Five Tips for Supporting iPads in the Classroom
Schools across the globe have begun investing in iPad tablet computers, hoping these devices will magically transform their learning environments. While there are countless examples of schools using iPads to redefine teaching and learning, the true magic in putting tablets in the classroom comes from effective teacher pedagogy and implementation models. So far this year, I've had the great fortune to launch or support 20 1-to-1 iPad classrooms. Here are five key tips I've learned along the way that might help teacher leaders and administrators embark on their own iPad initiatives:
1) One Classroom > Three Classrooms
Many schools purchase one or two iPad carts thinking that, like laptop or netbook carts, they can then be circulated throughout the building and checked out at will by interested teachers. Usually the rationale behind this is, "We spent X amount on iPads, so we want to get as many students' hands on them as possible." This model may work at times for devices like laptops, but it is not an effective use of iPads.
After all, we don't use iPads for instruction the way we might use them at home. Emailing a document to your husband or friend may be an efficient workflow when it's just you, but sending and receiving 30-120 files to and from your students on a daily basis presents a different problem altogether. While laptops give you the luxury of flash drives or desktop file folders, these are not an option with...
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