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Kim Johnson Journal Review #2 9-8-11

 “Math That Moves: Schools Embrace the iPad” is the name of the article I chose for this review. The article speaks of Roslyn High School in Roslyn Heights, New York and their new found toys. The school is part of a pilot program testing out iPads in the classroom. The school district bought 47 iPads at $750 a piece. Students and teachers use the iPads for all sorts of activities. The iPads are being used in place of textbooks.  Many schools, K-12, have jumped on the iPad bandwagon, but did they jump too soon? The article raises questions about the educational impact the new ‘toys’ are having. Some concerns about using iPads include cost (of course), educational value, and the length of this new fad. Some educators believe this current trend will soon become a thing of the past, and that there are many other ways to spend funding, for example teacher recruitment and training. On the other hand, there are those who believe the introduction of the iPad to the classroom couldn’t have come soon enough. Some people see iPads as the answer to classroom instruction.  I am not a big fan of technology in general, but when Kindergarteners are using iPads in the classroom, I think things have gotten a little crazy. I know we are supposed to teach to 21st century learners, but what happened to the simple approach to instruction? I don’t think iPads are the cure-all to instructional strategies and lesson plans. I feel that jumping on the bandwagon too soon is a good way of wasting money that is sorely needed elsewhere. I think when the glitz and glam of Apple’s creations ware off, we are going to have many dust collectors lying about our classrooms. An iPad is not going to magically fulfill NCLB, so maybe educational funding should be put towards more valuable, long lasting things.

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I enjoyed doing the journal reviews. Reading through all of the different articles was interesting and sometimes humorous.