September 24th

To Whom This May Concern,

          In today's technological age schools must keep up with all the advances to truly prepare our students for their futures.  On the same note, students learn differently today than they did ten years ago and as educators we must always take that into consideration.  Using technology as a key component in our lesson plans can help on both fronts.  One of the best and easiest ways to accomplish that is by incorporating iPads as a accessible classroom material, like notebooks and textbooks.
         Ipads have the ability to turn lessons into games and make learning more hands on.  Gone are the days where we want students to simply memorize content without full understanding; with the new Core standards we must make sure the students fully comprehend what they are learning. Making information interesting and engaging is one way that educators can help further understanding, what better way to do that than with the technology the students already love?
         This technology can also make it easier on the educator, so long as they know how to use the iPad to its full potential.  With inclusive classrooms becoming ever more popular educators must create lesson plans that can accommodate all the different students' learning levels in their classroom.  Incorporating online lesson plans with apps and educational games that go along with the topic of the day can allow students to work at their own pace.  This can work with students working or alone depending on the amount of iPads given in the classroom.  As students move at their own paces it frees the teacher up to help those students that are struggling and create extra activities for those who are ahead.  Ipads also create a one on one learning experience that is engaging for students of all learning abilities.  With the different apps to choose from one student could be master his or her basics while another is working on applying the newly learned concepts to real life or out of the box scenarios.
       With a workshop or two even the most technologically challenged of people can learn to use this helpful new technology to its full potential (speaking as one who is often technologically challenged and has learned to use this wonderful device).  Students will be excited to use them and thus excited for the lessons that allow them to do so.  They will be able to learn at their own pace as the teacher over sees and helps where needed without taking time away from the students who are advancing.  The iPad can help bring our classrooms to the new age, where our students already are.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Nicole Vancil