Tell me about using your iPad for school

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · May 6, 2011

I personally didn't use one, but I think it would be helpful. There is an iPad app that records voice and allows you to take notes. So if you are listening to a lecture in class, you can record the lecture while you take notes and the app remembers what time you took the note. So when you are studying you can go back to your notes and they are linked to the lecture so you can return and listen to that exact spot. Does that make sense?

They are also lightweight and easy to browse the internet on. Typing is pretty sensitive, so if nothing else you'll save yourself from lugging a laptop around.

gunrock · May 6, 2011

Personally, I would save the money and not get an iPad. The majority of the people in my program do not bring laptops (I would say maybe 10/150 bring them).

They are great and fun, but like you said, if you like to read the book and plan on buying the books then I would stick to that.

I also could not imagine typing and taking notes on an ipad for a class, taking short notes would work, but taking a few pages of notes would be really hard on your fingers / hands from my experience using an ipad..

tokyoROSE, BSN, RN · May 6, 2011

Save the money. iPads are nothing more than a glorified smart phone in a bigger size. I never bring my books to class, we are provided powerpoint notes. And considering how much reading there is, that would be a huge strain on the eyes having to read an e-version of the book. But that is just through my experience. I've made it through almost all of nursing school without anything fancy, except for a smart phone if you call that fancy.

K_girl · May 6, 2011

I was so obsessed with getting an iPad so one day I went out and bought both a laptop & an iPad. It was nice that it was so light however I could not type on it to save my life. It ended up just being more of a pain than anything. I ended up returning it.

If you are mainly using it to flip through pages, you may be able to do the same thing with a nook color. Of course, everyone is different so you may actually like the iPad. You will definitely want to play around with it for a few days before you make a decision.

pinkstethoscope · May 6, 2011

I have had a really good experience using my iPad for school. I bought a stylus and got the app PenUltimate ($1.99) and am able to take written notes through class and keep the organized electronically. Also I definitely prefer reading my books electronically, and not having to carry them around is very relieving on my back. Typing took some getting use too but now after owning it just a couple of months I can type as well on it as I can on my laptop. It's also great because I can use the internet to further research or explain things that my instructor is talking about and get a better grasp on it. I am really glad I'm able to use it in school and it's been very beneficial for me.

tkm2005 · May 6, 2011

I have one and take it to school, to play games. Note taking is so fast paced I don't have time to take them on the iPad, it's too hard to type on. Some of the med-apps are cool, I mainly use my iPhone for anything I need at school or drop by the computer lab.

Southern Magnolia · May 7, 2011

I love my iPad. For those that feel they are toys I respectfully disagree. It has streamlined my life. I don't start NS until the fall but I know it will be useful. I plan to get as many of my resources in e versions as possible (will probably buy both Hard copy and e- books because the really expensive books don't have electronic versions anyway).

Thus far my ipad has replaced my notebooks and pens. I have everything from my grocery list to pathophysiology notes on it. I use a stylus and an app called notes plus. I write my notes and email a PDF to myself so even if the iPad crashed I wouldn't lose anything (never had any tech problems - unlike my pc based equipment). I have my planner (syncs automatically with my yahoo clendar- so even though it's not in hardcopy there's little chance I'll loose info). I have my Bible and church stuff on it. I've read leisure books. You can download the kindle app and there is also iBooks. (You still get some of the page turn feeling by the way). It is my calculator. If I had a wireless printer it would have already replaced my laptop - you can AirPrint with a wireless printer. I plan to get a wireless keyboard for typing papers (for short things the virtual keyboard if fine). Oh, it's also my iPod for music when I'm home or studying - obviously too big for working out. It was my navigation system until I got my iPhone. It's a video player for Netflix when I'm traveling. It is a matching game for my children when we're waiting at the dr's office. It's my email and Internet access - from the sofa at the moment while my family watches basketball. This is a pro for me because they feel like I'm part of things but I don't have to focus on basketball and I'm comfy on the couch.

The only negative I've found is that you can't run anything with flash. I think apple is working on something of their own. There is native YouTube app so you can run YouTube videos though.

Any who, I love my iPad and am 100% an apple convert. By the way - this entire message and all my AN activity is from my iPad.

juliaann · May 7, 2011

Haha, now I feel like a hypocrite because I just commented on the "should I get an iphone for nursing school" post and said it was unnecessary - but I admit it I really really want an iPad.

My textbook package (all but 6 textbooks for the whole program) automatically comes with an electronic version that can ONLY be read with an app for Apple iphone, ipod, ipads (nothing for Andriod devices, which is what my phone is).

Everyone in my program brings their laptop (according to students in last-years cohort), and it seems like it would really save my back to have all my texts on an ipad - I walk and/or take the bus everywhere I go so I really don't want a huge bag.

I have a laptop, but I don't want to have to switch back and forth between powerpoints and e-textbooks and Word documents. I'd love to have my textbook on an iPad off to the side for flipping through and referencing.

Still trying to sell my husband on this expense...

Southern Magnolia · May 7, 2011

Haha, now I feel like a hypocrite because I just commented on the "should I get an iphone for nursing school" post and said it was unnecessary - but I admit it I really really want an iPad.
My textbook package (all but 6 textbooks for the whole program) automatically comes with an electronic version that can ONLY be read with an app for Apple iphone, ipod, ipads (nothing for Andriod devices, which is what my phone is).
Everyone in my program brings their laptop (according to students in last-years cohort), and it seems like it would really save my back to have all my texts on an ipad - I walk and/or take the bus everywhere I go so I really don't want a huge bag.
I have a laptop, but I don't want to have to switch back and forth between powerpoints and e-textbooks and Word documents. I'd love to have my textbook on an iPad off to the side for flipping through and referencing.
Still trying to sell my husband on this expense...

You guys are so lucky you can get electronic versions of your text books. I think I can get 3-4 of mine and that's by researching and buying on my own. The school text book package doesn't come with them.

juliaann · May 7, 2011

You guys are so lucky you can get electronic versions of your text books. I think I can get 3-4 of mine and that's by researching and buying on my own. The school text book package doesn't come with them.

I almost didn't buy the bookstore package because I was sure I could get all the books cheaper from Amazon or Half, but the electronic versions is what sold me.

How does a stylus work with your iPad, if you don't mind me asking? Do you have to plug it in? Are there special ones that are compatible with iPads? Do you know what kind you have and/or about how much it costs? What about the notes app...do you know off the top of your head about what you paid for it? Are your notes editable? What would be really sweet is if it would convert to editible Word files. I'm probably dreaming though.

I'm trying to build my case for getting one. :)

Also, do you do any audio/video recording of lectures with yours?

Southern Magnolia · May 8, 2011

i almost didn't buy the bookstore package because i was sure i could get all the books cheaper from amazon or half, but the electronic versions is what sold me.
how does a stylus work with your ipad, if you don't mind me asking? do you have to plug it in? are there special ones that are compatible with ipads?
yes, they are special for ipad but they don't plug in. mine cost about $20 at best buy. it's just like a pen minus the ink and with a foam tip.
do you know what kind you have and/or about how much it costs? what about the notes app...do you know off the top of your head about what you paid for it?
i paid $4.99 for the notes app but i think it was on special at the time. there are a ton of apps like it.
are your notes editable? what would be really sweet is if it would convert to editible word files. i'm probably dreaming though.
i'm trying to build my case for getting one. :) also, do you do any audio/video recording of lectures with yours?

yes you can edit them. look for notes plus on google and check out the webpage. it shows what it can do. i think i read about apps that convert written word to typed but i haven't found one. the one use will do voice recording as someone above described.