"1. Teaching requires planning. 2. Consider where we're spending our education dollars. 3. The iPad is primarily a consumption device. 4. Our students should be mobile multilingual."

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.

"The author of iPad in Education for Dummies offers solid advice for unlocking the possibilities of iPads in a classroom."

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

"A study is being conducted at three Queensland kindergartens to examine the educational benefits of iPad use for pre-school children."

"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.""

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.

A sifted approach

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.

"Learning a language requires huge investments in both time and money-unless you know where to find high-quality programs that are also free."

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

1- My students should be able to create presentations . Here are the apps to help you achieve this goal :" 2- My students should be able to create digital stories. 3- My students should be able to create eBooks . 4- My students should be able to print their docs right from their iPad. 5- My students should be able to create videos . 6- I want to Improve my students reading skills. 7- My students should be able to take notes on their iPad . 8- My students should be able to create written content on their iPads . 9- My students should be able to use White Boards from their iPads. 10-My students should be able to record audio clips 11- My students should be able to screen share 12-My students should be able to do their homework with the help of iPad . 13- My students should be able to create mind maps 14-My students should be able to do research using iPad 15-My students should be able to create digital portfolios .

Interesting analysis of popular iPad apps according to Substitution Augmentation Modification Refefinition model

"another kind of checklist that you might not be used to before. This one here helps you select the right educational apps to use with your students. Avatar Generation has featured a set of such awesome checklists created by Tony Vincent to help teachers make sound educational choices when selecting apps to use with students in the classroom. Check out those rubrics and get possibly get them printed off . Click on any title to access the checklist. Enjoy"

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

Some Los Angeles schoolteachers who use iPads in classroom lessons say it's necessary for teachers to give up some control to make the technology initiative successful. The teachers say they suggested students read but placed no limits on what students read, and asked them to use applications but did not say which ones. The teachers also found that the iPad enhances classroom lessons, but it is not a replacement for good teaching.

In this blog post, David Andrews, a teacher in the United Kingdom, writes about the pros and cons of using iPads in the classroom, rather than laptop computers. Among the benefits, he writes, are usability, superior audio-visual tools, electronic books and tools that enable creativity. The downside, Andrews writes, is that the devices are not compatible with Adobe Flash and Javascript, do not facilitate multitasking and have poor word-processing capabilities.

Before using iPads in the classroom, there are a few seemingly little things you'll want to know and address before your students arrive. You'll need to answers questions from "How many devices can share an Apple ID?" and "What apps should be installed" to "What are some simple ways to get started?" Jeff Dunn in this blog post answers these and other common questions that educators ask on this subject

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.

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.