Tablets are taking the world by storm. You see them wherever you go: on airplanes and trains even elderly people use them to read novels and magazines; in coffee shops men in suits are glued to the small screens while sipping their latés; house wives watch movies on them; and children use them to play games.
Tablet hype is gripping the world. Some claim that this technology innovation will be the one that will revolutionize education. Others are less enthusiastic about the possibility that tablets will enhance education and point to previous technologies, such as laptops and interactive whiteboards, which have failed to bring about radical changes in teaching and learning.
Regardless of how we may view tablets, we can’t deny the fact that they are here. And that is what the fuss is about … tablets are here by popular demand.
Production and sales of tablets are outstripping that of PCs and laptops. Tablets are becoming more affordable, while their capacity and functionality are increasing with each new model appearing on the market. The number of tablet owners and users is growing at a staggering speed.
It is impossible to ignore a ubiquitous device. We may not like what car emissions are doing to the environment, but we can’t ignore cars when we want to cross a road; likewise, we can’t ignore the ever-growing presence of tablets on the planet.
Technology fascinates people, particularly younger ones. Since tablets will fall into their hands at one or other time, we may just as well explore how to use them for educational purposes. Cell phones and computers have already been found useful as teaching and learning tools; a tablet lies somewhere in between and should therefore be useful too.
Look past the hype factor and see tablets as potential education tools. Discover the ways in which they can help to transform dull school rooms into exciting learning centres.
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