I have owned an iPad for almost 3 years now and I honestly bring mine with me wherever I go. They are lightweight, small, easy to store, and even easier to use. iPads allow you to do everything that you can do on a laptop (with a few exceptions), but with less hassle and need for storage space. For 3 years I have been recommending iPads to everyone that asks me about them. They are great for your own personal use, but they also have a great place in the classroom as well.
The great thing about iPads is that you can virtually download an infinite number of applications (apps)...there literally is an app for everything, including apps that are beneficial in the classroom. During my student teaching placement last year, I had three girls who had recently moved from Africa and didn't speak a word of English. One day I decided to browse the App Store for any apps that would help English Language Learners (ELLs) build and acquire new English vocabulary. I found three that seemed as though they would be beneficial. The next day I brought my iPad into the classroom and asked my cooperating teacher if I could work with those three girls using some of the apps that I found. She agreed, and for the next hour we explored the apps. One of them in particular really stood out. It allowed the student to choose a letter, and then it would go through simple words that started with that letter. It provided a picture and audio readings as well, so the students were receiving both visual and auditory cues. My students absolutely loved it. They would listen to the word and then repeat it out loud, and within a few weeks their English vocabulary had doubled, if not tripled.
There are so many apps that you can find that are beneficial for students and do not cost a thing. However, you have to proceed with caution. Some apps appear to be beneficial, but really have no place in the classroom. It takes a lot of time and effort on behalf of the teacher to search for apps that will truly benefit students and assist their learning. It is a time-consuming process but it is definitely worth it.
