Schools using iPads

Stuff reports:

IPads and iPods are being rolled out out at Timaru’s Bluestone School as teaching tools and principal Ian Poulter says many other schools are doing the same.

Mr Poulter explained the move at a meeting last week that attracted 140 curious parents.

“A lot of schools we understand … are looking at children having devices at school like iPads and iPods to help in their learning,” he said.

The school has provided a year 8 and year 7 classroom with an iPod for each pupil. The school also has iPads that are available to all classrooms at the school, including year 1s and 2s.

A number of applications were useful in education, Mr Poulter said.

He used Puppet Pals, as an example, where users could create animated movies. It also incorporated sounds and music and had to have a clear message.

“The kids are enthusiastic because it’s modern and good fun. They actually engage the learner.

“But underlying all that is the fact that they’re doing English, reading, writing and maths.”

I think the iPad is an incredible educational tool. Kids actually like using them. There are thousands of proven educational applications from around the world, and their cost is under $1,000. I think the future is every five year old gets an iPad on their first day of school.