Education Application
With shrinking budgets, teacher layoffs, and larger classrooms, education advocates are becoming increasingly concerned that giving each child a proper education is no longer one of our country’s top priorities. It’s hard to imagine how some school systems are getting by with such small budgets. What’s even harder, however, is imagining how education would be impacted if money were no object—if every inner-city and rural school district had access to the same resources as their well-funded counterparts.
Imagine, for instance, if every student in the country were given an iPad when they step into a classroom for the first time. With their iPads, kindergarteners could work on their handwriting, typing and simple math skills. As students get older and their schoolwork becomes more advanced, they could use their devices to access the Internet for research papers and for online class discussions. College students could have their electronic textbooks uploaded automatically at the beginning of each semester and could create interactive online portfolios for their professors and potential employers. The possibilities for education, from pre-school to post-grad—are endless.
And with an iPad in the hands of every student, the educational apps available would have to: cover a whole host of subjects: apps for basic math and science, apps for literature and critical thinking, even apps for physical education. Luckily, some of those apps already exist, but in a world where technology would be the center of every child’s education, the apps would have to be wide-ranging and comprehensive. Giving each student an iPad would give them a powerful tool—but giving them the right apps would put the world at their fingertips.
Think big
With an opportunity to connect with other classes the learning environment can expand. Apps that give children a chance to meet and interact with other students from all over the country could help the children find common experiences and share ideas.
A recent science-fiction novel called Ready Player One explores this idea with OASIS, an online environment that allows students to attend an online school that simulates a real-life classroom experience. An app that creates a “traditional” school environment could help children in rural or low-income areas become more comfortable—it could also introduce students of different backgrounds and help them to meet on a level playing field.
Think local
Teaching and learning online are becoming more popular—but for now, most students attend “brick and mortar” schools in their communities or hometowns. Apps that encourage students to explore their local environment could help them learn more about the community around them and to become more involved in service learning. An app that gives a list of local charities and non-profit organizations, a list of state and federal service organizations, and ideas on how to integrate service into the classroom could help teachers and students create projects that focus on making their town a better place.
Think ahead
iPad apps to help students prepare for college entrance exams like the SAT, ACT and GRE are heavy on vocabulary and essay questions, but what if there were an app that could offer students a more immersive experience? Incorporating social media, video chat, and more traditional study techniques could make preparing for entrance exams more realistic—and that could lead to higher test scores.
There are already thousands of educational apps available for the iPad—and in classrooms all over the country teachers and students have experienced how the iPad can help facilitate education. But in a perfect world, every child would have an equal chance to receive a quality education—and the reach of the iPad would be pushed to its limits. With the right apps, the iPad could make limits obsolete
When Mark Zuckerberg (the real one) took the stage at the Facebook F8 conference late last month, he promised that Facebook’s next five years would be defined by “the depth of engagement.” With the introduction of new app partnerships, a new timeline, and a whole host of new smaller features, Facebook has been redesigned to make social media an immersive experience for users. Reading a book, listening to music, cooking a meal, sweating through a workout—all of these things can be shared, discussed and influenced with Facebook’s new features.
