Essay About College Students And Viability Of The Apple Ipad

Ipads for the Education Sector
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iPads for the Education Sector
Summary
The issue of integrating tablets computers into the classroom has become a mainstream topic.
Therefore, the decision was made to study the viability of the Apple iPad in traditional college
teaching environments. In addition, other devices were looked at to compare whether Apple iPad
is the best choice. After researching the devices by comparing their various functions and the
degree of overall usability for each device, the conclusion was reached that the iPad was not the
most promising. However, this study recommends that further study be implemented regarding
viable teaching methods involving the Apple iPad before any decisions are made.
The economic value of the iPad to college students turned out to be much lower than its $500
price tag. Laptops were hence, chosen as the best alternative. Students would be better off using
their laptops in classrooms as well as for doing their homework since the laptop is an all-in-one
device as opposed to an iPad which comes somewhere between a phone and a laptop. Since most
students already have phones and laptops, effective use should be made of these rather than
spending a fortune on iPads.
Introduction
The following study seeks to analyze the viability of an iPad in the academic setting, as
compared to current methods. This paper will discuss the costs and benefits of using an iPad to
college students, asses the economic value of these attributes and finally make recommendations.
Analysis
The iPAD has some unique functions that could improve a college students learning experience
but it comes with its cons.
When in college most students find themselves setting aside hundreds of dollars for books every
year. According to a Washington Post article, “Students at four-year schools spent, on average,
about $900 for books and supplies in 2003-2004″. Can the Apple iPad realistically lessen this
cost with just one simple tap? Since its release many publishers have released e-textbooks.
Select applications available for purchase in the Application store include iBooks, The Elements,
Things for iPad, and iWork. These applications allow increased functionality in that each
expands the capabilities of the iPad. The iBook application lets the user connect to an online
book store. In the event that textbooks become available in a digital format, iBooks would enable
the user to have access to any and all of their textbooks at a given moment. The Elements allows
the user to tap the element, and then to spin the image around, enabling the user to visually see
what the whole element looks like. This tool allows the student to not only learn the from the
words written but also allows a interaction that is bound to engage and assist in the remembering
information. Things for iPad allows the user to create to do lists, and could aid students in better
managing their time. iWork is essentially a three part application that allows the user to create
text documents, slide shows, and spreadsheets. These applications are mainly being used by the
general public of the student population, but there are some that are helpful for specific majors
such as Lexi-complete, Blacks Law Dictionary, and Roambi Pro. For medical students Lexi-
complete is an application that has all drug information logged in and the effects of drug.
There are also 3D cell structure and anatomys applications for medical students. If the student
has a major in law the Blacks Law Dictionary is a resource that definitions and pronunciations of
legal terms. Business majors would use Roambi Pro which allows students to put in data and
E-textbooks can greatly reduce the weight of textbooks that a student has to carry around college
all day by several pounds since the iPad weighs only 1.5 pounds and has dimensions of
9.56″x7.47″x.5”. In the long run, assuming that the iPad is successfully implemented at all
educational institutions, the need for printed books would decline, hence saving paper and
benefiting the environment. Also, if all textbook publishers agree to sell digital copies of their
books, the books could be updated in a matter of minutes and there would be no need of new
editions to be published every year when new information needs to be added.
Currently, the iBookstore has some major cons. Theres still a lot of work that needs to be done
as the collection of e-books