IPAD 2 in Hands of Kindergarten Classrooms

Maine’ s school district recently approved a $200,000 initiative that would give each of its 285 kindergarten students a new hands-on to their very own iPad 2. The Auburn, Maine, school district will be bringing Apple tablet devices into kindergarten classrooms in the fall. Their goal is to achieve literacy rates from 62 percent to 90 percent.

Maine became the first state to give out laptop computers to its middle school students and later expanded the program to high school students in 2002. This was a part of a move to boost literacy. Some critics have blasted the iPad plan saying the school district should not putting high-tech hardware in the hands of kindergartners and that they shouldn't be investing a large sum of money, especially amid budget cuts that could take away teacher instruction
"If you start them young with innovative technology and keep them engaged, it's the way to go. There will be some changes in how teachers will go about incorporating these new platforms, but overall, it will be a very profound tool if used properly,” says Calvert.

Some challenges that teachers are facing are catering content to each student in a classroom filled with different skill levels. With the help of educational software on the iPad 2, teachers will be able to pick programs and levels based on the skills a student needs.
"The iPad 2 can cater specifically to each child's needs, strengths and weaknesses, and that has tremendous potential for improving the overall learning experience," Calvert said.

However, Calvert stressed that technology like this should not replace or undermine the importance of a good teacher." Kindergarten is the grade where students fall in love with their teachers. Calvert does not want ipads to replace that bond but enhance it.

I think it is great, but I think it also should be time limit. Kids are already going to know how to use the ipad. I think they should do small activities and learn a few things with it but I still think they need to be engaged with books, crayons etc. My mom used to love it when I would come home with drawings and stuff I made in class. If students make and do everything on an ipad what will they be able to show their parents when they come home? This study should be done because I would like to see students reading levels get higher but ipads should not replace the teachers.