iPads in College – Help or Hindrance?
Going off to college this fall? Have an iPad? If so, do you think your iPad will help or hinder your educational experience? A recent article on USA Today covered this very topic.
Professor Bill Handy has been tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of iPads in the classroom at Oklahoma State University starting this fall. He knows students are anxious to start using the devices but what impact will they have? ”This is not research to prove that the iPad is great,” Handy says. “There’s a lot riding on what direction the university might take. If it’s not beneficial, (I’ll be) glad we figured that out early in the game.”
Although the iPad is fairly new to the classroom and its true impact is yet unknown, one school of thought believes the whole concept of digital learning is more of a distraction than a benefit. According to research, many students are just too tempted by Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to concentrate properly and ultimately choose not to use technological devices when studying.
Do you share this view? Based on past PadGadget posts, there are a number of colleges and universities around the country that don’t appear to be overly concerned by this finding because they are implementing iPads in their classrooms this fall. Most recently we reported Stanford’s School of Medicine decision to provide all incoming first year medical students and Master of Medicine students with iPads.
College campuses are already filled with kids toting a wide range of iPods, iPhones and MacBooks and it’ll be interesting to hear whether iPads join the list of essential backpack gear. Their success in education remains to be seen, but with Apple’s iPad sales to date, things look promising.
