IPads and Tablets in Teaching Math

IPads and tablets are very popular in today’s culture.  I have cousins who just learned how to talk but can fully operate an iPad.  This tells me that this is an essential part of today’s generation.  It is always important for us as teachers to incorporate popular culture into our classroom because this is what our students can relate to.  In the article, “iPads in the class make teachers think differently” the author discusses how to incorporate tablets into the classroom.  IPads and tablets are great because they have so many interactive educational applications and programs on them.  In this article the author states, “Students broke into small groups, each with an iPad synchronized to the game. They jumped, called out and celebrated as they raced to tilt the tablets to manipulate a fraction on the screen into the correct place on a number line”.  After reading this article the question I asked was, “Does this really help students remember the lesson being taught or will they just remember playing a game?”  After thinking about this I am almost positive that students will learn from these games because they focus on teaching the topics.  In addition to this, most students will know how to use an iPad already which is a huge first step.  I am a huge advocate for incorporating technology because I have grown up with this technology just as my students have. 

            One of the best features about the apps made for tablets is that they are not made for one specific topic.  A tablet is like having resourceful materials about every subject and every topic.  I know they are expensive, but they do so much.  On an iPad you can play educational games, read books, browse the internet, use a scientific calculator, make and analyze graphs, and take pictures/videos.  These are just some of the things you can do on a tablet.  If I was fortunate enough to have these in my classroom then I would definitely incorporate them into my teaching.