This is the second year of the GFW High School One-to-One iPad Initiative where every GFW High School student has access to an iPad tablet to use in their classes. Students can use their iPad:
-as an organizational tool to track assignments, homework and class projects.
-to access the internet to research information needed for class projects.
-to create on-line presentations
-to word process class papers and projects
-to run a variety of applications to enhance their learning experience in class
-to read electronic books, tests, newspapers and magazines
What of our tacit knowledge about learning, including that knowledge about the students? Is this no good? Can we not act upon what we know and not solely upon sterile data from a test?
Granted, the iPad has potential in school, but this article, among many others, is so vague at how the device is different other than the screen size and a mention of it's price tag.
iPads seem to be going the way of the IWB.
I still contend that these won't be successful until they are made personal. Meaning, give it to the kid to have for the entire year. Let them take it home, play with it, read on it, correspond on it and make their learning personal.
I'm currently in a pilot with iPads and the students are lukewarm to the device because they know it will go away or that they won't be able to make it work for them personally.