By: Kaila Tuccio
Our
world today revolves around technology. It is what almost everyone is familiar
with. They know how technology works and people rely on it. The medical field,
education, and basically every job nowadays use brand new and updated
technology so they can be the best in their field. It used to be that children
learned how to use technology when they were finishing up middle school
entering high school. Today, that is not the case. Technology has become so big
that they have created children’s
toys to be solely based on technology. Children are being brought up around
technology at an even younger age. They have even begun to bring technology
into elementary classrooms.
This video shows elementary schools
in Chicago that are bringing iPads into the classroom. The teachers they
interview states that having this technology in the classroom allows the
students to stay engaged because their lives at home revolve around technology.
With the use of the iPads, students can take a “virtual field trip” every day
and they can learn with a visual technique. With the creation of the apps and
programs on the iPad, students can use not only a visual technique to learn but
also through auditory learning. Special education students can even use the
iPads in their classroom to make learning easier for them. With using the
iPads, special education students can hear and see things to help them to
understand information better. For example, they might have a picture of a dog
with the letters d-o-g spelled out underneath it. When you click the button, it
pronounces the word dog. This is using all types of learning and teaching
techniques that can give these students the best opportunity for them to
comprehend what they are being taught. iPads in the classroom help to keep
students up to date with technology. Today, younger children are better at
technology than most adults. They are being trained at a young age how to use
technology to their advantage and how it can make their lives easier when it
comes to education.
This website
talks about the top ten reasons why classrooms benefit from the use of iPads.
An interesting reason that is pointed out is that the iPad supports over nine
languages. This is a huge success and benefit to the classroom. There has also been
an increase over the past years of ESL students (English as a Second Language
Learners). The iPads offer them the opportunity to not only learn in their own
language but in English too. This gives them a great opportunity because as an
elementary teacher you are still responsible to teach students who do not even
know how to speak English. Using the iPads will be an easier way to communicate
with the students and give them a fair and equal opportunity to learn. Another
reason that iPads are so helpful is that they have 3G service which means you
can use them even when the students are not at school. This gives them the
chance to use these outside of the classroom and at their home. iPads will make
the students want to do their homework, especially if they can use their iPads
to help them accomplish it. This will motivate the students to want to do their
homework and learn.
iPads offer students a sense of responsibility
and uniqueness. They can turn their iPads into a reflection of themselves.
Students can find cases that show their sense of style. They can also use the
iPads to help them find what learning style best suits them. The iPad allows
the students to go through many different techniques to help them learn or
study a subject. This gives them the chance to take on the responsibility to
see what works best for them. iPads also need care: charging the battery, making
sure not to drop it, bringing it to school, etc. This gives students an early
opportunity to learn responsibility, how to take care of something, and to keep
it in good condition.
Overall, iPads are a great addition
to the classrooms. It gives the education a bright future and really catches
them up to the surrounding fields. iPads can benefit children if they are used
in the right way. They can give them multiple ways to learn and find ways that
best work for them. iPads also give all the students a fair opportunity at
learning like our ESL students and our special education students. Using
technology in the classroom will engage the students and get them excited about
learning. As teachers, that is the most important part of the job and teachers
must do what it takes to help children reach this point.
References
Holmberg, N.
(2011). Top 10 reasons classrooms should
have ipads. Retrieved from http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/10-reasons-classrooms-ipads.htm
Pearce, S.
(2011). Why use ipads in education.
Retrieved from http://innovativescholar.com/2011/05/26/why-use-ipads-in-education/
Riehl, J.
(2012). Top high-tech toys for kids.
Retrieved from http://techsavvymag.com/2012/05/22/best-toys-kids-new-technology/
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