Comments on: The iPad is the iDeal Classroom Tool

By: Ian H.

Ian H. — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:17:56 +0000

I think the laptop is a strawman. At the price of an iPad and given the portability factor, what you really want to be comparing it to is a netbook: price would be $250-$500, portability would be OK, and all the rest of the comparisons would stay the same.

The point about single-use (at a time) devices is well-taken, but given the average student is already carrying an MP3 player and a cellphone, I think distraction is less of a hardware issue and more of a classroom management issue.

By: Andrew Forgrave

Andrew Forgrave — Wed, 19 May 2010 03:40:48 +0000

I concur 100% with the attention focus that comes from the iPad one-app-at-a-time “feature.” Granted, multi-tasking is supposedly coming with version 4.0 of the iPhone/iTouch/iPad OS, but the one-window nature of the iPad is a great benefit for students. With a notebook and external monitor, it can be so easy to get distracted/side-tracked by any one of a variety of things. With the iPad, you tend to be focused in that one app until you navigate out and make another selection.

I also like the one-button design, too. (Forget the power, no-rotate, volume controls, they don’t count.) One button to take you home, then select your next task. Simplicity of design.

By: More on the iPad as the iDeal Classroom Tool | Stick in the Sand

More on the iPad as the iDeal Classroom Tool | Stick in the Sand — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:10:33 +0000

[...] I posted my reasons for thinking an iPad makes the ideal classroom tool (that’s classroom tool; ideally, all students ought to have a smartphone, the ideal [...]

By: Braddo

Braddo — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:06:12 +0000

But of course! (Doh! Wish there was a little smiley for bopping your forehead with the heal of your hand.)

By: Travis J Allison

Travis J Allison — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:33:16 +0000

I interviewed Michael DuBroy from Trinity College School yesterday and he said something brilliant that hadn’t even crossed my mind:

No multi-tasking is EXACTLY what you need for a classroom tool.

Another benefit!