Eliane Alhadeff, author of the Serious Games Market blog, has a few posts that include good information and links about the use of the iPad and tablets for education.
We know the kids are ready. What about the adults?
Here are the links:
Serious Games For iPad Put Children In The Education Driver's Seat
iPad & Serious Games to Revolutionize the Way Students Access Core Curriculum
Predictions To Rock The Education World: Tablets As Serious Games
RELATED
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
HMH fuse Algebra 1 for the iPad
Math That Moves: Schools Embrace the iPad
Winnie Hu, New York Times, 1/4/11
Five Predictions for 2011 That Will Rock the Education World
John Moravec, Education Futures Blog 12/30/2010
SOMEWHAT RELATED
Scholastic's Family Playground
I meant to post a link to this article a while ago:
iPad Opens World to a Disabled Boy
Emily B. Hager, New York Times, 10/12/10
Cross posted on the Interactive Multimedia Technology Blog
I have collected lots of resources for interactive whiteboards and other touch-screens, such all-in-one Touch PC's such as the Dell and HP TouchSmart. Some are optimized for use on mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and Droids.
I'd like to highlight a few online interactive educational games on this blog from time-to-time.
The PhysicsGames site is full of games that can be embedded into a blog or web page, making it easy for teachers and parents to organize and arrange the games as they see fit. This feature also lets students do the same.
On the main page of the website, the games are arranged in alphabetical order, with picture icons for each game. The titles of the games and the pictures on the icons give you a quick idea of what each game is about. The games were created by a variety of developers, professionals, teachers, and if I'm not mistaken, tech-savvy students.
Below are links to the various categories of physics games found on the site. The games I explored all had music and sound effects, so make sure that the sound is turned on! (Note: The site is supported by sponsors, but the advertising is not annoying-in many cases, you can skip the ads.)
Featured | All | Block Removal | Construction | Demolition | Platform | Projectile | Stacking | Othe
Cross-posted on the Interactive Multimedia Technology blog.
I've been following the research about learning and mobile/handheld devices since 2003, and can now say with confidence that the era of mobile learning has arrived. Netbooks, smartphones, e-readers, and iPads are in the hands of people of all ages, and more people are spending time learning "on-the-go" - for informal learning as well as learning that is attached to a formal course of study.
Thanks to the hard work of researchers around the world, there is a growing body of scholarly research that supports this trend. The following article, published this year (2010), focuses on research in the UK, but is worth reviewing by educators (and learners) in the US and other countries:
MODERNIZING EDUCATION AND TRAINING: MOBILIZING TECHNOLOGY FOR LEARNING
http://www.moleshare.org.uk/molehole/7032BFB756/100103.pdf
Authors: Jill Attewell, Carol Savill-Smith, Rebecca Douch, Guy Parker
Mobile Learning (MoLENET) Program
Summary
"In recent years there have been amazing advances in consumer technology. The Mobile Learning Network (MoLeNET) initiative has enabled colleges and schools to harness some of this technology in order to modernise aspects of teaching, learning and training. The result has been improvements in learner engagement, retention, achievement and satisfaction. This publication draws on the experiences of the 11,253 learners and 2261 teachers involved in the 2nd year of MoLeNET. It also reports the findings of research which sought evidence of the impact of introducing handheld and wireless technologies for learning. This evidence has been collected and analysed by LSN Technology Enhanced Learning Research Centre researchers and by practitioner researchers trained and supported by LSN. The handheld technologies used by MoLeNET 2 learners included mobile phones, MP3/MP4 players (e.g. iPods), iPod Touch, netbooks, gaming devices (i.e. Nintendo DS and Sony PSP) and various tiny cameras and specialist scientific technologies.
Positive reactions from practitioners include one teacher commenting that the introduction of mobile technology has had more impact on their teaching than anything else in the last 10 years adding 'there is no doubt that mobile technology has a place in the classroom'. Another reported that 'learners in outreach centres or work-based environments felt better supported' and a senior manager told researchers 'it has transformed teaching and learning in some areas. It's opened up a world of new possibilities'."
Have you ever watched a kid pick up an iPad for the first time and just go with it?
Some parents have found that the same is true for their of children who have autism. The iPad is a great way to support learning and communication in that it is user-friendly and easy for children- and parents- to understand.
Here are two videos that were shared with my by Liz Ditz, author of the "I Speak of Dreams" blog. The first video is of a boy with autism. The second video is of his little sister, interacting with the iPad to watch a "home-made" social story about a family trip to a coffee shop, created in the "Stories to Learn" app.
iPAD Spelling App
YOUTUBE INFO:
Eric Sailers, a speech and language pathologist and assistive technology specialist, has developed ArtikPix, an articularion applicaton for the iPad, along with Jason Rinn.
The application is free, and there are options to purchase additional levels for use. Here is the video demo:
Eric Sailer's Blog:
Speech and Language Pathology Sharing
Jason Rinn's Website:
RinnApps: Mobile Apps for Educators and Parents
