April 09 2012 / Jennifer Williamson
Approximately 600 school districts have transitioned from traditional textbooks to the iPad—and the change may soon be coming to college campuses. Proponents of the iPad in schools claim a range of benefits—from lowered costs to less strain on students’ backs. But is the iPad really a good replacement for a textbook? Here’s a look at the pros and cons.
The iPad Advantage
They’re more portable
[snip]
You don’t have to charge an iPad during the day
[snip]
Access to a wide range of learning resources
Where the iPad really excels is in its role as a device for information consumption. Instead of simply reading a textbook, students can take in the e-textbook, online libraries and resources, news sites, and more—all with an easy click. [snip].
More room in schools
With iPads for every student, schools won’t have to maintain distinct computer labs—freeing up space in many crowded schools. However, it should be pointed out that iPads work much better as personal devices than as shared ... .
It makes students more computer-literate
[snip]
Drawbacks of iPads in a Classroom Setting
Cost
[snip]
There’s a learning curve
[snip]
It’s difficult to type on an iPad
[snip]
The availability of textbooks is still small
[snip]
While a few primary and secondary school districts have made a transition to the iPad, the device is still not ubiquitous on college campuses. However, that may change—especially if administrators can find ways to cut costs by using the iPad. The technology has the potential to make some things easier in the classroom—but educators should also be aware of its limits.
The textbook. Reinvented for iPad.- YouTube.com
Source and Fulltext Available At
