Tablets have become so powerful that they are replacing laptops in schools. The number of apps
for classroom instruction is now in the
hundreds of thousands. And a single
tablet can hold hundreds of digital
textbooks, saving schools money and
lightening students’ backpacks. What’s
more, research indicates that standardized test scores rise and students
are more motivated to read when they
use electronic devices appropriately.
Top Tablets for Education
Apple’s iPad has the largest share of
the education market by far with more
than 90%, in part because it was the
first tablet to be adopted widely in
classrooms. Apple’s commitment to
education includes iAuthor, a free
app that allows teachers to create and
publish their own books with features
such as interactive diagrams and 3D
objects.
Samsung is gaining fast on Apple,
however, with its Galaxy Note tablets
featuring an S-Pen with handwriting
recognition. Google’s Nexus 7 takes
advantage of Google Education apps,
books, and videos organized by grade,
subject, or Common Core standard.
Amazon’s Kindle, although originally an e-reader, has evolved into a
multifunction tablet with the Fire.
Whispercast allows teachers to manage
multiple Kindles, load content, block
inappropriate sites, and form study
groups. Kindle e Textbooks, also on
iPads and Android devices, offers discounts on texts as well as sophisticated
navigation and note-taking functions.
Microsoft Surface is one of the new-est entries, boasting a touch-optimized
version of Microsoft Office 2013 RT
and a USB 2.0 port.
Company
Amazon
www.amazon.com
Apple
www.apple.com
Barnes & Noble
www.barnesandnoble.com
Google
www.google.com
Microsoft
www.microsoft.com
Samsung
www.samsung.com
Effective Integration
Before teachers can successfully improve their students’ learning with
tablets, they must be trained how to
use them and how to maximize the
devices’ learning potential.
School districts need to examine the
applications that come with the tablet,
the apps they can download for free,
and the apps they must purchase—
and not just during the initial phases
of implementation. The app market
is not static, and a process must be in
place to encourage and support ongoing discussion of new apps as well as
thoughtful, creative uses for them.
Many districts have committees that
frequently review new apps and make
decisions about which ones to acquire.
Keep in Mind
Before integrating tablets, schools
need to establish guidelines to address
cyberbullying, cheating, and other activities that put students at risk. Well-considered acceptable use policies can
be helpful, but teachers are finding
that the best way to avoid negative
behavior is to take full advantage of
the positive, productive, and motivating features of tablets.
Schools also must budget for more
than just the tablets. Accessories include protective covers, full-size Blue-tooth keyboards, and extended war-ranties. Each classroom may also need
its own projector adapter, external
speakers, and recharging station.
Tablets can be an economical technology solution as long as the curriculum is carefully thought out and educators receive training and support.
—Maureen Yoder, EdD, is on the faculty of
Lesley University’s educational technology
program.
BUYER’Sguide
