Tell me about using your iPad for school

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I may have the opportunity to get an iPad this summer and was wondering what function it can serve for a Nursing student. I will be starting my program this fall and plan on buying the books (I like to be able to flip pages) but see the value in also having them loaded on an iPad. I believe our bookstore offers the e-version of our books for a small fee in addition to buying the actual book.

What do you use your iPad for in school?

Gamergirl,

I think if you looked at your Colleges ,"especially written for WhatsamattaU" ISBN# I think you will find maybe a 1 or 2 digit numerical difference. Those especially written for WhatsamattaU books only encompass the introduction page that says Welcome to whatsamattU" and that is probably the only difference. Same with lab and study guides.

Ashkins is correct about Amazons Prime program, I use that too.

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Gamergirl,

I think if you looked at your Colleges ,"especially written for WhatsamattaU" ISBN# I think you will find maybe a 1 or 2 digit numerical difference. Those especially written for WhatsamattaU books only encompass the introduction page that says Welcome to whatsamattU" and that is probably the only difference. Same with lab and study guides.

Ashkins is correct about Amazons Prime program, I use that too.

I wish it was that simple for the study guides and such...but they're study guide and lab manuals, are actually created and printed by the college!!! and believe me i looked EVERYWHERE...and couldn't find them....

The other problem was not being able to afford them for the most part, so i had to but them with financial aid...at the school im at now, you can buy anything through the school book store a month before classes start....BUT you don't get your refund check for a month AFTER school starts! so your basically screwed out of that whole scenario...

where I'm going for nursing however, the refund check is direct deposit in your account the day classes start so you'll have your books that day....

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I got one of those "special for this school" math books one time and compared it to a generic version. It had a little section on how to study, the title page said it was for that school, and it was missing the chapters the school course did not cover in one semester. Just another way to rip off students. Instructors can individualize their course offerings themselves if they choose to do any work involved.

I got a Samsung Galaxy Tab and love it. Unfortunately, I got it when they were still selling it for $450.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Telemetry, BCLS.
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.

You have to do your own research on the book. Sometimes typing in the title (version #) and "electronic" or "pdf" or "download" or "e-book" tends to find you the electronic version. Other times I've gone directly to the publisher and called their customer support number to learn that they sell on their own website an e-version!

Other times I've found them via amazon or via one of the many textbook rental companies.

LOVE e-books!

FYI per the iPad you can purchase a separate keyboard that is wireless that allows you to type. I would say that at my NS most of the kids use laptops. Notepads tend to work too slow with typing and is an eyestrain.

I'm thinking of getting a Lenovo which is like an ipad + laptop in one. However I would not be able to use any of the ipad apps so that is a definite drawback. Too bad you can't rent either one for a few weeks each in order to figure out which works for your own lifestyle...

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Specializes in Med Surg, Telemetry, BCLS.
That just sucks. Only 1! Would think a backup would be okay since everyones computer crashes at sometime. :confused::confused::crying2:

Easy solution. Call the publisher or whomever you purchased the code and explain that you need to use it on a different computer. Even most companies of programs will allow you to do the same...

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I used one in nursing school. Install Office HD app. Use that to write notes to google docs. You can also look stuff up on web if need be or order things on amazon, like a stethoscope

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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.

That is really too bad. All of my text books, or I should say the main ones, med surg, OB, Principles of Nursing, etc. come with electronic versions. I still use my text books but I use the electronic resources to do nclex questions from the chapter and other learning activities they come with.

I have an MacBookPro and would never ever ever go back to a windows based pc. I have had this computer now 1.5 years and have not had one minutes trouble with it. Unlike every other laptop I have had over the years. HP, Dell, IBM. I also have a nursing ap on my iphone that I would be lost without during clinical. It is called nursing central and was about 169.00 but we had to either get the ap or the books and lugging three books to clinical was not at all appealing to me. I love having davis at my fingertips.

I have thought about getting an ipad. My husband wants one though so I think I will let him get his first and see then if I still want one. I do have a Kindle though that I LOVE and use all of the time to destress from the nursing school coursework. Now that the semester is over I have a ton of books ready to read over the summer. :)

Oh and only a couple of students in my class take a laptop or ipad to school with them. We get powerpoints for each class and I take notes directly in them. We are also not allowed to record lecture at my school.

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Personally, I'm not ready to jump on the iPad bandwagon yet... I do love Apple, don't get me wrong... My husband has a really nice Mac and I think I'm on my fourth iPhone... But to me, iPad is just a slightly larger version of my phone... If you already have a nice laptop and an iPhone, there's absolutely no reason to get one. They literally have all the same apps and functions, except iPhone is actually a phone. I was offered one for Christmas and I just didn't see the point... That being said, if you don't have an iPhone already, I can totally see why the iPad would be appealing. I can't live without my phone! It's my navigation system, organizer (with it's calendars and to-do lists), a phone, an iPod, and entertainment system, and very handy to look random things up on the internet. I literally can't function without it.

Two things to keep in mind:

1) In terms of functionality, it still won't play Flash, just like the iPhone. A lot of companies have come around and made an iPhone/iPad friendly website, but not everyone. Especially if you're researching items... 9 times out of 10 some of the smaller websites haven't made the info accessible in multiple formats. Just a minor gripe, but still a reason I prefer to use a laptop for major research. Also, if you plan on taking notes in class, you're going to need to buy a keyboard attachment, which suddenly makes your streamlined iPad a but more bulky for travel. A laptop might be better.

2) If you check out Amazon reviews of various textbooks/ research books, while they might have an e-version, some of them are tedious to use, at best. The search features are often lacking, and it's much harder and slower to look up the info you need. I suggest checking reviews before assuming that they are just as easy to use as your textbook. Since e-versions are still relatively new, there are still bugs that need to be ironed out. Just do your research and you'll be fine!

Anyway, just my two cents. They are cool, but if you already have an iPhone and a laptop, you probably won't use the iPad as much as you think you will. But then again, I have Apple stock, so who am I to deter you? =)

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**HELLO PEOPLE** those who complain about typing have not considered purchasing the wireless keyboard!!! I LOVE the wireless keyboard. My iPad 2+stylus+keyboard+ carrying case all STILL weigh less than my laptop! I have the smart cover too & I can prop up the iPad just right & type w/ the keyboard instead of on the iPad itself...

I recommend these apps for school:

-Evernote

-Pages

-Docs2Go

-iBooks

-Kindle

-a calculator app

-penultimate

-dropbox

-iStudiez Pro (or another organizer app of ur choice)

-Terra

I did not purchase my books on it bc I started this semester before I got my iPad 2. However, it would've saved me some money to get the e-book version. On kindle you can also read on ur laptop/computer. Evernote & dropbox also are available to download at home/ use for syncing.

I use those apps in class or everyday life. I like that the iPad can be flat or propped up so I still appear engaged in class. I usually pull up & save the professor's PowerPoints on my iPad so I can view better or study them later & save paper/printing costs!

(Tip 4 pulling up & saving the PowerPoints from online class sites: touch & hold the link that opens the PP, it will give u options-select "Open in new Page", then as long as u have iBooks, Pages, &/or Docs2Go, it will allow u to choose which compatible program you may wish to open it in. Pick which one will work best for you-editing can be done in Docs2Go & all 3 save until u delete) or you can simply choose to view it much easier or more completely in the new window in Safari.

There is also a new free app web browser that I am starting to love more than Safari bc it has tabbed browsing!!! "Terra"

Of course email on it is nice as well, as u can open have multiple account all in one inbox.

Studying on it is nice bc it is so portable u can lounge around & study while looking & feeling cool & comfortable ;)

I also put the allnurses homepage on my home screen as a bookmark for quick access!

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Specializes in ICU.

thanks for your posts, excitedtobehere and calijessxoxo ! this thread has been really helpful to me - i think i'm going to go get an ipad 2 before my program starts june 1st! i have a macbook and i love it, but i want something lighter and smaller for reading my etextbooks on in bed/on the couch/in the coffeeshop. my laptop will be for heavy duty research, writing, and presentation making.

i don't have an iphone, so this will be my only "portable smart tool"...although i don't anticipate taking it to clinicals or anything. paper pocket guides will just have to suffice for those...this will be a notes-in-class and reading/study tool only.

anyone else use an ipad for school and have any app recommendations?

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Specializes in Cardiac, OB.

Thank you for all of the replies! I almost wonder if the learning curve of an iPad going to be an obstacle if I dont get one until early August. I have a Droid phone, so Im not really Apple savvy except for my old iPod.

Decisions decisions...

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No learning curve really. It takes some time to find apps you like though. As far as use it is extremely intuitive.

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