I try to find topics that are grounded in academia, with the independent scholars in particular - with the proper tools, everyone becomes a master carpenter. The recently introduced Apple iPad is one such device, and led myself to buy it, and extol it's virtues, which I will gladly do, after playing with it the last several days. The iPad has arrived, with trumpets, angels, and hoopla unseen since...well, the last Apple triumph. Now let's be clear, Apple has had some debacles when it comes to the ever-changing scene of technology. But as your humble tech scholar, he has enjoyed the experience of when Apple is right on, when it comes to the next wave in the next field, in the next future.
The iPad can literally do anything, and whatever it can't, some ingenious individual is creating that feature as we speak. The thing that has intrigued me is, while there have been many individuals, groups and institutions who have admired this new media consuming platform from afar (and a-near), there have also been many who've criticized the product from the beginning, and then some from years before the tablet device was ever mentioned.
I'll be honest, I've waited for a device like this for the last 20 years, and honestly I'm not surprised that Apple has led the forefront to getting this to market, and at a reasonable price for a very fast object of our latest desire. It loads photos, documents, videos and music in seconds, it navigates the web with ease, and it's an easy consumer of the latest media with an extensive frame, fitting quite nicely between the smartphones and the laptops. I believe those who've have unfarily criticized this product, have never actually held the object of question, in hand, as once they do, the debate would end. Why are those who don't want it, condemning it for those of us who do? One of my favorite areas is education, so I was intrigued by the comments made whithin this field.
Imagine for just a second, how the publisher/textbook industry would change if every student in a classroom had a tablet. Textbooks would no longer be printed on paper (the environment thanks you), and the publishers could then charge a “rental” fee or subscription. The information could be immediately updated unlike the current format of a textbook that in some instances is obsolete before it is in the hands of the user. When the rental time expires, there is nothing to throw away or take up space. Imagine the learning that can occur when students and teachers are connected in a way that desktops and even laptops cannot provide in the digital (or should we call it mobile) age.
This blog excerpt was written by Rob Reynolds on the topic of 21st Century Learning;
“Tablets will change education this year and in the future because they align neatly with the goals and purposes of education in a digital age. Specifically, these devices will succeed because:
They are about productivity — Learning is about doing and, increasingly, about doing both in and out of the traditional classroom. In the 21st century, learning is contextual and promotes engaging students in real-life applications. This means learning on-the-go but with all of the necessary materials and digital tools necessary for their tasks. A phone isn’t quite up to the task and a laptop isn’t exactly mobile. A tablet is the perfect device.
They are about convergence — E-readers will not take hold in education because tablets will negate their usefulness and appeal. An e-reader is a single-use machine and a fairly limited one at that. The tablet, on the other hand, will support e-textbooks — Web-based and offline — color, Web productivity, and a whole host of other media, content creation, and communication options. The tablet can serve many functions and the e-reader only one. We want convergence when it makes sense and the convergence offered by tablet devices will appeal to educational users.
They are about mobility — Make no mistake about it — tablets are mobile devices. They will run mobile apps, have mobile contracts in some cases, and be designed for productivity on-the-move. They are perfect for augmented reality applications, distributed learning, and student success tools.
They are about price and availability — Tablets will allow users to have the functionality they want at a price they can afford. More importantly, they will usher in a new era of learning material distribution and subscription models for textbooks. The net result will be lower education costs across the board.
They are about community — Tablets are mobile devices that connect users to one another. Learning, particularly in the 21st century, is a community-based activity. Enough said.”
This is a very exciting time for the world of educational technology.
And I would agree, this is a very exciting time with Apple, as usual, leading the way...so run don't walk, to become a part of this "game changer."
