iPad? WePad? or iPeep

Lots of buzz today on twitter about the iPad and the possibilities for education.  There were also other tweets on the WePad (German made and more possibilities… plus a bonus- no AT&T) and of course my favorite the iPeep (read ‘unboxing the iPeep‘ for details).

@cwebbtech also created a wallwisher that you can add your ideas to:  ‘How will we change teaching/learning with devices like the iPad?’

With any new device that comes out, my first question is not what the ‘newest tool’ can do but what the learning objective is.  What is your purpose and then what tool will help you accomplish that purpose.  It has to start there. As educators we don’t have money to ‘throw away’ on the latest and greatest gadgets.  If your purpose is true technology integration through authentic project based assessments that show true evidence of learning, then the device you use needs to allow students to explore, collaborate, share, create, compose and communicate- again depending on your purpose.  In an educational setting a laptop or netbook is still the best ‘bang for your buck’ in my eyes. With them students can create and share digital stories, write/record and publish podcasts, and so much more. You are also not limited to a certain store, or specific apps, but can incorporate software applications and other peripheral devices that fit your instructional purpose.

Are all these new devices cool? Certainly. Will there be those who purchase them for their own personal ‘fun use’? Of course. Should schools run out and buy a class set? Hopefully not before they truly explore the reason they are buying them and what purpose they can fulfill in student learning. (Oh yeah, and if they get good AT&T service)

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