Sunday, May 8, 2011

iPads for All

Kindergartener’s Getting iPads (April 8, 2011)
www.cnn.com Accessed: May 8, 2011

Topic: Kindergarteners in Maine will be getting their own iPads.
Summary: Kindergarteners will be given an iPad to use for assistance in learning to read, learning letters and alphabet sounds, and in other ways. The school district will be paying for these as learning devices.
Intended audience: General Public
Key Points:
  • Kindergarteners will use iPads to aid in regular learning activities.
  • The school board voted unanimously to approve the purchase of iPad 2s at $475 per iPad
  • The idea is contentious. There are people who strongly support it and others who don’t.
Relevance: I am torn on this. I think that iPads and other types of technology can be great teaching tools. It’s awesome to see the kids engaged and interested in learning things that are often presented as tedious/boring worksheets but on the other hand I struggle with the idea of plugging kids in at school when they are plugged in so much at home. I think that the iPads could be used as a tool, but I really don’t think it’s necessary to purchase one for every 5 year old. Why not just get a handful for each classroom?


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