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"Passing out iPads to students on the first day of school was like celebrating Christmas (or in this case Hanukkah) with thirty antsy kids sitting around the tree, attempting to hide their impatience. Once the iPads had been handed out, students were instantly excited, engaged and enchanted with the new learning device in their hands. At first, everyone was confused about where to find work, where to save and store their products - and which app to use for what purpose. As with every pilot, these issues worked themselves out and soon classes were running pretty smoothly. Once they all learned what a "hard reset" was we were on our way. After an exciting year chalked full of learning lessons and changes in our learning landscape here are my takeaways: "

"SNApps4Kids has created a pilot program to test a service for matching applications or "apps" to IEPs of children who have special needs."

"Google soon will be rolling out a new service, called Expeditions, that could take virtual field trips to a whole new level - and the company is accepting requests from educators to pilot the technology in their classrooms this year."

"For the last year, myself and four other members of the Cinnaminson School District staff worked relentlessly to start a pilot Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) program at Cinnaminson High School. We worked together to create an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and a FAQ sheet for students and parents. We researched how other school districts began their program. We asked for volunteers. I thought we took all the necessary steps to pilot this program. After meeting with Eric Sheninger and touring New Milford High School, I now recognize that we share similar goals for a successful technology program, but our steps have not overlapped to make the same progress."

"Pod touches are making a difference in Oregon. The Canby School District completed a pilot last year and those behind the program are generous about sharing what they've learned. I've been reading the school district's wiki for some time, and a recent article written about their pilot on O'Reilly Radar is impressive."

This Wiki will house information related to the iPad Pilot Project sponsored by the Department of Educational Technology in the School District of Palm Beach County.

"A few months back Verizon Wireless visited New Milford High School and we had a fantastic meeting. The end result was the formation of a pilot program where students and a teacher would be given a tablet device and then be tasked with developing a plan to extend learning beyond the school day. About a week later the devices arrived at my office. Each of the ten tablets (5 iPads and 5 Samsung Galaxy tabs) came with free 3G access for the duration of the pilot program, which was to last approximately 90 days."

"Harry Walker is the principal of Sandy Plains Elementary School in Baltimore County, Maryland. Fourth and fifth graders at the school are piloting one-to-one computing with iPod touches. In addition, Harry is a doctoral student at John Hopkins University. He's investigating the impact of iPod touch on student achievement."

"One of the great things I've noticed in the last 2 years is how my teaching has evolved with the use of the iPads. It's been a gradual shift, but the way I am using them now is different than the first pilot year in 2011."

"Stephen Hawking's Snapshots of the Universe is a terrific iPad app for students.  This app includes ten experiments for students to work through.  Students will learn about planets and gravity while creating their own solar system and piloting a ship to Mars.  Beautifully designing and visually pleasing, Stephen Hawking's Snapshots of the Universe will grab the attention of students of all ages."

"I have been culling through iPads apps since October. Many I have found are useful tools in the classroom and many are a waste of time. Mr. Kuropatwa suggested a website called appolicious.com to cataloge my apps and I have since uploaded all of the apps currently on our class set of iPads."

"For schools that are about to deploy the iPad as their main mobile learning device, there's wisdom to be learned from others who've gone down that road. At Marin Country Day School in Corte Madera, Calif., the first year of a pilot iPad program for sixth-graders has just ended, and some clear lessons have emerged. Here are some tips to help smooth the transition."

"The tablet PC is very new and leaders in education are only starting to tap into what this powerful device can do. As a pilot program or as a device specifically assigned to each student, the tablet might be the most significant revolution to the classroom ever."

" Apple has long touted its device's assistive technology as a powerful tool for the educational development of physically and mentally disabled children. The iPad's touch screen makes it easier to manipulate than more traditional educational tools. For children with autism, "the iPad is not a toy, but a tool that works best when there is a 'team effort' between parents and therapists encouraging its proper use," said Marc Reisner, co-founder of Reach for the APPs. "Our goal is to provide schools with iPads so they can reach every child on the autistic spectrum." Reach for the APPs built their site with an initial donation from Managed Digital. Now, they're seeking out donations of money and/or iPads from both individuals and corporations to propel the program forward. According to reports from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1-in-88 children have some form of autism, up 78 percent from just a decade ago. The demand for augmentative communications devices is growing. But the schools can't meet the demand, so the children are losing valuable time during critical developmental years. Lois Brady, a speech language pathologist and assistive technology specialist, said apps can help develop fine-motor skills, which will in turn make functions like writing and manipulating small objects easier for the students. "I have spent years working with the most challenging students that are considered profoundly disabled," she said. "And I have seen some small miracles when I introduce the iPad into our therapy, as the children have made huge gains in attention, focus, communication, language and literacy skills." Some experts also say that the iPad can lessen symptoms of autistic disorders, helping children deal with life's sensory overload. Brady will be contributing content to the Reach for the APPs website to inform therapists about the latest-and-greatest apps for children all over the autistim spectrum. Apps must be tailor