Using tablets in the classroom

If you hadn’t noticed, the world has gone mobile. Most people own at least one digitally mobile device. At a recent school show I noticed that parents had the usual digital camera and phones recording the event but also an array of tablets, held aloft as if the owner was watching their child on TV!

So, what is the advantage of these devices? Firstly, it’s the touch. Do you remember the first time you had a go on an interactive whiteboard? There was a slight hesitation and concern about ‘getting it wrong’ but once understood there was no holding back. Even without any special software, this tool had the potential to open up learning in the classroom. Now an IWB is considered an essential part of the classroom.

The same applies to tablets. Once children get used to using them in class they will not be able to turn away – they will be considered a prerequisite to learning in the 21st century. However, these devices will not take over learning. There will still be a place for books, pens, pencils and junk modelling.