iPad in the Classroom

There has been plenty of talk about iPads being used as a tool for education in the classroom. Personally, I am still in two minds. A part of me wishes to embrace the latest and greatest technologies for kids. On the other hand, I struggle with the distractions that kids are exposed to in this age of social networking. 

Some schools have chosen to act on it and pilot some programs using iPads. 

"For the past two years, a pilot program at San Jose's Archbishop Mitty High School has put Apple's popular iPad tablets in the hands of 250 students in 14 classes. Next fall the school will rent an iPad for all 1,680 students and 104 teachers, putting Mitty at the vanguard of a quickening trend toward digitalized education." Check out the full report. For a video click here.

Technology in Schools

The NY Times had an interesting article today about the use of technology and how its transforming education at the Mooresville school in North Carolina. 


“This is not about the technology,” Mark Edwards, superintendent of Mooresville Graded School District, would tell the visitors later over lunch. “It’s not about the box. It’s about changing the culture of instruction — preparing students for their future, not our past.”


Click here to read the report.

Need for collaboration in undergraduate education

Lawrence Summers raises some interesting points in this piece in the NY Times about the need for changes in undergraduate education with greater focus on collaboration.

p.s: He says that English will take over and its not worth learning another language. I completely disagree with this. Check out this interview with a cognitive neuro-scientist which talks about how ones brain is wired differently (advantageously) when you learn multiple languages. Besides, knowing another language helps you connect so much better with people and their cultures.