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"Studies have shown that typing notes requires shallower levels of cognitive processing than handwriting, as subjects often tend to type verbatim what they hear without really engaging with its substance to the level that is required for greater understanding and better recollection. In contrast, handwriting appears to be more cognitively demanding. According to these studies,  subjects who use handwriting are generally forced to rephrase what hear into their own words, thus creating "more effective memory cues by recreating the context (e.g., thought processes, emotions, conclusions) as well as content (e.g., individual facts) from the original learning session". The evidence against typing your notes is pretty compelling. And then there were tablets Tablets introduce another level of complexity to this problem, since they can be used both to type and handwrite notes. So what are we to do? Are we to avoid using the tablets and stick to pen and paper? If we do use tablets for note taking, are we to force students to handwrite notes on their tablets using a stylus? And are we to ban students from typing up notes on their tablets? After all, that is what the research appears to suggests."

"The increasing number of tablet owners in the U.S. is changing the way people shop from in-store to online - 20% of all mobile ecommerce sales now come from tablets and 60% of tablet owners have purchased goods using a tablet."

"Teachers can't escape the growing trend of technology in the classroom. It's more than just hype. More schools are buying tablets for use in the classroom, with Apple's tablet sales to the education sector doubling last year. As a mobile software company whose product is used extensively in education, we dream big about the future of technology in the classroom. We have worked with numerous great teachers who have successfully leveraged tablets to improve the learning experience for students. Are you tempted to join the trend? Here are ten tips for introducing tablets into your classroom."

"It seems tablets are in more classrooms, in more districts, each day. But as experience shows, simply purchasing and distributing tablets doesn't mean students will be more engaged with their learning, and it doesn't guarantee teachers will embrace tech-enabled instruction. Implementing tablets and leveraging the tools to support teaching and learning goals might be easier with the right approach, according to Doug Fisher, professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University and teacher leader at Health Sciences High; Nancy Frey, professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University and teacher leader at Health Sciences High; and Alex Gonzales, technology leader at Health Sciences High. These three educators have devised a model they call the gradual release of responsibility (GRR) model, which imparts both instructional strategies and technology tips for educators planning for, deploying, and integrating tablets into classrooms."

"When you look at the very best work happening in iPad classrooms, you'll see students creating media, showcasing their understanding, collaborating with peers, and communicating with broad audiences. The pockets of excellence are ever-present and inspiring. On the whole, however, tablets are most often used to reproduce existing practices-to distribute resources and enable students to take notes. Past generations of school leaders might have been forgiven for permitting these patterns of technology adoption, but today we have the benefit of history to look back on. We know that without a change in our technology integration strategies, there's no reason to expect that a new device will magically create new teaching practices in schools. To make the most of the investment in tablet computers, school leaders need to do three things. First, they need to work with their communities to articulate a clear vision for how new technology will improve instruction. Second, they need to help educators imagine how new technologies can support those visions. Finally, they need to support teachers and students on a developmental journey that will take them from using tablets for consumption to using them for curation, creation, and connection."

"At the time of this writing, there are nearly 70 million tablet users in the U.S. alone, a figure that has doubled from the year before. This means that nearly 30% of the country's Internet users are browsing on a tablet device. Tablet traffic to e-commerce sites grew by 348% from 2011 to 2012, overtaking smartphone traffic for the first time. With the tablet market as young as it is, its footprint is only going to expand."

"I've never really thought about this until now, but if you use a tablet extensively, you have to watch how you're seated when you're using it. Just like how you sit in front of a normal computer matters to your back and neck posture, the same rules equally apply to when you're using your iPad, Android tablet or Kindle Fire."

"Tablets are not for everyone. Most people are perfectly capable of making it through the day checking email, reading, and watching videos on their smartphone until they can make it home to their laptop. That being said, tablets were sent from on high for student life. They're cheaper and easier to transport than laptops, yet they're more substantial and full-featured than smartphones."

"When I was a kid, I dreamt about our school desks as computer screens. How cool would it have been to be able to draw, write, and learn directly onto my own computer? As the years went on, people theorized that laptops would take over the classroom, but the price of these devices was too high for a 1 to 1 ratio. It never quite caught on in lower grade schools. Now, it is the age of the tablet. We have affordable high-powered computers that can provide all sorts of enrichment through an intuitive touch screen interface and the education world is taking notice. More and more classrooms are imagining the curriculum in the context of each child having his or her own tablet. Yet, some educators are still skeptical. How can a piece of technology truly enhance the learning process, without causing distraction?"

"Patrick Larkin, Assistant Superintendent for Learning, Burlington Public School District, Burlington, Ma, recalls a question someone posed to him: "Is the tablet an education solution, or an education problem?" His answer, and common sense approach to changing the school and learning environment is a professional development lesson for all. Enjoy my interview with Patrick Larkin, and learn why he's become one of the most respected tablet education voices today-and for the future."

"f you're reading this on the iPad or browsing through our iPad magazine, you're going to want to read this. A new study from Belkin, Harvard School of Public Health, and Microsoft has found that tablet users may be at high risk to develop neck discomfort based on behaviors driven by the limitations of tablet designs."

"Research and analysis blog ZMags recently commissioned a research project involving tablet owners from Equation Research. According to their findings, 87 percent of tablet owners are doing their holiday shopping from their devices and they enjoy it."

"Tablet computers are on a lot of people's wish lists this year. A recent Nielsen survey found the Apple iPad is the most wanted gift for kids ages 6 to 12. Some have even taken their appeals to YouTube. But if an iPad isn't in the budget, there are some 30 other tablets out there to choose from."

"Desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone/smartphone, there sure are a multitude of options when it comes to classroom technology. You may be stuck with one or the other, but if you have a choice, what option will be the best for your students? The handy infographic below takes a look at why tablets are a game changer for education. So whether you're in the process of selecting (or at least lobbying the administration for) your classroom technology or if you just don't get what all the hype is about, keep reading to learn more!"

"Schools across the country are increasingly starting to use mobile devices like tablets and smartphones as classroom tools. But some educators are still skeptical that devices will distract students as much or more than they enhance the learning environment. Because it's still fairly new, there have been few quantitative studies, but Project Tomorrow and Kajeet for Education recently completed a study of mobile learning among 136 fifth graders at Falconer Elementary School, a Chicago public school where 94 percent of students receive free and reduced lunch. The Making Learning Mobile Project study documents how four different fifth-grade teachers and their students used the tablets they were given both in class and at home once the school day was over."

"Despite their popularity, tablets get knocked on productivity-largely because entering data on them is slow and cumbersome. But that doesn't mean you have to boot up your laptop every time you need to type a lengthy document. From add-on keyboards to alternative on-screen keypads and general screen-typing tips, here's a host of ways to speed up data entry on your iPad or Android tablet. "

"It's one of the most versatile devices in the history of… well… devices. The tablet has changed the landscape of classrooms around the world, from flipped learning to augmented reality. A much needed balance between function and affordability, tablets of all shapes and sizes are being embraced by teachers in millions of different ways. In the below infographic from Early Childhood Education Degrees present an overview of how this shift is taking place."

"Take a look in the backpack of any K-12 student headed back to school this year and you may see a tablet. And, according to a new survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Pearson, the overwhelming majority of those students believe those tablets will change the way they learn in the future and make learning more fun."

"There's no denying that the iPad is the dominant tablet in the lucrative education market right now. Technology, however, is an ever-evolving beast--a field where all it sometimes takes to dethrone the king is the right platform, device or combination thereof at the right time. Could other tablets soon cut into Apple's market share with help from outside marketplaces and learning platforms? Here are our picks for the top 10 tablets, marketplaces and platforms that threaten the iPad's dominance in the classroom:"

"Throughout the report the authors also highlight other tablet devices and their place in the educational tablet landscape. If you are thinking about, or already have, iPads or other tablet technology to enhance the learning experience then this report is well worth a read."