New technologies are emerging every day. The education community embraces new technologies, sometime very quickly. When thinking about what is coming, and this can only be done in the most abstract way, what considerations do you think need to be taken into account by educators and librarians as they decide whether or not to adopt a new technology.
This week focused a great deal on iPads and their use in the classroom. Tablets are a relatively new technology but they have gained traction and hold in our everyday lives. Touch screens are everywhere and can be seen on computers, phones, televisions, and tablets. Most students are use to this technology and are ready for it to be incorporated into the classroom. I think there are several concerns that teachers and librarians should address before adding such technology to their curriculum and lesson planning. The first would be the longevity of the device, the ability to supply the device to an adequate number of students, and the impact of the device on student learning.
When a new technology is released the knee jerk reaction of many is to go and buy it. We thrive on the new and popular. The question for schools when considering purchasing these items is "How long will this really last?" This question has been asked and answered for desktop computers, televisions, projector screens, and tablets. Will the cost of the item make it work the lifetime of the item? iPads are released every few years but the older models can still work for quite a while. How long would they last in a school environment though? This is something a school should consider heavily before purchasing 300 of them.
And can the school really supply 300 iPads? This is another key question. How many devices would be adequate to serve the population of students in your school? How would they have access to the devices? Does every student get one and if so how do you track their use? Do they get signed out of the library? Can they leave the library? If you can only supply 10, how would this impact curriculum? Most schools can't afford to give each student a tablet. It's important for schools to have an action plan for the devices they can buy, if they are set on it.
The third concern that should be addressed is how the devices would be used in the daily life of a teacher. Is it really beneficial to the curriculum and learning for students? A questionnaire could be sent to teachers discussing how they might use the devices. This could guide purchasing and policies.
From several discussions with school media specialists, many have said there is no budget for such devices and even less demand. This could change rapidly. We never know how the demand will change or how these devices will be used in the future.
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