three reasons to choose tablets for your school's one to one initiatve
DESCRIPTION
Thinking of implementing one to one technology, but not sure which device to use? Tablets and netbooks are both awesome choices. Today, we'll look at three key reasons why you should consider purchasing tablets instead of netbooks. There's not a lot of research on this issue, and I plan to change that. After you've seen the presentation, follow through to my blog to join the conversation about which device you think. And check out the progress of my research into which device the students at my school find more useful for their own work. Sometimes it's not about the tool, it's about the situation in which it's put to use.TRANSCRIPT
Everyone’s Doing It.
Shouldn’t You?
San Diego Unified School District
has 26,000 iPads.
McAllen School District in Texas
bought 20,000.
Chicago, well, they only got
10,000.
Are You Going to
Join Them…?
“Because infrastructure for learning should support learning in and
out of the classroom, students and educators need Internet access
devices for around-the-clock use from any location.”
National Educational Technology Plan
But Which One Is Right For Your School?
A Tablet or a Netbook…?
Clearly We Need Devices
Today, We’ll Argue for Tablets.
Why?
Let’s consider
these reasons
three.
A Tablet Is
Convenient.
I can use it here or
there.
I can use it anywhere.
Image Credit: “iPad Day” by Travis Warren
Where Can I Use It?
I can use it in a house.I can use it with a
mouse.
Image Credit: Old House by borutc at sxc.hu Image Credit: Mouse by Alex Bruda
Or even…
I could use it in a box.I could use it… well, not
with a fox.
Image Credit: Elle Reading iPad by Tricia WangImage Credit: the iPad box.
I Could Even Use It
In a Tree.
Image Credit: “Reading in a Tree” by John Flinchbaugh.
But a Laptop… I would not,
could not use it anywhere.
Pretty much just a desk. Cause this just ain’t right.
Image Credit: “Businessman with the Notebook 2”Image Credit: “Businessman with the Notebook 3”
Next Reason?
Tablets are awesome
for reading.
eReaders on steroids.
Netbooks? Eh,
they’re ok for
reading.
Books have looked like books for centuries.
It’s a pretty basic design.
And a tablet presents a reading experience similar to a book.
What a Striking Similarity…
Try Sitting That Close to
Your Laptop. Please Do.
Kindle and Nook
Books Resize Easily
Kids choose the font size that’s
comfortable for them.
Text just flows… without
formatting.
PDFs and websites that you’d use
as “textbooks” on laptops include
lots of formatting.
They _don’t_ resize easily.
Does the Peg
Fit the Hole?
Tablets are made for
reading things first,
doing things second.
Laptops are made for
doing things first, and
reading things
second.
Third Reason? Two Words.
Touch Screen.
You Ever Draw
Something… With a
Mouse?
That Many Letters? Intimidating for
Kids Too Young to Read…
But That’s Just
Intuitive.
Ok Ok. Enough
Kidding Around…
Tablets are clearly better
at certain things.
I can use them anywhere, without
a workspace.
They’re super-useful for reading.
And touch screens are super-cool
and intuitive for kids.
Image Credit: “Serious Cheetah.”
So Ask
Yourself…
Do we want kids to take
these devices anywhere, and
use them everywhere?
Is a main goal of our one-to-
one initiative to replace
textbooks with eBooks?
Are we going to utilize apps
that take clear advantage of
a touch screen?
Image Credit: “Question Mark.”
So… Tablets or Netbooks?
Keep Up to Date.
Subscribe for updates to my blog (Tech and
Teaching)
Learn more.
Read about my research on my blog.
Sound off!
Tell me what you think.
Curious for more?
Connect.
By Brian Rock
Join the conversation at Tech
and Teaching.
Connect on Google Plus.
Twitter: @TechAndTeaching
LinkedIn Profile.
I’m a graduate student, and I am
researching the merits of both
tablets and netbooks in
classrooms. But I need your help.
Research requires devices. That
means money.
Spread the word about my
campaign on IndieGogo! Find
details on that and my research on
here on my blog, Tech and
Teaching.