Leandra+Lewis


 * Diffusing iPad's into Education**
 * by Leandra Lewis**

The innovation that I believe will be the most benefit to education is the iPad. I’ve chosen this innovation over the others because it offers the most flexibility and could be the tool used for the other innovations researched; online collaboration and online learning tools. The iPad is a fairly new tool and is a controversial subject in education just as many other technological devices. However, despite what criticshave to say about the iPad, the fact still remains that the iPad offers many options to classroom teachers and students that will maximize learning. Simply put, the iPad offers something forevery user, with and without a learning disability, to enhance the learning experience. Educators have a ton of appsat their disposal; some are free and others may require a nominal fee. There are other features of the iPad that may prove useful to the classroom as well depending on the content area, such as,iTunes, maps and iWorks to name a few. The iPad is growing in popularity and many schools/districts have found success. The results have varied between teachers,schools, and districts across the country. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has been piloting iPads in the classroomfor over a year now. Those teachers thatwere selected to participate in the program have found that student engagementhas increased tremendously. At theprimary level, students are able to get additional support with phonics andphonemic awareness, in addition to vocabulary. In the upper grades, teachers are using various apps that are contentrelated to enhance the learning environment (Mulholland, 2011). However, critics are not convinced that usingiPads in the learning environment has a significant impact on studentachievement. In an article found inDistrict Administration, it states that because most often these devices arefound on carts, the amount of time that students use them is limited becausethe resources are shared. From theteacher perspective, having these items available on a “mobile cart” makes thema supplemental add-on to current curriculum and pedagogical strategies (Norris andSoloway, 2011). Clearly this is anexample of how social systems can impede successfully diffusing and innovation,but I’m a firm believer that with time and great communication systems, these challenges can be overcome.

References Mulholland, J. B.(2011). iPads strengthen education. Government Technology, 24(4), 20-24. Norris,C., Soloway, E. (2011). Mobile devices as essential tools. DistrictAdministration, 47(4), 70.

//**STORYBOARD PRESENTATION﻿**// __**[|Ipad storyboard.pptm]**__


 * Week 5 update**
 * [[file:Ipad storyboard.pptm]]﻿**
 * Final Presentation**
 * [[file:Ipad .ppt]]﻿**