Introduction: iPads and Tablets Are Facilitating Children’s Learning
iPads and Tablets Are Facilitating Children’s Learning by providing interactive and engaging educational experiences that cater to diverse learning styles and preferences. The problem with technology is that it not only creeps into our lives but also into the lives of our children, compelling us to adopt new ways to cope with the situation, such as teaching them to use these ever-emerging devices with sagacity and care. Just take the example of new smartphones; before the elders are aware of their effects on children, these devices have taken over every aspect of our lives. The world was just beginning to contemplate how to restrict their use when they were followed by their elder brothers and cousins, iPads and tablets. Before we could fully understand these gadgets and their impacts, they had taken over the lives of our children and become an integral part of the learning process. These are just a few examples among hundreds of other devices, and now it seems that life would have been almost incomplete without them. The history of these smartphone-touch-screen gadgets goes back to Apple Inc. and its founding father, Steve Jobs, whose concept of making things easier for the public and the layman compelled him to bring the first Apple computer to the market, followed by the iPhone, and soon after, the iPad joined this race.
Statement of Facts: iPads and Tablets Are Facilitating Children’s Learning
When Google launched its competitor Android operating system, tablets from every other company flooded the market, and soon our children had these devices in their hands before we were aware of them. These devices are not only cheaper but also true to Jobs’ philosophy of being easy to operate. The result of using these devices is that our next generation is smarter, wiser, and cleverer. With iPads and Tablets, children are not only learning easily but also quickly, as these devices provide them with easy-to-operate options, interactive content and material, and a fun learning environment.
Proof: iPads and Tablets Are Facilitating Children’s Learning
IPads and tablets have facilitated our children because they are easy to operate, featuring touch screens with clear guidance, icons, and logos on how to operate and run them. Despite having different operating systems manufactured by various companies, both iPads and tablets share common features, with touch-and-do functions being chief among them. The screens function as buttons, making operation easy for children. This ease of use is evident in the fact that this generation using tablets and iPads has been named “iTods” (Sanghani). More than 61% of three-year-old toddlers in the United Kingdom find it easier to operate iPads, while this percentage is 38% among two-year-olds. Young kids at this age find it quite easy to operate any tablet or iPad, engaging with videos, audios, or games effortlessly.
Additionally, iPads and tablets provide interactive content and material for children. These devices offer smart games designed for kids of all ages, incorporating poems, rhymes, and lessons on various subjects. The interactive presentation of this content makes it easy for children to understand, and they often enjoy the engaging format. In an experiment conducted in Kuwait, it was observed that children remained focused on their iPads and tablets, attracted to the interactive material presented. The study concluded that the tablets’ ability to provide interactive content enhances children’s creativity and imagination (Al-Mutairi). In the same article, Al-Mutairi mentioned a mother’s perspective, noting that these devices create opportunities for parents and children to share, engage, and interact, contributing to their learning and emotional development. Therefore, the interactive feature of presenting content to kids proves highly beneficial.
Furthermore, tablets and iPads have proven to create a fun environment that is beneficial for learning. These devices encompass everything required to make material, content, or lessons enjoyable. They feature a full sound system, the ability to present content in video format, interactive elements, vibrant colors, and musical components. When connected to the internet, they can have installed apps that aid children in learning. Kit Eaton, an article writer for the New York Times, highlights this by stating, “Using animations and spoken guidance, the app leads children to sound letters that appear on the screen and shows how letters make words” (Eaton). Eaton discusses several applications that have made learning enjoyable for kids, enabling them to learn how to read through these engaging applications. Additionally, these devices are almost like “virtual kinesthetic” tools, as mentioned by Sally, facilitating easy learning for children.
Refutation: iPads and Tablets Are Facilitating Children’s Learning
However, there is always another side to the coin, and alongside several benefits, there are also harms associated with these devices. For instance, some parents have expressed concerns that children become obsessed with playing games and neglect their studies (Al-Mutairi). While this concern is valid, it is essential for parents to take responsibility and guide the correct use of the device, considering that children are still in their formative years. Complaints of insomnia due to excessive usage have also been raised. In both cases, the answer remains the same – parents need to recognize and fulfill their responsibilities. It is the duty of parents to guide and monitor the use of these devices, ensuring that their children are not overwhelmed by them. Therefore, tablets and iPads are proving to be great facilitators in helping children learn and understand easily.
Epilogue: iPads and Tablets Are Facilitating Children’s Learning
In a nutshell, technical devices are not inherently bad; it is their use that determines whether they are beneficial or detrimental. Tablets and iPads, in this context, offer great benefits. They are not only easy for children to operate, but they also present information in an interactive manner. Children often learn more effectively through visuals, making these devices particularly advantageous. Additionally, they create a fun environment for learning. However, the guidance and monitoring of parents are crucial, as without proper oversight, these devices may prove harmful instead of beneficial. Nevertheless, the advantages of their use outweigh the potential drawbacks when used responsibly.
Works Cited: iPads and Tablets Are Facilitating Children’s Learning
- Al-Mutairi, Nora. “Tablets could be useful to kids’ development, if right balance found.” Kuwait News Agency, 28 October 2013, http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2340971&language=en. Accessed 05 December 2023.
- Eaton, Kit. “Learning to Read, With the Help of a Tablet.” The New York Times, 21 August 2013, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/technology/personaltech/learning-to-read-with-the-help-of-a-tablet.html?_r=0. Accessed 05 December 2023.
- Sally. “How using tablet computers can help engage learners in primary education.” Webanywhere, 05 September 2012, http://www.webanywhere.co.uk/blog/2012/09/virtual-kinesthetics-electronic-tablets-engage-learners-primary-schools/. Accessed 05 December 2023.
- Sanghani, Radhika. “‘iTods’ on the rise as 50 per cent of UK toddlers use tablets.” The Telegraph, 15 October 2013, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/10381025/iTods-on-the-rise-as-50-per-cent-of-UK-toddlers-use-tablets.html. Accessed 05 December 2023.
Relevant Questions: iPads and Tablets Are Facilitating Children’s Learning
- To what extent do iPads and tablets enhance children’s learning experiences, and what specific educational benefits do they offer in comparison to traditional methods in the context of “iPads and Tablets Are Facilitating Children’s Learning”?
- What challenges and concerns are associated with the use of iPads and tablets in children’s education, and how can these challenges be addressed to ensure a balanced and effective learning environment with the influence of “iPads and Tablets Are Facilitating Children’s Learning”?
- How do educators and parents perceive the long-term impact of incorporating iPads and tablets into children’s learning, and what strategies are being implemented to maximize the positive effects while mitigating potential drawbacks related to “iPads and Tablets Are Facilitating Children’s Learning”?
