Since the release of Apple’s iPad, there’s been an ongoing debate about whether or not the device should be used in schools to teach kids. Both sides of the argument were explored on The Verge, with one teacher stating that the iPad has helped him save time in grading, returning papers, and printing lesson documents. While another teacher said that while she has been able to use the iPad in the classroom to engage her students, it can also come with a little backlash: “Once they’re used to using the iPad, it’s more difficult to engage them in activities that don’t include a digital component.”

Teachers can’t seem to agree when it comes to the real effect of the iPad in classrooms. In spite of this, it can’t be denied that the iPad has made a positive impact when it comes to educating kids. I’d argue that if educators knew the proper purpose of iPads (in the classroom), and have a good system of managing student behaviour, iPads can indeed be very effective in the classroom.

Here are 5 impactful ways the iPad has changed teaching: 

1. iPads Make Learning More Fun

Sometimes, it can be really challenging to sit through lectures and class activities, even adult students find it difficult.With an iPad, it can be a little easier for teachers to engage their students. Teacher Hannah Maxwell told BBCNews that using iPads has helped her catch and keep the attention of her pupils. “We don’t replace pen and paper with the iPad. It’s all about having a balance between using the iPad and using old-school methods,” she said.

2. iPads Make Classroom Management Easier

iPad apps like ClassDojo make classroom management so much simpler for teachers. It helps educators put emphasis on positive feedback, by acknowledging students for values like kindness, diligence, and helpfulness. It also allows teachers to share moments with parents, so that parents can rest easy that their children are in good hands.

3. iPads Make Math, Science, and Languages Less Intimidating

The iPad’s purpose isn’t to make kids highly dependent on digital tools. It’s to show them simpler ways of solving math problems and to present formulas in an easy-to-absorb manner. When it comes to teaching science and languages, educators can use the iPad to show videos of how the body works, as well as clips of different people speaking other languages. This way, students are more likely to appreciate what they are being taught compared to if the teacher merely writes it on the board.

4. iPads Make Education More Inclusive

Every iPad comes with assistive technologies like an advanced screen reader, a voiceover feature, and a built-in magnifier that can help students with special needs. These features help teachers more effectively educate their special needs students, with the help of apps like Learn with Rufus, Montessori Numbers, and Super, These are good for social cues, maths, and reading comprehension, respectively.

5. iPads Make the Transmission of School Materials Faster

When Apple unveiled its smallest and most affordable iPad yet, they said it was meant for use in education. They even released a new app called Schoolwork, which is specifically for teachers, as it allows educators to create and send documents to students, as well as monitor progress from within the software. Meanwhile, the app ClassKit allows teachers to distribute iBook files, assignments, and web links with the corresponding due dates.

Social Media and Studying

Social media has completely changed how students connect with each other. Ayima reports that 57% of Facebook’s user base access the platform through their mobile device. The site also reveals that Facebook also has over 2 billion users, showing how prominent social media has become in modern society. This is especially true for students who are able to use it as an effective study tool. 

Social media has made the lives of students much easier and their studying tools much more resourceful. An article on Medium titled: ‘Social Media and Education: Using Social Media for Better Academic Results’ highlight show the ability to collaborate and communicate instantly is very beneficial. Teachers and students can easily create communities and groups for educational activities. This means that more resources are available and team projects can be delivered more efficiently. While the smartphone is widely used for messaging on social media, the iPad is much more useful for sharing educational files due to its screen size. This is why it is the ideal educational tool.

Modern tech has truly come a long way when it comes to improving how we manage every day tasks. It can make a big difference in how students learn and retain lessons, hopefully improving the quality of education. On Teaching with iPad, we talked about how each student learns at their own pace, so it’s important that a teacher can structure a lesson so the majority of their class understands what is being taught. The iPad is the key to doing that.

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