Integration of iPads into Early Childhood Classrooms

Abstract

This paper explores the place of technology, and especially iPads, within the classroom. In every placement I saw teachers hand students iPads during maths lessons for them to play games. This really irritated me, since despite my admiration for my mentor teachers I assumed that part of the reason for the iPads was laziness. My early observations of children using iPads in mathematics also produced negative feelings because I saw brilliant mathematical apps being used as guessing games and turned into mindless tasks, and I found that there was a lack of teacher training in relation to technology and the use of iPads. Even so, I found that technology, and particularly iPads, can enhance and enrich the classroom by creating daily opportunities to give students a better understanding of the mathematical concepts being taught. From my observations, the iPad does not have the potential to teach new concepts effectively, but it is great at providing revision for students. However, for students who only see iPads as a game, instruction in the use of iPads in the classroom needs to be a part of lesson planning. The problem is that most schools are under resourced in terms of technology and there is a lack of teacher training in how to effectively use technology in the classroom. This can be changed by teachers taking responsibility for their own professional development and teaching one another.