovie to create mock news casts, record interviews, and create presentations.
Students will be able to shoot their video and edit it without using any other technology. The video can then be uploaded to various websites to share with classmates or even students from other schools.
iMovie is available for $5.

9. Integrating into Schools
If iPads were chosen to be the next technology for Bartow County Schools it would be relatively easy to integrate into our existing network. The iPads would be able to use our current infrastructure.
Training resources are available from various sources. Many resources about integrating the iPad into classrooms can be found online for free. One excellent example is . This site highlights excellent applications and has many tutorials specifically for teachers.
There are also organizations like edtechteacher which offer seminars that school systems may be interested in sending teachers too in order to learn about the iPad in education.
One great thing about the iPad is that many students and teachers already know how to use them as they are a common item found in many homes. ?

10. Safety There are very little safety concerns with the iPad.
All connections to the internet will be filtered by the schools network filters. Any questionable content that is already being blocked on school computers will be blocked on the iPad as well.
The device also comes with built in administrator controls which will keep students from accessing the Appstore to install applications. Only teachers and staff members will have access to these functions.
The iPad does have the option to take videos and pictures which can be shared online. This could lead to great applications and collaboration in schools. Students from schools across the country could work on the same projects together. These options can be disabled and monitored to ensure student safety.

11. Device Cost
The full size iPad costs $500 and the recently released iPad mini costs $329.
These prices are comparable to laptops that many school districts purchase for students.
Applications for the iPad generally range from free to $10. One differentiating factors with iPad software is that it’s often a one time fee and not licensed like many PC and Mac software.

12. Support Cost
There are many training resources available for free. Others like the package available at simplek12.com can be purchased for about $60 per teacher.
Each iPad comes with a one year warranty. An extended warranty from Square Trade can be purchased for $129 per device. This covers the iPad for 2 years. $

13. Funding
In order to fund the deployment of iPads there are various options available.
Redistribute funds that were originally intended for computer labs or laptop purchases. This would make sense if iPads could fill in the role of these devices or if your computer labs and library computers aren’t in need of a refresh.
Grants are another option. There are very few options available specifically for iPads. But there are organizations that offer grants to teachers and schools that can be used on iPads. Many options can be located on the website

14. Proven Effective
There are various studies that find that the iPad has improved student learning.
Most studies find that students are more engaged in the lessons because they find the technology fun to use.
One example is a study by a USC Professor who found improved math scores in 122 students who used the iPad to play a game called Math motion. In the study students used Math Motion for 20 minutes a day. The study found a 15% rise in fractions scores. (link)

15. Implementation
I believe the best plan for implementation would be to offer the devices first to teachers who volunteer to use them and receive training. This ensures the devices will be used rather than sitting unused.
Hopefully once teachers who are hesitant to implement iPads see how effective they can be, then they will want to use them as well.
The teachers who do volunteer should be given training on how to implement the devices in their content area, along with suggestions for various apps and uses for the device.
It may be helpful to send each department head to a training seminar to learn more advanced applications for the device.
I don’t think teachers should initially be pressured to change their entire teaching style. Instead teachers should be slowly educated on how to best use the devices. Teachers who are unfamiliar with online teaching approaches like web quests should be introduced to online education.

16. Reflection
During my research I became convinced that tablets will be a great tool for education.
I believe the iPad will be the most prominent of these devices in the classroom due to the push by Apple to have educational software on the device.
Cost will be prohibitive to many school districts but those that can afford to implement the iPad in their classrooms will find improved student learning and engagement.
The iPad is a versatile device that provides for many educational opportunities that haven’t been readily available before.
Educational games, ebooks, content creation, professional tools, and instant access to information. All of these applications will have a positive impact on students for years to come.