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"(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? 

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.

Researchers studying the use of iPads in classrooms in California's Encinitas Union School District say the devices generally are favored by students and parents. In the district, where every student in grades 3 to 6 has an iPad, 90% of students said the technology has helped them learn -- especially when used in math lessons. However, some parents say they want to ensure the technology does not replace hands-on learning, and teachers say the iPads can be distracting for students if not managed properly.

"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.""

It appears since the arrival of iPads that the PC it is no longer the cutting edge technology that it once was. My blogs aim to investigate the use of this handheld technology in primary education, in particular my School's 'iPad journey' and look at some of the apps, which when used creatively with other apps, can be used across the curriculum to engage, motivate and inspire children's learning in the classroom. mrandrewsonline@gmail.com

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.'

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.

'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

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

Apple compiles all its resources for deploying IT (Mac & iOS) in schools.

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.

"Many of the failures in #edtech are failures in #edtech integration, and frameworks like the Padagogy wheel attempt to clarify the relationship between "big picture" elements. Seeing the pieces-tablets, apps, learning goals, cognitive actions, etc.-and how they work together is everything. Without that vision, any bit of #edtech is limp and lifeless."

"The majority educational iPad apps which are typically short form games used to support learning activities would fall into this category, but there are handful of disruptive technologies surfacing in the space which aim to completely redefine some classroom activities."

What does it take to ensure the successful rollout of a one-to-one iPad program? In this blog post, Jac de Haan, technology integration specialist, outlines step-by-step what a successful two-month rollout should look like. In the first week, students establish solid academic habits without the iPads, before students and parents learn about the devices. By week four, students are given the iPads at the beginning of class and asked to return them at the end, building up to week nine when students are trusted to use the devices as they see fit.