Wednesday, February 01, 2012
The iPad in Education
Never before have I been so interested in an announcement aimed at the education-sector as I was with last week’s announcements from Apple. Having children has changed that, just as they’ve changed many aspects of my life. When the iPad was first announced in 2010, I put together a short list of areas in which it could be affective, and education was one of those. With the launch of iBooks Author, the iTunes U app, and the updated iBooks 2 app, that opportunity has been cemented. However, the educational benefits of the iPad have shown their face long before this announcement.
I read a post earlier this month questioning why adults are amazed when children, even as young as 2 years old can pick up an iPad and use it with ease. Surely these are superior children that possess Mensa-quality intellect and will be running the country by the time they’re 7! As much as I’d like to think that, again speaking as a parent, I no longer believe that’s the case. That’s not to say I don’t think my children aren’t intelligent (or even above average). The truth is, the iPad is easy to use. Period. As I’ve written before, I’ve seen both of my kids use the device, navigate through the screens of apps, find their favorites and use them with ease. So simple, so elegant, so…what’s next.
The announcements from Apple, iBooks 2, iBooks Author, and the refined and retuned iTunes U (making it’s app debut) are all amazing elements when you look at them on their own merit. But it’s when you lump them all together that a truly-inspired vision of what the future of education could be. While the approach from Apple locks schools into one platform and one device, it’s an approach that I’ve not seen rolled out on such a promising scale. These items aside, I’ve seen my own children use the iPad as more than just a gaming device, but rather an educational tool. My youngest son has two favorite apps, AlphaTots and TallyTots and after using them he’s now able to easily recite the alphabet and count to 20. What’s the draw to these apps? They’re engaging, they’re entertaining, and they’re able to present lessons in an easy-to-understand format. Who knows what role, if any, the iPad (or similar devices) will play in education, but it appears to off to a good start.
