iPad in Education

[caramida]

Wanted: Someone who can help me figure out what I need to turn an iPad into a teaching appliance. I have a nebulous list of features in my head (including running in-classroom A/V switching and management), and I'd love to see it put into practice. I just don't have the tools or knowledge to implement this.

Anyone game?

Comments

[caramida.livejournal.com]

There are many school districts/schools that ban the use of cell-phones in class, even by teachers, even smart phones, even iPhones. Also, I would want to use it as a direct teaching tool, as well.

[darkforge.livejournal.com]

For AV I still think an iPod Touch would be better (it's not a cell phone) but if an iPad is the only way they'll let you bring it in, then so be it.

Anyway, for remote purposes, I'm pretty sure you just want this: http://theappleblog.com/2010/01/04/iphone-becomes-a-universal-remote-this-february/ It will also plug into an iPad.

Re: direct teaching tool, that's what I was attempting to argue against in my earlier post. A dozen people can't even really *see* an iPad all at once. How would you use it for teaching?

[caramida.livejournal.com]

First, there are many times when you are just working with a student or two, and something the size of a tablet would work fine for that, certainly better than a Touch. There's so much more real estate. Also, if you can do real-time mirroring from the iPad to a projection screen, it's something that all students can see. Plus something that size (I wouldn't mind a pc-style tablet computer at a more reasonable price, for that matter) is much easier to work with. There's a certain amount of direct concentration needed to manipulate a 3.5" diagonal screen.

[caramida.livejournal.com]

I can't easily pull up dictionary.com or wikipedia, for example, and show it to two or three students on my iPod Touch at a resolution that they can read it from 4-6 feet away.

[darkforge.livejournal.com]

I certainly agree that iPad is good for sharing with a small number of students.

Do you (can you?) currently use (e.g.) Powerpoint today? With a laptop? Or some other PC?