Emerging Technology
A current technology that emerged last year (2010) was the ipad. The ipad is a tablet of computers that was developed, designed and marketed by the Apple Inc. It is a tool that is easy to use, multi-featured and touch screen, portable, and lightweight. It has proven to be and a successful technology tool which “sits somewhere between the Smartphone and the laptop because of its better performance of certain things such as reading ebooks, browsing the internet and playing videos (New York Times, 2011). Since the release of the ipad, schools across the US are embracing this multimedia teaching tool because it offers enhanced ebooks that features images, video and audio.
In the classroom the ipad provides a more engaging experience for the students. Also, it can be used in the classroom for reading, listening/viewing, conducting research, organizing, publishing, communicating/collaborating, facilitating note taking, offering individualized instruction, teaching personal responsibility and gaming.
A challenge of the ipad is the cost which is around/between $400.00 to $800.00 which makes it more expensive compared to the Kindle. The ipad’s cost is a challenge because of budget cuts in education and school systems around the nation. Another challenge is that the ipad does not consolidate gadgets, lack e-textbooks, no camera, and no citation/equation support. Another problem of the ipad is its limited availability in higher education because of Apple’s supply issues.
The ipad’s societal need is that it is a family oriented interactive technology learning tool. It can replace books, magazines and newspapers. It can be used or shared by more than one person to read about what’s happening in the news or to check their email. Professional development on the proper use of the ipad for teachers and students in order for it to be used effectively the classroom.
To make the ipad better, Apple would have to lower the cost so that it could be affordable for school systems that may have some grant money to spend. Apple should fix their supply issues so that the ipad can be available in higher education as needed for learning and student engagement.
Apple Inc. (2011). Learning with the ipad. Apple in education. Retrieved from
The New York Times. (2011). Ipad. Retrieved from
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/i/ipad/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier
The ipad is the newest technology craze but I do not have enough data to make an informed decision about it. The cost does not outweigh the benefits of the product for me. I would probably research the ipad if someone donated to me or asked to use it for ninety days. Apple appears to have too many restrictions and the cost would be too expensive to the product because the monopoly.
ReplyDeleteSandra
Hi Marion,
ReplyDeleteI have been trying for since yesterday to comment on your blog. Hopefully, this will be accepted. I read an article from the NY Times about iPad use in a school in Long Island New York. Apparently the school purchased approximately 50 iPads and were trying them out to replace textbooks. Interestingly, Larry Cuban was quoted in the article about "there is very little evidence that kids learn more, faster or better by using these machines." We will see how it goes. Doubt if my school district will purchase any and give to students.
Hu, W. (2011, January 4). Math that moves: Schools embrace the iPad. The New York Times.
Marion,
ReplyDeleteThe iPad is an awesome technology! I agree with your assertion that Apple could lower the price in order to make this technology more available. What do you think a "school edition" iPad would look like?
I do believe that the Ipad has many uses in the classroom and in business. Our district uses Power Teacher for online grade reporting. Power Teacher now has an Ipad Application. It would be nice if the district provided Ipads to us to use on the go. However, as you stated, the cost discourages use and causes many of us not to view it as an emerging or emerged technology.
ReplyDeleteRoxanne