Is there anything the iPad can’t do? Nah, probably not. Take earning a degree online, for example. Previously the exclusive domain of laptops and desktops, the iPad opens doors to new methods of online learning — all while in your PJs.
iPads are quickly becoming the gadget of choice for college students. Its medium size and light weight make it ideal for note-taking in class, while also serving as an invaluable reference tool. Heck, you can even record audio on it, so it’s even possible to store a professor’s latest lecture for later reviewing. Many colleges are even handing out iPads to students and networking them via the university’s system so that professors can hand out assignments and receive them back all wirelessly. The possibilities for combining these various resources into one do-all device are limitless.
But what about learning over the Internet? Say you want to earn an online teaching degree. Is this process easier on the iPad, or is it better to stick to your laptop?
I’d argue the former. Not only does the iPad give you access to the super-simple basics like what’s mentioned above, you also have the entire App Store library at your fingertips, as well as all of the resources of iTunes U. Via iPad apps, teachers-to-be can dissect a virtual frog, manipulate the elements on the periodic table, read music with a built-in metronome, learn to draw, learn to type, and so much more.
What’s more, the deeper, more interactive nature of the iPad creates a richer experience for online students, making participation in a virtual class more than ever before, like being in a real one. iPad 2 owners can video chat via FaceTime or Skype. Or you could get push notifications whenever your professor posts your latest test scores. Or interact with your classmates on Twitter or Facebook, or something more personal like iChat, where you can also share notes and other documents.
The iPad is revolutionizing a lot of industries, but few more so than education. And online education is no exception — in fact, it might even benefit more than its on-campus cousin.