I came across an article online that questioned what is the appropriate age for students to use iPads. I thought this article was interesting because iPads are becoming more popular due to all they can offer. The iPads are a great way to learn in an accessable way, however the article proposed a good point. At what age is it appropriate to use iPads in the schooling system? The article questioned:
Isn't there a stage in early childhood development where kids don't know the difference between abstract notions and real objects? For example, one where they think the apple on the page is a real apple, or that if they close their eyes they really do become invisible?
The article continued to question is it better for a child to learn in concrete ways, such as learning about shapes by playing with blocks, or by virtually playing with blocks. I personally believe that there should be an integration with technology at an early age, to promote technoligical knowledge, however, technology cannot constitute for the actual hands on learning. I think that children should be more hands on than anything else because that information is better embedded in their minds, however, the iPad can come in at a later stage to review and be an alternate form of learning, just as long as it comes after the inital hands on learning. I believe technology, and an iPad can be a great tool in the classroom, however it cannot take away ones own capabilities in the real world, with real life objects.
To read this article on your own, the link is: http://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/ipad-for-the-right-age
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