iPad or tablet for teaching

Specialties Educators

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So I have been looking at the ipad and a couple of tablets. I wanted to know how other educators have used these for teaching in classroom as well as for doing teaching work like viewing/editing student papers, logging into blackboard and doing video chats, etc. (especially for those teaching online and need the flexibility). Are these useful? Do others like the iPad or the tablets? Are there pros and cons to either?

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I don't know the difference. I would go for the one that is most portable, can add free apps like Micromedex, can access Internet quickly and can handle the software you need. Be mindful of security issues in case you have grades on it and it is stolen.

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Specializes in ICU,ANTICOAG,ACUTE STROKE,EDU,RESEARCH.

I wouldn't go for an IPAD as it doesn't have a USB port, so the only way you can get an external document onto it is for someone to send it to you as an email attachment and then save it in some funny place where you can't edit it.

You can't install the apple programs that their computers have on them.

I don't think you can get a power point type programme onto it, plus couldn't connect to a projector-I don't think.

Really only good for surfing the net, music, videos etc.

I would go for a tablet.

The only one I have experience with is an ASUS Eee Pc with linux software.It has wireless capability, USBs, inbuilt microphone etc.

It functions just like a small computer. I am sure there are much better ones now as this one's 6 years old.

All the microsoft type programs eg excel, word, PP are compatable

Other thing is the cost-around $250 as opposed to $600 for an iPAD. You can buy a pretty good laptop for less than that!

Looking here

http://www.newegg.com/Store/BrandSubCategory.aspx?Brand=1315&SubCategory=772&name=ASUS-Netbooks&Order=PRICE

which was where we bought ours, along with other purchases over time, seems like they all have windows now.

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Specializes in OB, NICU, Nursing Education (academic).

Some of our faculty were issued IPADS this semester to experiment with in the classroom/clinical area. Micromedex is very nice. You can also download a free calculator app for clinical use. Medscape is really nice for a quick update on articles relevant to your specialty.

As far as Powerpoint....yes you can run them. You have to download an app (not free) called Keynote. I save my powerpoints to an app (free) called Dropbox, and then open them on the IPAD with "Keynote". Dropbox is on my desktop, laptop, and IPAD. Anything I save to "dropbox" automatically appears on my IPAD (in the Dropbox app). Very cool.

I haven't tried editing student papers...yet. An app called "Pages" should (in theory, anyway) allow me to do that, as it is similar to "Word". I still need to try that out. Again, I should be able to access e-mailed assignments (saved to Dropbox).

Students, I think, would be the real beneficiaries. Just imagine being able to put ALL your nursing textbooks on something as small (and portable) as an IPAD. No more backpack on wheels being dragged into the classroom!

I don't know....I've only had the IPAD a couple of weeks, but I think it could be very useful.

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Specializes in Nursing Research and Education.

Check out the iPad Blackboard App! Amazing!

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Specializes in ICU,ANTICOAG,ACUTE STROKE,EDU,RESEARCH.
Some of our faculty were issued IPADS this semester to experiment with in the classroom/clinical area. Micromedex is very nice. You can also download a free calculator app for clinical use. Medscape is really nice for a quick update on articles relevant to your specialty.

As far as Powerpoint....yes you can run them. You have to download an app (not free) called Keynote. I save my powerpoints to an app (free) called Dropbox, and then open them on the IPAD with "Keynote". Dropbox is on my desktop, laptop, and IPAD. Anything I save to "dropbox" automatically appears on my IPAD (in the Dropbox app). Very cool.

I haven't tried editing student papers...yet. An app called "Pages" should (in theory, anyway) allow me to do that, as it is similar to "Word". I still need to try that out. Again, I should be able to access e-mailed assignments (saved to Dropbox).

Students, I think, would be the real beneficiaries. Just imagine being able to put ALL your nursing textbooks on something as small (and portable) as an IPAD. No more backpack on wheels being dragged into the classroom!

I don't know....I've only had the IPAD a couple of weeks, but I think it could be very useful.

Excuse my ignorance-(my son has the iPAD), how do you connect it to a projector to show the powerpoint presentations?

Still not sure that for teaching the iPAD has any advantage over a 10inch computer and is way more expensive.

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Specializes in OB, NICU, Nursing Education (academic).
Excuse my ignorance-(my son has the iPAD), how do you connect it to a projector to show the powerpoint presentations?

Still not sure that for teaching the iPAD has any advantage over a 10inch computer and is way more expensive.

Oh....no ignorance to excuse. I didn't mean to imply that I show/run the PPT from the IPAD (I don't know that it can't be done, though).....only that I can access it, even update it from the IPAD.

I have a 10 inch laptop also, and find the IPAD way more portable for clinical....mostly reference (e-text, micromedex, ect.). I can take pictures with it also.....hey, I could even document clinical dress code violations!

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Which Blackboard app? There are several. Also Has anyone tried one of the Smart Whiteboard apps for iPad?

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For ITEACHOB,

When you talk about being able to link "dropbox" ---are all your computers and phones from apple so that if you make changes in oneplace--it changes them in another as well? Or is there dropbox features available on any laptop?

I love my iPad, but it is frustrating that it will not sinc my email with my home computer.

When you take your ipad into the clinical setting--how do you keep it from getting stolen (sy you can't take it into a isolation room) and also from picking up regular hospital germs.

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So I have been looking at the ipad and a couple of tablets. I wanted to know how other educators have used these for teaching in classroom as well as for doing teaching work like viewing/editing student papers, logging into blackboard and doing video chats, etc. (especially for those teaching online and need the flexibility). Are these useful? Do others like the iPad or the tablets? Are there pros and cons to either?
tablet pc for teaching maybe from China. But for 10 years now this kind of tablet pc using in classroom still only stay in our talking....
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Just a heads up - the Blackboard app does not seem to play well with Android devices. Some schools work fine, but some don't play at all. I just bought a Samsung Galaxy Tablet and BB doesn't work on it for my school at all :( It does, however, work fine on my iphone Blackboard App. So while the app exists for Android, it seems to be school specific whether it works or not. I'd check with your school's IT department before buying a tablet (in general).

(just a pre-nursing student, but I do work in IT currently! Happy shopping- I

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Specializes in nursing education.

I bought a new iPad and it would not work with my colleges blackboard. I took it back and bought a ASUS mini. Love it.

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