Is Anyone Teaching Class With iPad

[wyneken]

... I do think there is plenty of room for technology in the class room. I just think it's too distracting in the lecture hall. Your students need to be focusing on the material you're presenting, not the tools you're using to present it. If you think they are capable of doing that, then by all means use the iPad.

I feel like we're straying into a different conversation here. The OP asked a couple of specific questions about using the iPad as a teacher -- like whether it's possible to cut-and-paste from the web into class notes. Other teachers like me responded that, yeah, you can do that, and other stuff too. It's cool!

Now you seem to be hearing voices murmuring seductively that we teachers ought to forget the material we are presenting, and focus instead on the tools we're using to present it. Nobody but you is actually suggesting such a thing, and you are not a teacher yourself, but nonetheless you are bravely taking a stand to save us from this grave imaginary error.

We are so grateful for your conditional approval to do our jobs the way we please ("If you think they are capable of doing that, then by all means use the iPad") and we extend our sincere best wishes to your fiancé, who apparently has a rough road ahead. Is she allowed to own an iPad too, or does she first have to prove she can handle it?

 

[parseckadet]

I feel like we're straying into a different conversation here. The OP asked a couple of specific questions about using the iPad as a teacher -- like whether it's possible to cut-and-paste from the web into class notes. Other teachers like me responded that, yeah, you can do that, and other stuff too. It's cool!

Now you seem to be hearing voices murmuring seductively that we teachers ought to forget the material we are presenting, and focus instead on the tools we're using to present it. Nobody but you is actually suggesting such a thing, and you are not a teacher yourself, but nonetheless you are bravely taking a stand to save us from this grave imaginary error.

We are so grateful for your conditional approval to do our jobs the way we please ("If you think they are capable of doing that, then by all means use the iPad") and we extend our sincere best wishes to your fiancé, who apparently has a rough road ahead. Is she allowed to own an iPad too, or does she first have to prove she can handle it?

I wasn't questioning whether teachers can handle an iPad, I was questioning whether the students will be too distracted by the teacher's use of it in class (specifically during lectures). I'm also not questioning a teacher's ability to evaluate the tools they use to perform their job. Finally, I never claimed to be, nor intended to project that I was, an expert in all things related to teaching.

All I did was point out that my fiance has made the choice to limit the use of technology in her class room because it detracted from the learning environment. Others may have this experience, or they may not. I thought it would provide value to supply a response that differed from the "Use the iPad for everything you can just because you can," cheer leading that others express around here.

And since you asked, my fiance does have her own iPad.

Now would you like a step ladder? It looks pretty high up there on your horse.

 

[godrifle]

You might find MacLearning a good resource. It's an online community focused on the educational use of Apple and Apple-related technology: http://maclearning.org/

 

[wyneken]

Now would you like a step ladder? It looks pretty high up there on your horse.

Sorry, you're right. I think I need some kind of time-delay mechanism on any "Send" or "Submit" button. I wonder if there's an app for that.

 

[parseckadet]

Sorry, you're right. I think I need some kind of time-delay mechanism on any "Send" or "Submit" button. I wonder if there's an app for that.

No worries. I understand, despite NEVER having done something similar...cough...

 

[jennmelb]

Teaching with iPads an exciting evolving experience.

I've been teaching with an iPad with tertiary students since sept 2010. It has become an invaluable tool for me, in the classroom and as an administrative assistant. There is huge potential for teachers at all levels to use this device. In both 1:1 settings where all students and the teacher and have an iPad, or in those where just the teacher has one, the opportunities for linking with information, sharing documents, collaborating on and creating content is enhanced.

It's perhaps too soon to know if there are measurable improvements to student learning by using iPads, but I'd imagine that improvements are just as hard to measure with other forms of network linked technology. Time will tell.

As to whether iPads distract students from the lessons, iPads are no different to other technologies like laptops, phones, iPods, or pens and paper. (I loved to draw when bored in lectures). Students can be distracted by many things, often unrelated to technology. Good classroom management, engaging relevant content, and engaging delivery minimize distraction and maximize potential learning.

It's actually quite insulting to experienced teachers when they are assumed to be so blinded by a new technological opportunity that they will abandon pedagogy and good teaching to focus on it. This line often appears in critiques of, or doom-like warnings about iPad use in teaching, like the responses to that recent NYT article cited above. These narrow critiques mostly come from people who don't teach, haven't tried the iPad themselves, or have brand issues. Experienced teachers know when a particular learning situation can benefit from technology use, and when it is indeed more appropriate to use a whiteboard and marker, or simply have a vigorous discussion or debate.

 

[charlituna]

Is it better or just cool. I was given a Kindle for xmas. I like the feel of a book to read. But I teach a class every week. I put the class together on word and then print it out. If could email it to an ipad that might be a real step forward.

I've heard you can't multi-task with ipad. Does that mean I could be in the class room searched the net for a reference and then insert it into my class notes?

Please advise

Thanks

Another dead thread revival, this time to spam, but again it is interesting to look back at how far we have come.

Now we have iTunes U, iBooks Author, textbooks from major companies etc. schools are jumping to go iPad left and right.

 

[tmurray87]

When I student taught this past fall (with a fifth grade class) I used my iPad 3 a great deal. I would have my notes or lesson plans up on it via dropbox (since I was not able to use the in school wifi) I would also connect via (I want to say) VGA cable to the project and use some of the apps on the smartboard. For math I also set a certain group of children to use fraction apps so they could practice. It made my life so much easier. I only wish I could have had used the wifi so I could have just used an apple tv to mirror the ipad without a wire hanging.

 

[sine-nomine]

I found my iPad to be quite handy while teaching last semester, especially in recitation, since I could keep their homework, quiz info, course calendar and notes, and the digital textbook open and ready to go. If nothing else, it greatly reduced the number and weight of items I had to take with me into the classroom.

 

[JGowan]

Yes... I've lectured with it. Teaching high school graphic design is done best with an iPad. Using the photo app, I build me example graphics where I can pinch and zoom into the work. The device is plugged into a projector and works great! Always a pleasure teaching this way.

 

[johndallas999]

Is it better or just cool. I was given a Kindle for xmas. I like the feel of a book to read. But I teach a class every week. I put the class together on word and then print it out. If could email it to an ipad that might be a real step forward.

I've heard you can't multi-task with ipad. Does that mean I could be in the class room searched the net for a reference and then insert it into my class notes?

Please advise

Thanks

What a confusing post. Hope this isn't my kids teacher!

 

[Internaut]

Oddly enough, my sister has delivered lectures to one of her classes using a Kindle Fire HD. In terms of the features she uses, she tries to keep everything fairly simple, as the devices her (mostly adult) students bring range from a bottom of the range Chromebook to a top of the rang iPad.

 

[opinio]

Is it better or just cool. I was given a Kindle for xmas. I like the feel of a book to read. But I teach a class every week. I put the class together on word and then print it out. If could email it to an ipad that might be a real step forward.

I've heard you can't multi-task with ipad. Does that mean I could be in the class room searched the net for a reference and then insert it into my class notes?

Please advise

Thanks

I use the iPad with Apple TV 3 to give demos and run through PDFs etc at work.