iBooks on the iPad

The iPad is the latest and greatest piece of technology to hit the markets, and the iBook app is one that most are talking about. Like the Kindle, the iBook app allows one to carry around a small piece of equipment and read. One can turn pages on the iPad with the simple touch of a finger, and get the same effect of turning an actual page. There are many other apps that the iPad offers, apps such as the ability to take notes, there is a keyboard that pops up when one is ready to jot down some new note. You can listen to music, browse the internet, e-mail, and much much more on the iPad.
Many have been discussing the possible use of the iPad in classrooms. For college students it may be cheaper to simply download a book on the iPad rather than pay ridiculous prices for some books that you may only open twice a semester. The iBook app will certainly reduce the amount of trees that are cut down for the use of paper, and will reduce the amount of weight college students carry on thier backs. The iBook can highlight certain parts and return to them later. For younger students, the iBook app can read the text to the student, and has wonderful pictures to share. However, how tempted will students be to use the other sweet apps that are available with the iPad rather than follow along with what is going on in the class? I know that I would probably be.
If the iPad is adapted in elementary or high school classrooms, it will have to be modified and will have to block some things to keep students to from wandering from the lesson that is being discussed by the teacher. There are some apps that might be helpful for students to have when they go home, a teacher could upload videos of what had been discussed in class (which could be helpful for students who are sick from school). The videos could be helpful for those students with learning impairments or vision impairments. There are many ways that the iPad could be helpful in the classroom, however, it may be a few years before some schools are comfertable with letting the students have these hundred dollar devices in thier hands.

Images used with permision from Iowa AEA - AP Images.