In her article Kathy Ishizuka shows the pros and cons of enhanced books in the classroom as shown by one study. Though a contested question, the study does more to prove the inefficiency of studies more than anything else. The article points out the issue of having only a pool of 32 pairs of parents and their kids to take the data from, but it misses some of the other major issues in the set up of the study.
These students are being shown e-books by a parent, which means a personal affiliation that could very easily sway the learning of the child. If a parents goes into the study with preconceived notions about the technology or the success of the education through this format, it will affect the child’s learning. The data brought up by the article, specifically that the e-book readers did not recall as much detail but had participated in “digital-focused talk” illustrates that the children in the two groups were not having the same conversations, focusing on the same things for the same amount of time, and therefore comparing them becomes redundant.
This problem is better addressed in the article “iPads in the Classroom” from Government Technology. Among other topics, it is argued that iPads used in the classrooms need to be introduced and used with the help of someone educated in its use to ensure its use is constructive. In the case this article presents the iPads are used effectively not only in the academic sense but in helping the classroom experience run more smoothly, like dividing the students in group. In the end, these enhancements are not necessary and both teachers and students can learn efficiently without them, but if having them will speed up the technical process for teachers and allow more time to concentrate on the important subjects in the classroom, than it would definitely be a positive addition to the classroom.
I strongly believe that this avenue of education should be further explored, it is important to remember that these students, like those in higher-education, have different learning styles, and the more avenues they have to access the information the better. However, my concern lies in the costs of the venture. Not all schools are able to afford the Ipad for every classroom let alone multiples, and for many students it is an experience that would be solely for the classroom since the family cannot afford their own, and the education would not be reinforced at home.
Additionally, the introduction of Ipads in the classroom opens up a great opportunity for the publishing industries. While books will always remain present (it has been so successfully accessible and posts less of a costing issue) the e-book and enhanced book categories can only expand. Schools will look to the publishing houses for their verification of trusted programs for their students and it will be up to those publishers to supply it.
Educational Publishing and Technology 