From note-pads to iPads, teaching goes high-tech by Simrin Gupta

New developments should prompt schools to think about incorporating technology in the classroom.

Photo: Silver Chips Online

Few students remember the last time they hauled out a dictionary to look up a word. Even fewer remember an instance where they had a question that Google couldn't answer. Gone are the days when the twenty-pound textbook was the best resource. Thanks to the emerging technology of e-readers and tablets, anyone can be privy to a plethora of information with just the click of a button or the tap of a screen.
Teachers across the nation have finally begun to capitalize on that concept within our classrooms. It's high time that MCPS do the same.

Because of their high educational value, schools are beginning to realize that e-readers and tablets are the technology that will usher in a new era for education. Although the iPad is one of the more pricey tablets on the market, it presents users with a variety of options other tablets don't. The device allows users to surf the web, run simultaneous applications, read books and create professional-looking presentations. The infamous iPad isn't the only grade-A gizmo out there, though. Samsung's Galaxy tablet, the Eee Pad, the Kno tablet and the Acer tablet are all worthy competitors with roughly the same features. All these models have LCD screens that display colorful graphics, videos, games and other multifunctional devices that positively effect a student's learning experience.

Similar to tablets, though they have limited functions, e-readers have caught educators' attention as well. Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook and Sony's e-reader all have the capability to display digital books, periodicals and textbooks using e-ink technology. These devices completely eliminate the need for traditional textbooks in schools.
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Source: Silver Chips Online