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In 2012, tablets outsold notebook computers in the U.S. and China, but 2013 will be the year this trend goes global, according to NPD DisplaySearch. That's three years ahead of analysts' earlier estimates, and reflects a projected 64% growth in tablet purchases in 2013 versus 2012.

"This update highlights what distinguishes Tablets from other technologies that have previously been introduced in schools, such as computers, laptops and netbooks. It describes the factors in particular that make tablets unique; their mobility, increased affordability and functionality."

Schools today are investing more time and resources into tablet computers -- and their ability to help improve teaching and learning. In this blog post, Justin Reich, a fellow at Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society and co-Founder of EdTechTeacher, and Beth Holland, a senior associate with EdTechTeacher, write about the ability of the tablet to foster classroom collaboration and meaningful connections for students and teachers.

Touch-screen tablets for young students have become all the rage. Some districts are even buying iPads for every kindergartener, a move sparking both celebration and consternation. Do we really want to give $500 devices to kids who can't even tie their shoes?

This report presents the findings from a project that used tablet technology with young children (aged 2 to 6 years of age) in three different early childhood settings. The project was designed to explore the possibilities for learning in each setting to determine if the use of tablets is appropriate for this age group.

"Maurice Walker reports on an innovative approach to assessment using tablets to monitor educational development in the early years of schooling."

""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."

"Laptop Vs Tablet Two educators in the trenches duke it out."

"We really don't know the full neurological effects of these technologies yet," said Dr. Gary Small, director of the Longevity Center at the University of California, Los Angeles, and author of "iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind." "Children, like adults, vary quite a lot, and some are more sensitive than others to an abundance of screen time.""

The fourth in our six-part series on collaboration takes on iPads. They were created as devices for individual consumers, so teachers have their work cut out for them in using tablets for student collaboration. We highlight apps that help educators turn iPads into wePads.

Educators say students who use iPads are able to look up unfamiliar words as they are reading on the tablets, receive instant feedback from teachers and have access to an unprecedented amount of information without leaving the classroom. While it's still relatively rare, a growing number of public schools are purchasing enough iPads so that every student can have one. "It's transforming instruction," said Marianne Currie-Hall, principal of Roy B. Kelly Elementary School in Lockport, N.Y. "I've got kindergarteners who email me their work.

Instructional technologist and blogger Andrew Marcinek in this post describes how a one-to-one iPad tablet computer program at Burlington High School in Massachusetts is translating into engaging lessons for students. In one example, students in a French class are using the application VidEditor to create video reenactments of a favorite scene or chapter from a novel. Meanwhile, as part of a history lesson, students take on the roles of renowned philosophers as they bring the ideas of the enlightenment to life using blogging and Twitter.

Some educators say iPad tablet computers and other mobile technology aid the learning of students as young as those in kindergarten. Other teachers maintain that introducing technology to such students can be harmful. As the technology trend continues, one education consultant says proper communication and strategies must be in place to ensure successful use of the iPad and other mobile devices.

In this four-part series, we are using the Someday/Monday concept to explore four dimensions of using tablets, such as iPads, in educational settings. We will do this by examining how teachers can take students on a journey from the consumption of media to curation, creation, and connection. 

"Change 1: Personalized learning" Change 2: Creative interactivity Change 3: Online learning Change 4: Formative assessments Change 5: Change

Research into how tablets affect 'transfer learning'

The Technology Enhanced Learning Research group, led by Kevin Burden (Principal Investigator) based in the Faculty of Education, has completed the first national evaluation to investigate the use and impact of tablet technologies (in this case the iPad), across schools and homes in Scotland.