Is an iPad beneficial?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

I have an off question, but figured you guys would be the best ones to ask. I'm probably one of the last people to not have a stinkin Apple iPad. I'm toying with the idea of buying one but only if it will be useful. Have any of you found that having an iPad was helpful for school or studying? And in what ways? Unfortunately I don't think my school offers digital versions of our books, otherwise that might have been helpful. Any apps that you love using to study? I'm not familiar with Apple's software (I'm a PC user mostly) so don't know what that offers.

I'm just trying to justify spending that kind of money. I have a few personal things I could use it for, but I'm hoping that it would be mostly used for school...if possible.

Thanks in advance for your input!

Rys22,

My daughter and I had a psychology class together and we both used our tablets every day in class. My iPad was definitely better and faster. The iPad's display is totally better. The apps that I used were notability and notes plus, and I'm not sure if they are available for the Samsung. I have typed all of my research papers on my tablet, and my hand-written notes look like I wrote them on paper when I print them out. I use a printer app so I can print my work on my wireless printer, and when I'm not near my printer I just email it to myself or use Dropbox. I hardly ever use iTunes or the Cloud. You should look them up on YouTube and see how well they work. I also have a laptop and I probably used it twice last semester. My daughter is always on her laptop. I suggest you go to YouTube and look at some comparisons of the two tablets so you see which one works for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Rys22,

My daughter and I had a psychology class together and we both used our tablets every day in class. My iPad was definitely better and faster. The iPad's display is totally better. The apps that I used were notability and notes plus, and I'm not sure if they are available for the Samsung. I have typed all of my research papers on my tablet, and my hand-written notes look like I wrote them on paper when I print them out. I use a printer app so I can print my work on my wireless printer, and when I'm not near my printer I just email it to myself or use Dropbox. I hardly ever use iTunes or the Cloud. You should look them up on YouTube and see how well they work. I also have a laptop and I probably used it twice last semester. My daughter is always on her laptop. I suggest you go to YouTube and look at some comparisons of the two tablets so you see which one works for you.

Hi can you tell me how you type your research paper on your iPad?

Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have an iPad2 and I love it. However, I haven't really figured out how to make the most of it for school. Can you guys tell me the best note-taking and reference apps? I'd like to have note-taking apps that can record lectures and take dictations.

Thanks guys!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I used Pages to type my research papers and essays. Using Pages to add charts, graphs, and pictures to your work makes it look very professional. You can use a case with a keyboard to type your papers, but I use the keyboard on the screen (which I must admit, took some practice but I can type 55 words a minute on my iPad screen now). I haven't found any apps that can take dictation, but I've bought everything except Note Shelf and the best one in my opinion is Notesplus. You can convert written notes to text and you can split the screen and go to the Internet or pdf file to add pictures or text to you notes. There is an app called Taptyping that teaches you how to type on your iPad screen. It has helped me a lot. You can also record lectures while typing or writing notes with Notesplus.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you everyone for all this great information. I'm fairly certain I'm going to purchase one now, but have one last question. What do you do about internet access? Again, I'm frugal...and also unemployed while going to school. I don't have $50/month to blow on internet just for my iPad. I'm fine when I'm at home, but if I go anywhere else then I'm SOL. Do you find that you use the internet on your iPad a lot when you are out and about. Is $50/month about right (that's what I was quoted)? Is there a way to get around this expense while still being able to utilize my iPad to the fullest extent?

Thanks again!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It has wifi. All schools have wifi networks. That should be efficient enough for your usage.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have the wifi only 64 gig iPad and it hasn't slowed me down. There is wifi at my college, but I didn't need to use it much at school because I did most of my work on the Internet at home. 50 bucks is about how much it cost for AT&T, but I have Internet on my iPhone and there was no way I was paying for it on my iPad too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't think it's worth it. I'm cheap though. Cool to have? Yes. But people have been taking notes since 1832 without Ipads. Also, it seems difficult to take notes on Ipads. Then you have to worry about charging and sitting somewhere near a plug. Also my attention span. NO NO NO. I'd be sitting in class tempted to play the game where you hit the fruits. NO NO NO. But maybe it'll work for you. I just know my weak points.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Forensic Psych.
. Also my attention span. NO NO NO. I'd be sitting in class tempted to play the game where you hit the fruits. NO NO NO. But maybe it'll work for you. I just know my weak points.

Hah! This made me laugh.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

Tablets are ultimately toys. They are neat, fun toys. They don't offer the productivity of a laptop. Everyone who tried to use an i-pad as their mobile computer in nursing school eventually bought an external keyboard. If your tablet has a keyboard, why don't you get a laptop?

The best tool you can use for typed note taking is Microsoft OneNote.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MH, ED, ICU.

I agree. I buy my books hard copy as well. I see no benefit in buying the digital copy, and only having a year lease on it. If I'm paying $80-100 dollars for a book, you can damn well bet I'll keep it as long as I wish. I'd rather spend the $50 extra dollars to have my book forever. ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MH, ED, ICU.

If you're taking notes for 9 hrs then yes, you'd need to charge. I do agree that it can be a challenge to sit in class and not play on it though. I'm fairly certain there were pre-reqs that I never heard a word in (like 'First Year Experience'). Lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment