USING TABLETS TO SUPPORT LEARNING BY: ANGELA VANDERPOOL 4/21/15 EDUC 201

TYPES OF TABLET DEVICES Whether it’s an Android tablet or an Apple iPad, using a tablet in the classroom can be a great teaching tool for teachers, as well as a great learning tool for students.

CLASSROOM USES Internet access E-books Educational apps Online educational videos “81 percent of teachers think mobile devices enrich classroom education, according to a 2012 survey by PBS Learning Media” (Bennett)

BENEFITS OF TABLETS OVER OTHER DEVICES “Touch-screen technology makes them user friendly, even for young students Their small size and lightweight design makes them easy for children to handle Tablets are affordable, as compared to many other types of school technology Studies have shown that tablets can improve learning” (Logan)

EDUCATIONAL APPS FOR THE CLASSROOM Math Khan Academy Khan Academy (Free) Math 42 Math 42 ($0.99) Science Bill Nye the Science GuyBill Nye the Science Guy (Free) BrainPOPBrainPOP (Free) Productivity FlipboardFlipboard (Free) EdmodoEdmodo (Free) Reading PocketPocket (Free) Goodreads Goodreads (Free) History & Geography Smithsonian Channel Smithsonian Channel (Free) Barefoot World Atlas Barefoot World Atlas (Free) Art & Creativity DIYDIY (Free) Eye Paint Animals Eye Paint Animals ($0.99) Writing Dictionary.comDictionary.com ($3.99) Comic Life Comic Life ($4.99) These are just a few apps suggested by Jeff Dunn in his article, “The 70 Best Apps For Teachers And Students.” There are many, many more to choose from.

FACTS “A research study, conducted in Auburn, Maine showed that Kindergartner students using iPads scored much higher on literacy tests than students that didn’t use the device In a study done by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in California showed that students using iPads saw their math test scores increase 20% in one year compared to students using traditional textbooks. Another study centered on an iPad game, Motion Math, has shown that the iPad can help with fundamental math skills. Fifth graders who regularly played the game for 20 minutes per day over a five-day period increased their test scores by 15 percent on average”(Wainwright)

PROS OF USING TABLETS IN THE CLASSROOM “Allows children to access an interactive and stimulating environment, in which teachers can use a combination of different learning modalities (visual, auditory and kinaesthetic). Better engagement – every teacher recognizes the value of engagement and its vital role in enhancing knowledge retention, increasing stimulation and improving learning abilities. Tablets simply make learning fun – children love to interact with technological devices and thanks to specialized apps that focus on different aspects of learning (simple math exercises, listening to stories, learning the alphabet) they can benefit during play, too” (Tablet Use)

MORE PROS “Tablets offer audio-visual tools (camera, voice and video recording), which can be used creatively in the classroom with the help of various apps. Tablets promote creativity – there's a myriad of creative apps out there to help children acquire skills like drawing, composition and video editing. All of these make children active creators, instead of passive consumers of knowledge Tablets can help in learning to read. By featuring e-books with text markers, children will be able to read without the constant aid of the teacher” (Tablet Use)

CONS “Training – many teachers may not be acquainted with this kind of technological device, and so will need to be supported with training. Teaching methodologies will need to be changed and adapted to make the most of tablets in the classroom, which will generate additional costs and may become time-consuming. Cost – even though tablets are increasingly more accessible, they're still expensive and will require a substantial investment from the school. Battery – all technological devices rely on their batteries, so if one or more tablets run out of charge, this could interfere with the lesson plan”(Tablet Use)

CONCLUSION Although there are pros and cons of using tablets in the classroom, the benefits seem to outweigh the risks. Technology is all around us, and has become a way of life. As teachers, we can embrace this technology and use it to help further the learning of our students. Tablets offer a great way to do so.

WORKS CITED Bennett, Gayle. “Tablets Rewrite the Classroom Rules.” USA Today. 23 June Web. 9 April Dunn, Jeff. “The 70 Best Apps For Teachers And Students.” Edudemic. 4 September Web. 9 April 2015 Logan, Liz. “Why Tablets Are a Game Changer in Education.” Amplify. n.d. Web. 9 April “Tablet Use in Primary Schools: the Benefits and Downsides” Tab Times. 14 June Web. 10 April Wainwright, Ashley. “8 Studies Show iPads in the Classroom Improve Education.” Secure Edge Networks. n.d. Web. 10 April 2015.