I-Pads in the Classroom
Advice to a new teacher
Standard I-Pad features
The I-Pad comes standard with closed captioning, a voice over reader, full screen zoom, and support for nine languages. There are also built in parental like controls, such as only give access to a particular app.
Engagement
Many of the apps have a game like feature which is more engaging to students then reading from a textbook. The game like apps allow the student to learn while playing a game. Students appear to enjoying reading / listening to a book on-line, and many are interactive.
Special Education
I-Pads offer a way to use differinated instruction in the classroom. Besides using the many built in features there are many apps designed with special education in mind. There are apps like Dragon Dictate which allow students to use speech-to-text software. There is also Grace Picture Exchange or Prologuo2go that allows students to use pictures to communicate.
APPS
Variety of apps to meet the needs of our diverse learners.
The world of apps is constantly growing. There are apps such as 'The Wheels on the Bus' which plays that song in several different languages. What a great way to introduce students to foreign languages through the song they already know. Want to take your students to a zoo then use 'Pocket Zoo' to watch live stream video of zoos from around the world. Do you want to know about news from around the world, then there are apps for CNN, local newspapers and TV stations. Students can make a video of what they are creating or they can take a picture of their creation and then write notes on the screen. There appears to be an app for whatever you need. If you have older students, you could have them create their own app.
If you need a place to get started on what apps to use why not try the following website which is a list of best apps for teachers:
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/12/a-list-of-all-best-ipad-apps-teachers.html