Gartner have described the iPad as disruptive technology and the majority of Fortune 500 companies have either deployed or are testing the iPad and looking to see how this revolutionary device can enhace their business practices. Initially, Apple’s focus for iPad was the consumer – when we got them in our hands we started bringing them to work, and IT departments had to start integrating them into the business networks. What’s taken many people by surprise though, is the speed at which schools and educational institutes have grasped the iPad baton and begun deploying them in meaningful, productive ways.
Apple has been strong in education for years – and is the number one provider of technology to education in many markets – the Mac has long been the desired computer of choice for students of all ages. The iPod Touch has been deployed succesfully in school laguage labs and now the iPad promises to deliver better learning outcomes to those visionary schools who see the benefit of this ground-breaking technology.
iPad 2 particularly has become even more attractive for schools – with features like video cameras and display-mirroring for output from the iPad in the classroom. Couple this with a Screen-Reader and support for closed-captions and you see that the device can fit into every level of learning environment, and as research is starting to show, improve the outcome.
Other resources:: iTunes U
Apple’s iTunes U is home to more than 350,000 free lectures, videos, books, and podcasts from learning institutions all over the world. Universities such as Yale, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Beijing Open University, and the University of Tokyo, as well as broadcasters such as PBS, offer free content on iTunes U.
Content ranges from lectures and presentations to syllabi and campus maps. Accessing iTunes U is simple. Just tap More in the iTunes app and you’ll see iTunes U. From there, browse and download content directly to your iPad.
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