iPads open students' eyes to learning

LOGGED ON: Lakeview School pupils Polly Walker, 12, (left), Lily Lewis, 12, and Eric Ulutui, 12, with their iPad Mini computers, which are part of a scheme that has this year equipped more than 90 Year 7 and Year 8 pupils at the school with the Apple devices. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

The Lifeflight rescue helicopter hovers briefly above Lakeview School on a mercy dash to nearby Wairarapa Hospital and student Eric Ulutui captures an image of the moment on his iPad Mini.

The 11-year-old head boy is one of more than 90 Year 7 and 8 students at the school who this year started carrying an iPad Mini throughout each school day, says principal Ed Hodgkinson.

An iPod Touch Class Initiative two years ago trialled the use of Apple devices among 28 Year 5 and 6 pupils, and the iPad Mini scheme that launched this year arms each participant student with a tablet computer loaded with apps central to their classes and their school lives.

He said students on the scheme had already attended camps, to which they took their iPads, capturing images of their activities "and now they're making movies of their experiences".

"The iPads can be used anywhere at any time and instantly the kids are learning. That photo Eric took can be tweeted or put on Facebook and he can start learning about why the helicopter was flying over, instantly. That's pretty cool."

Mr Hodgkinson said teachers also are developing new skillsets and devising classroom strategies to "enhance learning" among their students through the use of the devices.

"It's about celebrating, sharing and taking ownership over their learning. Finding their own paths or how to do a thing. It's not just the traditional models of the teacher giving you everything. It's self-directed - what do I need to know, where do I look, what app do I need?

"What we don't want is teachers substituting iPads for books and just doing the same old, same old. We want teachers to rethink the way they teach, rethink the way they do things, and work with students and take up a collaborative approach to learning," Mr Hodgkinson said.

"It's been amazing how the teachers are engaging and finding new ways to do things.'