Article Reflection--Pam Krambeck

Article Citation:  Johnson, Ben. "How the IPad Can Transform Classroom Learning." Edutopia. The George Lucas Foundation, 9 July 2012. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.

Summary:  Ben Johnson is a high school principal from a school with plans to implement a 1-2-1 iPad program with students. In the article, he shares his views on how iPads can impact learning and how it might look different than the integration of laptops or desktop computers.  

The focus of the article "How the iPad Can Transform Classroom Learning" is on the personal, mobile use of the iPad and how it makes learning an individual experience.  In one of the examples shared, the author gives a scenario of walking students through a web site on a laptop going to the same site, walking through the same steps and completing the same activity.  His hope for the future with iPads is one that includes putting a personal device in the hands of the students loaded with tools that they can self-select to accomplish a learning task.  The students might be watching a video clip, going to iTunesU or exploring additional resources, as well as, sketching on a drawing app or creating a presentation in Prezi. 

The author shares that the teacher's role will evolve and they will be facilitators and observers in the classroom documenting student learning with video clips, pictures and discussions.  Getting teachers involved in the shift to mobile devices was touched upon in the article including addressing concerns about students playing games and using iPads in non-productive activities.  

Reflection:  The author gave some great examples of how the iPad might be used in the school setting, but many of the examples that were shared could also be completed with laptop computers equipped with multimedia tools, microphones, webcams and creativity applications.  I agree with the author on the unique relationship (that is the best word I can think of) that a student forms when given their own personal iPad for use in the classroom.  The tactile experience of using an iPad along with the limited number of buttons and screens to navigate make the user experience very intuitive.  The focus moves away from which button to press and how to navigate the program and more toward finding a set of apps (hopefully free ones) that will allow students to get at the information needed, communicate their learning, and explore the topic beyond the textbook.  Teachers have always instructed by giving students a set of tools, a learning task and a target. The difference with technology (laptops or iPads) is that educators give up the role of information delivery and become the facilitator and guide to learning discovery by the student. I see the iPad as a tool that simplifies the task of putting together resources for students and teaching them how to use a number of programs or multimedia tools.  With the iPad students spend time learning about the topic rather than learning to use the device.