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After the tremendous success following the publication of " 9 starter tips for teachers who have just got a new iPad " iPad4schools has put forward this new graphic featuring a set of interesting ideas teachers and students can try during the 5 minutes, 5 days, and 5 weeks  'when introducing a new initiative or technology.'

"(student) engagement always goes up when technology is used... to say that iPads result in increased engagement is to say nothing". Are iPads just a craze? Is there a danger that we are using new technology to implement old pedagogy? 

""In the shift to digital, it's not just about replacing textbooks but inventing new ways of learning," Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps said. "Some of the education apps being developed for iPad are approaching learning in an entirely new way, and that's exciting." Sallie Severns, founder and CEO of iOS app Answer Underground, told Wired that tablets' simplicity, ease of use and the massive range of academically minded applications available are drawing teachers and educational technologists to the platform in droves."

"In principle, that avalanche of pixels (and their increased color saturation) means that photos, videos, maps and text should look jaw-droppingly good - and, in apps that have been rewritten for the new screen, they do. Apple's own apps, like Photos, Maps and iBooks, are just incredibly sharp and clear. "

'We are now entering the mobile age, where phones are carried everywhere...cars are becoming travelling offices, airplane seats are entertainment centres, computer games are handheld ... We now have the opportunity to design learning differently: to create extended learning communities, to link people in real and virtual worlds, to provide expertise on demand, and to support a lifetime of learning' (Sharples, p.2 ). New technologies are enabling change, socially and economically, and education is cautiously embracing these tools for 21st century education. A paper presented at the recent 26th Australian Computers in Education Conference, titled Developing Early Learners' Creativity and Collaboration Using iPads, reports on a case study designed to investigate pedagogies using iPads that develop creative and collaborative skills in young learners. 'How can teachers use iPads to facilitate the development of creativity and collaboration in early learning?' (p. 3) is the focus of this research. The study was conducted in a Year 2 class where one of the authors was the teacher. Six iPads were available in a class of 25 students. Ten learning activities were developed and students in small groups used iPads to complete the assigned tasks. For some activities students worked in pairs. A reflective journal, guided by questions that focussed on creativity and collaboration was maintained by one of the authors. The paper responds to the forces of 21st century education: the surge of mobile computing devices and what have been termed the 21st century skills (critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration). The authors focus discussion on creativity and collaboration from various perspectives including those outlined in the Australian Curriculum documents (ACARA). It is through the review of these sources that the authors adapted and developed checklists to measure creativity and collaboration in their study. Three vignettes are shared by the aut

An experience from Marymount School in New York.  

"National social media and technology reporter PETRA STARKE lists the top 50 learning apps for children and teens."

"A new survey from the Learning First Alliance and Grunwald Associates suggests that parents of young children, girls, and students who are required to use portable or mobile devices in school are more likely to see the educational potential of such devices."

Grades K-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12 Graphic Infographics New Teachers Reference Teacher-Librarian Web 2.0 Tools A-H Web 2.0 Tools I-P Web 2.0 Tools Q-Z"

Three school districts in Illinois, Iowa and South Carolina will distribute approximately 27,000 Google Chromebook laptops to students as part of new technology initiatives, the company announced Thursday. While some have criticized the browser-based devices for slow performance, others say quick startup times and long battery life make them a good fit for schools and students

"In numerous surveys and studies, employers and universities say they desire the following qualities, which many of them say often seem quite absent in young people: Creative thinking Independence / self-drive Teamwork Problem solving strategies Confidence to try new things"

1) Focusing on content apps" 2) Lack of Teacher Preparation in Classroom Management of iPads 3) Treating the iPad as a computer and expecting it to serve as a laptop. " iPads are devices meant to compliment computers" 4) Treating iPads like multi-user devices 5) Failure to communicate a compelling answer to "Why iPads? "iPad supports essential skill areas - complex communication, new media literacy, creativity, and self-directed learning"

"Khan Academy has launched a free new iPad app featuring interactive exercises, handwriting recognition and more."

Students perform better if they share an iPad with another student as opposed to having one all to themselves, according to a new study.

Jenneth Orantia reviews the top apps for keeping preschoolers entertained."