“A magical and revolutionary device”

Response to Module 3
Today I would like to introduce you to a device that I have had little experience with, but one that has become very common in our society. This device does not have a keyboard or keypad but instead is controlled through a touchscreen interface (Christensson, 2011).  Defined in basic terms as being a tablet or slate computer that combines the functions of both a phone and laptop- yet it is larger than the average smartphone and smaller than a laptop (Christensson, 2011). The device I am referring to is the iPad. I have quite a few friends and family who own an iPad but I have not been able to justify the need to own one myself. This is not a reflection on the device itself, but is just due to the fact that my laptop and iPhone fulfill my current technological needs.

Apple first released the iPad in 2010, with its CEO Steve Jobs declaring that it was the “…most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price” (Broussard, 2017, para.3). Introduced as being a “revolutionary device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more” (Apple, 2010, para. 1).

While the iPad is only a relatively new device, it has quickly been adopted in schools in Australia and internationally in the hope that it will provide “…deeper engagement and improved learning outcomes” to students (Attard, 2016, p.690). Attard (2016) explains that “although not originally intended for use within educational contexts…the iPad has fast become the ‘must have’ device in Australian and international classrooms” (p.690). Many believe it could hold the key to revolutionizing teaching and learning and the solution to the many “challenges of contemporary education” (Attard, 2016, p.690). While others are more cautious of the iPad’s perceived educational value and employment in the classroom and warn us to not see it as being the solution to all our teaching and learning needs (Attard, 2016). In my next blog post I will be further exploring the iPad, discussing the benefits and challenges of this device and how it can be used in the classroom.

References:

Apple (2010, January 27). Apple Launches iPad. Retrieved from https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2010/01/27Apple-Launches-iPad/

Attard, C. (2016). Introducing iPads into Primary Mathematics Classrooms: Teachers' Experiences and Pedagogies. In I.       Management Association (Ed.), Teacher Education: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications (pp. 689-709). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-0164-0.ch034

Broussard, M. (2017, January 27). Seven Years ago today: Steve Jobs introduces the iPad. Mac Rumors. Retrieved from https://www.macrumors.com/2017/01/27/seven-years-ago-the-ipad/

Christensson, P. (2011, March 9). iPad Definition. Tech Terms. Retrieved from https://techterms.com/definition/ipad