AKA: My State ROCKS!
said by bangordailynews.com“ :
What it’s really all about is a game changer,” Morrill told the committee when introducing the idea. “This is truly redefining how we’re going to teach and learn. We’re talking about a new tool, the iPad2. You begin to watch how young people jump on, jump in and figure this thing out. It has great potential for leveling the playing field for all students.”
Some students start kindergarten behind others “and never catch up,” Morrill said. The iPad2 “can close that gap for many students. It can also accelerate learning for many others.”
When young children are given an iPad2, “they can make it sing. … It gives me great pleasure to roll this out,” Morrill said. Auburn can reach its goal of boosting literacy rates from 62 percent to 90 percent by 2013, “and this is the tool to do it.” »new.bangordailynews.com/2011/04/···gartner/
Hell Yes!
My local TV news ran the story and it was pretty amazing. All of these 5 & 6 yr old kids just rockin' these iPads. One teacher was talking about how she had one child who was struggling to learn his letters. She handed him her iPad, which has programs for children to learn letters and sounds. Within two weeks, he knew 12 to 14 letters. And within six to eight weeks, the boy knew all of his letters. He was back in class doing grade-level work.
Now, it may sound ridiculous that a 5 or 6 yr old doesn't know the alphabet to me and you, or you and I but that's an amazing story. These kids take to the iPad like a fish to water. They are mesmerized and learning in a town [Auburn, ME] that is a former mill-town with the odds not in these kids favor.
Angus King, Maine's Governor 10 years ago started the revolutionary program of providing every 7th & 8th grader with Apple laptops. First with iBooks and now with Macbooks. The iPad2 is a natural extension of this program and to introduce it to children so young is another revolutionary idea that other states should take notice of.
home