iPads
Recently the iPad, a tablet created by Apple, has become extremely popular within the classroom. Because of its ease of use, this device is perfect for all ages, from elementary to the college level. This device is especially engaging when used in the classroom due to its popularity with students; because students get excited to use this technology, teachers can use this to their teaching advantage. Using Apple's App Store, there is a wide variety of applications that can be downloaded Iand used (both for free and for a cost), which can greatly support both overall learning and the multitude of different learning styles in a classroom.
Some examples of ways to use the iPad in the classroom include: replacing physical textbooks with e-textbooks that can be used on the iPad, using a doodle/paint application to draw or create virtual posters, creating high-quality movies using iMovie, taking notes (using an app such as Evernote), and using DropBox to get student work onto and off of iPad.
Some examples of ways to use the iPad in the classroom include: replacing physical textbooks with e-textbooks that can be used on the iPad, using a doodle/paint application to draw or create virtual posters, creating high-quality movies using iMovie, taking notes (using an app such as Evernote), and using DropBox to get student work onto and off of iPad.
Price: starting at $249 (iPad mini) and $399 (iPad Air)
Pros: easy to transport and access ("grab and go"), many educational apps to choose from on Apple's App Store, can be used across a variety of grade levels and content areas, camera, internet is not necessary to use (though it may be required for certain apps)
Cons: no keyboard, purchasing additional accessories may be required for use in the classroom (protective cases, keyboards, etc.), updating apps can take a while, can be easily damaged without proper protective case, more expensive than other devices
Recommended Grade Level: Kindergarten and above
Pros: easy to transport and access ("grab and go"), many educational apps to choose from on Apple's App Store, can be used across a variety of grade levels and content areas, camera, internet is not necessary to use (though it may be required for certain apps)
Cons: no keyboard, purchasing additional accessories may be required for use in the classroom (protective cases, keyboards, etc.), updating apps can take a while, can be easily damaged without proper protective case, more expensive than other devices
Recommended Grade Level: Kindergarten and above
Chromebooks
Another device that is increasing its popularity within schools across the country is the Chromebook. A Chromebook is a laptop that runs Chrome OS as its operating system. These devices are unique and different than other laptops because of the fact that they are designed to be used when connected to the internet. This means that data, information, and applications that are used on Chromebooks are stored "in the cloud". Because of this, Chromebooks utilize things like Google Drive, YouTube, and Chrome Web Apps when they are used within schools.
Because Chromebooks are limited to use on the internet, I would personally only find them more useful in the upper grades. This is mostly due to the fact that they are most useful for students that are good readers and writers. For high schools (and possibly some middle schools), I would recommend Chromebooks over iPads, just because of the work that the device would be used for. Examples of ways that Chromebooks can be used in the classroom include: having a guest lecturer, having a flipped classroom (resources like Khan Academy can be used), YouTube and TED talks can be watched to supplement lessons, Google Forms can be used to assess students, and students can collaborate on projects in Google Drive.
Because Chromebooks are limited to use on the internet, I would personally only find them more useful in the upper grades. This is mostly due to the fact that they are most useful for students that are good readers and writers. For high schools (and possibly some middle schools), I would recommend Chromebooks over iPads, just because of the work that the device would be used for. Examples of ways that Chromebooks can be used in the classroom include: having a guest lecturer, having a flipped classroom (resources like Khan Academy can be used), YouTube and TED talks can be watched to supplement lessons, Google Forms can be used to assess students, and students can collaborate on projects in Google Drive.
Price: starting at around $199
Pros: small and lightweight, can only be used for academic purposes (for the most part, due to browser being the only thing that can be accessed), keyboard, ability to access files on any device that connects to the internet (because Google Drive must be used to save documents, presentations, etc.), less expensive than other devices, longer battery life, accessories are not required
Cons: only has the Chrome browser, other software and browsers cannot be downloaded and used, limited ability to do activities, internet is required to use, no way to protect from everyday wear and tear
Recommended Grade Level: Fifth grade and above
Pros: small and lightweight, can only be used for academic purposes (for the most part, due to browser being the only thing that can be accessed), keyboard, ability to access files on any device that connects to the internet (because Google Drive must be used to save documents, presentations, etc.), less expensive than other devices, longer battery life, accessories are not required
Cons: only has the Chrome browser, other software and browsers cannot be downloaded and used, limited ability to do activities, internet is required to use, no way to protect from everyday wear and tear
Recommended Grade Level: Fifth grade and above
Laptops
Laptops, or notebooks, are portable personal computers, which are suitable for mobile use. They have proven to be extremely helpful because they can perform all the same tasks as a desktop PC, all while being lightweight and portable. They have more processing power than that of a tablet, which makes them more suitable for some users. Laptops are also more powerful processing hardware, and in effect, they can be used for a wider range of uses and they're better at multitasking.
Laptops are most useful when it comes to academic research and photo and video editing. For those students who plan to use their device for photo and video purposes, a laptop is definitely the go-to choice, simply because it can handle the tasks more efficiently and smoothly.
Laptops are most useful when it comes to academic research and photo and video editing. For those students who plan to use their device for photo and video purposes, a laptop is definitely the go-to choice, simply because it can handle the tasks more efficiently and smoothly.
Price: budget laptops start at $200, Apple's MacBook Air starts at $799
Pros: can access everything on the internet without the restrictions that come with a Chromebook (Windows supports most programs and games), the Windows Store offers more than 180,000 apps, offers more than one web browser, can save files to the desktop, more hardware options
Cons: require additional programs to be downloaded in order to be fully functional, not as good of battery life as Chromebooks, not as good of security as Chromebook counterpart, can be more expensive
Recommended Grade Level: Fifth grade and above
Pros: can access everything on the internet without the restrictions that come with a Chromebook (Windows supports most programs and games), the Windows Store offers more than 180,000 apps, offers more than one web browser, can save files to the desktop, more hardware options
Cons: require additional programs to be downloaded in order to be fully functional, not as good of battery life as Chromebooks, not as good of security as Chromebook counterpart, can be more expensive
Recommended Grade Level: Fifth grade and above
SMART Boards
Over the past few years, SMART Boards have become very popular in classrooms across the United States. For those who are new to SMART Boards, they are interactive whiteboards that use touch detection for input. In more simpler terms, it is a large screen that has a computer's screen projected onto it; from there, a person can interact with the SMART Board by using touch.
SMART Boards can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. Some examples of ways to use the SMART Board include:
SMART Boards can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. Some examples of ways to use the SMART Board include:
- Note-Taking: using the SMART Board to take notes can be a great way to document important points in a lesson. This can be done through writing with the pens, or being typed on the computer.
- Brainstorming: doing this activity with the use of the SMART Board allows for more visual appeal and interest. SMART software has a variety of different charts, diagrams, and flowcharts that can be used to organize thoughts and ideas and help students to think of ideas.
- Games and Activities: SMART software has tons of different games and activities that can be used to enrich learning or just be played for fun. These are great options for down time in the classroom, or to accompany teaching.
- Media: because the SMART Board projects what is on the computer screen, it is ideal to watch videos, view maps, look at pictures and illustrations, and look at graphs.
- Classroom Management: SMART offers many ways to help make everyday tasks a little easier. For example, try the random group generator to quickly make groups for students to work in without any fuss.
Price: starting at around $2000, but varies widely
Pros: lots of options for lessons and activities (via SMART Exchange), lessons can be created and saved for later use and modification, controlled by touch (makes it easy to use for the majority of people), provides a variety of learning styles to be used, allows more creativity, can convert handwriting to a "readable text"
Cons: expensive, writing can be difficult (and some older models of the SMART Board only allow one person to write at a time and some older models are hard to write on because the writer may be standing in front of the projector/light source, which creates a shadow on the board), problematic--the use of "touch" can be overly sensitive (sometimes just touching the board can result in unwanted marks and such), require proper training to use
Recommended Grade Level: Kindergarten and above
Pros: lots of options for lessons and activities (via SMART Exchange), lessons can be created and saved for later use and modification, controlled by touch (makes it easy to use for the majority of people), provides a variety of learning styles to be used, allows more creativity, can convert handwriting to a "readable text"
Cons: expensive, writing can be difficult (and some older models of the SMART Board only allow one person to write at a time and some older models are hard to write on because the writer may be standing in front of the projector/light source, which creates a shadow on the board), problematic--the use of "touch" can be overly sensitive (sometimes just touching the board can result in unwanted marks and such), require proper training to use
Recommended Grade Level: Kindergarten and above