Tablet Devices Seen as Essential Learning Aids in Many Asian Schools

From Educational Technology News:

The adoption rates of tablet computers could increase exponentially if schools around the globe follow Asia's lead and utilize the devices as educational tools.

Asia's general embracement of technology in the education sector is typified by the Nanyang Girls' High School in Singapore, which recently handed out iPads to a sample group of 16 teachers and 120 students, according to an AFP report. By next year, every student in the school will be using Apple's (News  - Alert) iconic tablet as a universal textbook, notepad and educational aid.

Rene Yeo, head of the information technology department at the Singapore-based Tampines Secondary School, told the AFP that his iPad has become a critical teaching tool. His students use the tablet device to learn about animal cells, the human brain structure and factorization in a highly interactive way.

The utilization of tablet devices in the school setting has become common in other Asian nations as well. Japan's communications ministry has handed out more than 3,000 tablets to children under the age of 10 and is beginning to implement interactive electronic blackboards through a new pilot program.

Meanwhile, South Korea has been testing "digital textbooks" for nearly five years now, and may arm all of its schools with tablets as early as next year.

Sam Han, an instructional technology fellow at the Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York, told the AFP that Asian nations are outpacing U.S. initiatives, in part, because of a disparity in wireless Internet access.

"While the Internet was birthed in the US, Singapore and South Korea (for example) boast far greater broadband Internet access penetration and infrastructure than the US," he said.

Although the use of classroom is less pervasive in the U.S., some domestic schools are making major advances. Just last month, the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee announced that all students will be required to lease or own an iPad by next fall. The school will spend the next year to refine the use of iPads among teachers and administrators.

“The iPad is just one tool we will use to enhance the learning experience for our students, but we are convinced that it could potentially transform our classrooms in terms of engagement, creativity, collaboration, research and how we support varied learning styles," Baylor Headmaster Scott Wilson told the Chattanoogan.

By Beecher Tuttle, TMCnet Contributor

Beecher Tuttle is a TMCnet contributor. He has extensive experience writing and editing for print publications and online news websites. He has specialized in a variety of industries, including health care technology, politics and education. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Carrie Schmelkin