The biggest challenges with iPad in education

[Todd Gibbs]

I'd like to hear from iPad users in education as to those things that are most challenging with the iPad and if overcome, would enable a much broader acceptance of the platform in education.  We deliver a desktop built-in a browser that enables a lot of accessibility from the iPad but want to know those things that are most limiting at this time.  Is it not being able to access windows based applications, not having a mouse, not being able to store files on it, etc.? 

[Sam Gliksman]

The iPad is generally regarded as a great consumption device but fairly mediocre to weak as a production device. Two major weaknesses are the relative difficulty in creating most forms of detailed content and then the problems associated with storing and moving files to and from the iPad. There are solutions available for both but none that rival the ease of creating and moving files on a standard computer.

[Chris ONeal]

I was doing a teacher workshop today, and the one recurring issue the teachers were frustrated with was the inability to edit Wikis or Google Docs with the Safari Browser. That may seem minor to some, but to many students and teachers, not having that web-based edit capability is also a big barrier to full scale implementation.

[julian coultas]

We are using iPads and iPod Touches quite heavily here in the UK. I have to agree the inability to access web 2.0 tool bars in safari is a pain. On some web 2.0 tool bars you can switch to HTML mode and that does enable some editing but it is a real oversight.

We do use the iOS devices for content creation, but this tends to be for either planning or reviewing. So we may for example use Strip Designer for a 15 minute wrap up activity where the learners create a "top level" document that shows what they have learned in the lesson. The outcome is mailed back to the teacher. Likewise planning and developing ideas with text and image using something like Popplet can save time before accessing a real computer. Plans text and images can all be prepared in a standard classroom and then merged in iMovies or your digital mash up tool of choice.



Chris ONeal said:

I was doing a teacher workshop today, and the one recurring issue the teachers were frustrated with was the inability to edit Wikis or Google Docs with the Safari Browser. That may seem minor to some, but to many students and teachers, not having that web-based edit capability is also a big barrier to full scale implementation.

[Wendy Eiteljorg]

I would agree with what has been stated here so far. And, unless you set up emails for each iPad, whatever is created on the iPad stays on the iPad (unless it can be directly sent to the web) since you can't attach to web-based email.

We are doing some editing on wikis in class, but it is just basic information input, no formating or the like. We also use edublogs for student blogging and we can work around some of the awkwardness, but it's taken a bit of trial and error.

I recently read this excellent, I think, article about the pros and cons of iPads in education.

[julian coultas]

Sam makes some very good points in his article, but the bottom line is that iOS isn't a computer OS. His scoring matrix is pretty pointless as it's based on traditional uses of laptops and desktops in schools.

We share iPads in class and simply email work via gmail (a single gmail account shared by all devices) to the teacher. The kids get it. They like the concept of not logging in to a school server waiting ages for the profiles to arrive. Sure they have their own spaces and traditional ways of working, but there is a new layer of cloud based technology evolving in schools. The iPad is helping us bring this about.

iOS brings pro's and cons. I can't agree that the iPad isn't a useful content creation tool, the innovation around music and intuitive DTP apps is incredible. It is a different kind of creative process more akin to sketches on the move, than the full portrait in oils. I've been using a mobile windows slate this week and trying use folders and traditional OS type approaches feels very awkward and slow.

Technology in schools has been a pain for most people and it hasn't been that successful. So a new approach is really required. I don't think an iPad is the complete answer, but it is a catalyst for change. It opens new ways of using technology in education and in all walks of life - this has to be a good thing.

[Lois McGill-Horn]

What I would like to see the most is the ability to project all Apps through a projector. This would sell the product in my school to the administration.

[Sherry Chapman]

Try another brower.  I use VGA expedition, and it has solved many of my problems, including projecting.

 

 

Chris ONeal said:

I was doing a teacher workshop today, and the one recurring issue the teachers were frustrated with was the inability to edit Wikis or Google Docs with the Safari Browser. That may seem minor to some, but to many students and teachers, not having that web-based edit capability is also a big barrier to full scale implementation.