Who would have thought the device initially designed and developed for working professionals would empower school-children? An increasing number of schools in India (and the world) use iPads for students to facilitate better learning outcomes through immersive learning experiences.
Children in these schools too, look forward to a session that goes beyond theory. These students are researching the day’s lesson on their iPads, dissecting virtually and understanding everything from anatomy to topography through augmented reality. Learning does stop for them after school time, and they can bring new dimensions of creativity to every project. Schools around the world are realising iPad is a powerful tool to engage students meaningfully, help them focus on learning, and inspire them to think differently.
Let’s learn about a few schools in India that are successfully using iPads for offering a more meaningful learning experience for their students and a better teaching experience for the teachers.
Delhi Public School (DPS)
Delhi Public School in Surat loved iPad’s educational apps that complemented their curriculum and wasted no time encouraging students and teachers to use those apps. Studying the human body through the apps helped them achieve a clearer understanding of how the human body worked and what it contained. The school provided individual devices to all the teachers who connected them to their classroom TV sets. To assist students with the practical work, the school also opened an iPad lab for children to do their assignment. Teachers gave students games related to Maths chapters for better conceptual knowledge and practice.
The school also brought parents into the picture of project work and studies of their wards through their “iPad at home” program. Such hands-on participation gives parents a clear understanding of the device and how it is enhancing their child’s knowledge base. The school continues the iPad program as an optional tool for students and has the traditional worksheet system alongside it.
“Of the 1,200 students in primary classes, 600 parents use iPads to help their children in their studies,” Shivakumar, the principal of the DPS Surat says.
Universal Education Group
Universal Education Group operates many schools across Maharashtra and has successfully included iPads as a part of their teaching methodology. Not wanting to completely replace the traditional-style teaching, the school allows the students to utilize the device for 20 minutes daily.
Macro Vision Academy, Burhanpur
Macro Vision Academy in Burhanpur has also opted for this modern way of teaching. The school has customized this Apple product to further improve the learning capability and ranking of its students. Macro Vision has even earned the tag of “Apple Distinguished School” for the second consecutive time. In fact, among the 535 Apple Distinguished Schools worldwide, India prides on having four (as of June 2020). Students here even learn music on their iPods and also create apps. Teachers continue imparting education using Apple TVs in the classrooms of this residential school.
Apple Distinguished Program is a specialized program where the schools that demonstrate innovation in teaching and learning through technology can participate. For more information, check the Apple Distinguished Schools page on Apple’s website.
Trio World Academy
The iPad programs have been introduced in many schools of Bangalore, including Trio World Academy. Here, middle school students have improved their learning experience significantly with the help of the various iPad apps. Not only can the students be seen expressing themselves in diverse and creative ways, they have become more self-directed and involved in the entire learning process as well. Teachers believe that the use of various educational apps has improved the students’ attitudes towards learning positively. To reduce the pressure of books, teachers encourage the submission of projects online.
Global Schools Foundation
Global School Foundation, which has campuses in several Indian states, has also introduced iPads for students. The interactive learning tool inspires students to put in extra effort in their studies to experience the number of creative things they can do with it. The primary section was too eager about learning to use the applications as well as the device. The school initially encouraged students to leave the iPads at school. But later, they were allowed to take them home to study during the weekends.
Other prominent schools in India that have taken part in the program include RN Poddar School, Mumbai, and Canadian International School, Bangalore.
Confidence building in both students and parents
The significant benefits of using iPads are the scope of research, learning, and revising anytime, anywhere. Students have much fewer books to carry around without compromising on the learning time or quality of education.
With iPads, it is also easier to track the individual progress of the students. You can also use voice notes to aid in retention. The thoroughness of the learning procedure results in the students being extremely confident regarding the concepts.
The controls available as a part of Apple’s ecosystem ensure that iPads are a safe and secure choice for kids. Melanie Kells, Dean of Studies, Canadian International School, Bangalore says: “Measures are built within the iPads which identify certain words and immediately block them. In the primary classes, the students are given access to iPads only under a teacher’s supervision.”
Many schools combine iPads with an educational app like iGnite, which allows them to teach in their own style, and distribute their own content. With the introduction of iPads for students in many schools in India, parents also feel relieved as children take more interest in studies and achieve better results. Even statistics show that students who learn using iPads have a better understanding of concepts and perform better in exams.