This fall semester students might be hearing your science teachers say “Hey, there’s an app for that,” as iPads are being provided for students who are taking the biology course. Only a small amount of classes are being provided as a reflection to whether they will be purchased for every student in the school as a future decision.
“I think it’s a fantastic idea. Students will be more engaged in learning with them.” Suzanna Johnson, a teacher atPlacerHigh Schoolin the biology department proclaims,
With the iPad, students will be able to see projects they are assigned in 3D, adding more of a “hands-on” feeling to learning. With the iPad, students will still be provided a textbook to take home for the semester.
For the classrooms there are eighty iPads that have been provided by the district this year for the science department, who are required to share them equally with the other biology teachers. This results in each of the students not having their own iPad, but to share them in groups with other classmates. Wireless will also be provided for each of the iPads so internet is functional for students to do assigned projects. If the internet is used for inappropriate use, the iPads can be confiscated from the students.
“I think it’s good that we are getting to use the iPads for schoolwork, but it might also be really distracting for students,” stated, freshman, Amber Birchell. With that, if the students through the semester become too distracted with the privilege they are being given, the iPad will be taken away from the student. If the students choose not to show responsibility, the discussion of the iPads being provided for all students in the future will lessen if the class cannot show maturity with this freedom.
“The only disadvantage to the iPads is how fragile they are and making sure the students don’t misuse them,” Mrs. Johnson stated when asked her thoughts on the pros and cons of the iPad. “But the advantages are better. The color on the iPad is just beautiful. It makes more things more real.”
Another great advantage of the iPads for the students is that they will not have to pay for the update or upgrade on the iPads. The only payment students will make to the iPad is if they break or lose it on purpose, they will be responsible for the funds of a new one. Otherwise, students have a great ability to learn with technology for free.
Biology students you have an advantage to technology, but also have the responsibility to show maturity. So, if students want the freedom of 3D projects, videos, internet, apps, and much more, they have to show teachers that you have good intentions with iPad and divulge in the new learning ways of the twenty-first century.