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Chris Epting

Connie Douglas

UWRITE 1102

26 April 2017

Tablets Will Push the Modern Classroom Into the future.

There are many arguments against the inevitable implementation of tablets into

todays classroom. A lack of applications is has always been a part of the conversation.

The required learning curve placed on teachers and parents is often discussed. Finally,

the effectiveness of these devices is always in question. We will set out to show why

these arguments are invalid or easily overcome. The future of the classroom lies in

technology. In a way, it always has. In the past, it was the use of overhead projectors,

pointers or other low-tech devices that changed the dynamic of how to run a classroom.

We are now faced with an influx of tablet devices that must be embraced as the future.

The average user may not realize that there are many educational applications

available that can enhance the learning in any classroom. Many of these applications

could be interpreted as a game. This is intentional. Games can easily draw the attention

of eager children. Presenting these applications in a game format to the children will

ensure learning while also keeping their focus on the application. Games such as Math

Bingo do an excellent job educating children wil keeping them engaged. Another

approach used by application developers is simply making the application visually

stimulating. What do you think would be more appealing to a young child, a set of flash

card that hey just flip through or a digital flash card application that includes sounds,
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videos and personal feedback? The currently available applications for books are done

in a similar way. Electronic books and reading applications include interactive elements

and videos that enhance the learning experience. This is designed to increase the

excitement while learning. Traditional books will always have their place but for many

children this electronic alternative would increase their learning potential. These are

only a few examples. Randall Palmer highlighted an application called Pictello in his

2013 article The Top Ten Apps for Special education. He stated: Stories come to life in

this app that allows students and teachers to create multimedia stories and

presentations using pictures from the iPad photo library. (Palmer) Clearly, the

applications needed to ensure the success of these devices are there. A little research

is all that is needed to find them.

With any new technology is introduced there is always the necessity for people to

learn how to use it. Ten years ago, the learning curve for tablets would have been a

massive undertaking for most of us. This is because this type of technology was still

new to all of us and we were still trying to navigate the usability of these devices. So

what does it look like today? If you have a smartphone, and can use it in even the most

basic way, you will be able to use a tablet. Yes, there will always be those that struggle,

but that is why every school has their own information technology department. Those

people know how to use technology and can help train those that do not. There are

other free resources available to learn the technology and many companies also offer

on-site training for educators. Many worry that the burden of teaching a student how to

use a tablet will fall on the teachers and parents. This could be perceived as a massive

undertaking. However, consider this: Nearly eight-in-ten U.S. adults now own desktop or
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laptop computers, while roughly half now own tablet computers and around one-in-five

own e-reader devices. (Pew Research Center)

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Take a minute and look around. The use of tablets and similar mobile devices is at an

all-time high. Children are exposed at an early age and their knowledge of how to use

these devices could easily surpass many adults. The tendency to abstain form new

things is in our nature, but that should not keep us from embracing the future. There

was a time when cars were new to society and people were not sure of the mainstream

sustainability. We all know how that ended, most of us have a car or at a minimum have

driven one. Years from now society will all say the same thing about tablets and

technology in the classroom.

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Tablets can potentially be a distraction for students. They open the door for other

activities that could take away from learning experience. With that being said. One

question is discussed more than any: are they effective? First off, look at the tools

available now to help control the potential distraction element. Tablets have a parental

control function that ensures the teachers can control what is seen and done. IPads in

particular go far beyond that and have full management systems that can control

application usage, websites visited, and what applications are available for use. If

properly executed this will ensure the devices are used for the intended purpose and

not turned into a social media-browsing tool. Still the question lingers; are they

effective? Technology can positively and significantly contribute to childrens (including

children from low-income households) reading and math achievement.(Espinosa) The

use of tablet devices has also shown huge payoffs when used with special needs

children. These kids often find it difficult to speak and interact with others. Tablet

devices featuring icons that can be tapped to produce vocal comments help bring

largely silent kids with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, at least partly out of their

shells, say education professor Connie Kasari of UCLA and her colleagues. (Bower)

This is just a small sample that shows how tablets are an effective tool in the classroom.

The results are clear if the educator is willing to put the effort in to ensure the success of

these devices.

The future is here. It is time to embrace the technology that available and ensure

the educational potential of our children. Tablets and computers are not going away.

They should not be looked at as a negative offering that will take away from the

traditional classroom. They should be viewed as a tool that will help enhance what our
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educators have already put in place. They will support and develop new skills and

educational practices that were not possible before. So pick up that tablet. Google what

applications are available. Look at how the technology is being used by other teachers.

Embrace the chaos that is change and move to the future of todays classroom.
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Works Cited

BOWER, BRUCE. "Body & Brain: Tablet Devices Help Kids with Autism Speak Up:
Ipads Show Promise in Helping Largely Nonverbal Children Talk." Science News.
186.3 (2014). Print.

Linda M. Espinosa , James M. Laffey , Tiffany Whittaker & Yanyan Sheng

(2006) Technology in the Home and the Achievement of Young Children:
Findings From the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Early Education
and Development, 17:3, 421-441, DOI:10.1207/s15566935eed1703_5

Palmer, Randall. "Accessibility: the Top 10 Ipad Apps for Special Education." T.h.e.
Journal. 40.6 (2013): 10-13. Print.

Pew Research Center, 2017, http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheet/mobile/. Accessed

23 Apr. 20017.