The use of technology in education has grown steadily during the past 25 years. Apps that could be installed on a personal computer and basic hand-held devices like “Speak and Spell” were the first generation of educational apps. Electronic textbooks, which students can access on a laptop or desktop computer, are gradually replacing printed textbooks.
There are some schools that are even going so far as to go “book-free.” Digital books are less expensive than traditional textbooks, but they may also be updated “on the fly” so that material is more current. With no need to carry around hefty textbooks, learning has never been easier – and youngsters can’t use the excuse “I forgot my book” to avoid doing their homework!
A “smart phone” or tablet can give your child a technical head start regardless of whether their school is cutting edge or not. The iPhone and iPad have a large selection of educational apps, allowing children to carry their education with them wherever they go. These apps are more interactive than their hard-bound versions in subjects such as Science & Technology, Math, and English.
With the use of an app called Star Walk, anyone may explore the heavens through the lens of a telescope, learning about the planets, stars, and constellations that can be found there. Creative and colourful fish are used to teach youngsters shapes and alphabet in the Duck, Duck Moose’s “Fish School” app. The fish swim around and construct a shape that the youngster must recognise using a multiple choice style, much like a marching band. These instructional apps are especially appealing to children under the age of seven.
Technology’s function has evolved from “fun and games” to “facts, facts, and more facts” for everyone, young or old, toddler or teen. People of all ages and abilities can benefit from instructional apps. Even medical students can benefit from apps like “Grey’s Anatomy,” which contains full-color drawings and all of the material in the original tome, just in a smaller package. Kids love these apps because they feel more like playing than learning.
The classroom as we know it is being transformed by the rise of mobile learning apps. Literally speaking, learning is no longer constrained to the confines of a four-walled room. Curiosity can strike at any time and in any place. Student empowerment is a reality when students have access to the correct resources. In addition, most children have an inherent drive to study, so it’s not a huge obligation. Parents can encourage their children’s drive to learn by allowing them to use an iPad or iPhone to access information on their own terms.