iPods and iPads in Education
Current trends in media technologies have great potential for education. Specifically, personal audio and video players enable educators to expand their curriculum to meet the mobile and media-rich learning styles of today's students. Furthermore, they extend teaching and learning beyond the normal classroom hours, allowing students to easily and continuously learn.
Educational iPod and iPad Uses at a Glance
- Podcasts - Sync education podcasts created by students and teachers for learning on the go.
- Audiobooks - Download audiobooks on a multitude of subjects from authors including Elie Wiesel, William Shakespeare, and Mark Twain.
- Music - Supplement a history lesson and bring rich cultural, historical, and educational value to all subject areas.
- Photos - Bring new life to science experiments, art history, and journalism projects.
- Videos - Experience a wide range of visual content, from short documentaries to foreign language lessons, for even more learning opportunities.
Pricing
iPod Touch in Education
iPod Features, Specs, Gallery
iPod Specs
What is an iPod Touch?
iPod Features
iPod Games and Apps
iPod and iTunes
iPod Gallery
PROS AND CONS OF iPODS IN EDUCATION
PROS
- Portable and lightweight
- Battery Life 7-10 hours
- Supports student engagement, differentiation, and collaboration needs
- Access to information is immediate and current
- Educational podcasts and apps are abundant, free, or inexpensive
CONS
- Possible management and theft issues
- No camera
- No applications
- Small Screen / Keyboard
- Droppable and breakable
iPod Apps Learning Resources
Kathy Schrock iPads in the Classroom
Mobile Learning 4 Special Needs
Apple iPod and iPad Learning Resources
Granite School District iPod resources
Elementary Educational iPad Apps shared by Provo District
AppCraver
Tony Vincent’s Learning in Hand – iPods in the Classroom
eThemes iPod Resources
You-Tube iPods in Education Videos
A Classroom in Your Pocket Slideshow
Why an iPod Touch in Education
19 Interesting Ways to use an iPod in the Classroom
Student Use Examples
Math Magic
http://www.sdb.k12.wi.us/mathmagic
iPod Education Apps Examples and Recommendations
Favorite Apps Recommended by Apple
Acalanes Learning Continuity
Apps in Education
iPod Touch Apple Interchange Lesson Ideas
Top 50 iPhone Apps for Education
Educational App Reviews
Videos Make Magic for Math Teachers
UC Berkeley on iTunes U Galvanizes Campus
Elementary School Students Become Podcasting Pros
iPads in Education
What is an iPad?
The iPad is the first tablet computer developed by Apple Inc. Announced on January 27, 2010, it is part of a device category between a smartphone and a laptop computer.
Information on the iPad:
iPad Specs
Apps for iPads
iPad Features
iPad Design
iPad Gallery
iPad Guided Tours
iPad in Education on YouTube
40 Interesting Ways to Use the iPad in Education
PROS & CONS OF BUYING AN iPAD
For schools interested in purchasing iPads for educational use, here is some information that may be helpful. Let’s start with Pros and Cons.
PROS:
- Hundreds of educational iPad apps, more every day
- iPod and iPhone apps run on iPad
- Read books in iBooks
- Multi-touch display
- Rotate iPad to view pages in landscape
- Excellent screen clarity
- Navigating on iPad by touching the screen
- Ease of use
- Shallow learning curve for users
- Single-tasking may help certain students focus better
- Better battery life than many laptops, up to 10 hours
CONS:
- iPad is not a computer, but more like a big iPod/iPhone.
- iPads cannot be used for state testing.
- iPad does not have an external keyboard.
- The only images that can be sent to a projector from an iPad are from Mac programs called Pages and iMovie. In other words, you cannot project your actual iPad screen to demonstrate processes to students.
- The iPad, much like the iPhone, is completely locked down, which means that you cannot make changes to hardware configuration without voiding the warranty.
- iPad is not compatible with Adobe’s flash technology
- Some popular sites for education, such as Starfall use Flash, so students could not access it from an iPad. Companies like Starfall would need to develop apps specifically for the iPad.
- iPads will not survive a drop of even a few feet. A protective case is essential, and even then an iPad will break if not handled with care.
- iPad does not multi-task. It can't run background processes.
- iPad has a maximum storage of 64 GBiPad.
- iPad does not have a user-removable battery.
-
iPad does not have an HDMI port for easy compatibility with HDTVs
iPad is a bit heavy.
- It weighs 1.5 pounds.
- iPads need adapters. If you want to plug anything into the iPad, such as a digital camera, you need all sorts of adapters, including a USB adapter.
iPads Apps
What are they?
Apps are sort of like small applications ranging from games to education to productivity. For example, the Google Earth app is a version of Google Earth made specifically for the iPad.
How much do they cost?
There are thousands of free apps. Others range in price from 99 cents on up.
What are some fun apps to start out with?
iBooks . Go to the store and find the free section. Download from hundreds of choices, such as Winne the Pooh. Download from hundreds of free books at the Gutenberg project .
Early Reading:
Dr. Seuss’s ABC . A perennial favorite of children and adults alike, Dr. Seuss’s ABC is sure to delight.
Science:
The Elements: A Visual Exploration is one of the first ebooks developed from the ground up for the iPad. The opening image in The Elements shows every element as a rotating sample. To learn more, users can zoom in on the element and see razor-sharp images and up-to-the-minute facts about the chosen sample. The awe-inspiring features of this app must be seen to be truly appreciated.
Astronomy:
GoSkyWatch Planetarium . Locate celestial bodies with a quick touch, or by simply pointing the iPad screen at the sky. One of the coolest features of this program is the ability of the user to direct the night sky image backward and forward through time, allowing students to check out the arrangement of the stars on the date of their birth.
Music Appreciation:
Magic Piano turns an iPad into a handheld keyboard. Like other music apps for Apple products, sers can play songs both independently and through application-guided selections. However, the unique aspect of the app is the “piano roulette” function, which makes it possible for players to join in duets with performers from across the world. What a way to build interest in music among reluctant young students.
23 Interesting Ways to use an iPad in the Classroom
Apptiivities / It's the application of apps
Here are some links that might be helpful as you look into purchasing iPads.
The GUTS: step-by-step tear down of iPad
Comments from PC World
An article on Safari on the iPad
Ten Things the iPad Doesn't Have
iPAD CASES
If you are considering the purchase of an iPad, the purchase of a case is mandatory. High performing, flexible, plastic-like material protects your iPad from minor impact and scratches, and extend the usable life of the device. Cases do not, however, protect the iPad from breakage. A drop from even a couple feet off the floor may break the glass
|
