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 * Textbooks Vs. iPads**

With the increase in the use of technology in today's society, it is natural for future teachers to inquire as to how this will affect the everyday classroom. iPads can be a useful tool to assist the learning process by backing up what students read about in classrooms. With the substantial growth in technology today, it should be expected that schools are beginning to veer away from the use of traditional textbooks. Each new school year introduces new students beginning their endeavors through education who are more technologically advanced than the students from years past. Students in today's generation are growing up completely surrounded by technology. Because of this, teachers today need to take into consideration that students to come may adapt more successfully to learning through ebooks rather than textbooks.
 * __Introduction __**


 * __Definition __**
 * "The iPad is a tablet computer developed by Apple. It is smaller than a typical laptop, but significantly larger than the average smartphone. The iPad does not include a keyboard or a trackpad, but instead had a touchscreen interface, which is used to control the device." (iPad, 2011).
 * “An ebook is a book in electronic format. It is downloaded to a computer, PC, Mac, laptop, PDA or any other kind of computer, and is read on the screen. It can have numbered pages, table of contents, pictures and graphics, exactly like a printed book.” (Sasson, 2011)

http://www.eduinreview.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/CourseSmart-etextbooks.jpg On January 19, 2012, Apple announced the introduction of ibooks 2 that is a software that will allow anyone to create a textbook. With this app, students are able to easily highlight text, gain access to a dictionary instantly and create annotations on a full color display with 3D images, video, and audio capabilities. Apple has also created itunes U in which teachers can utilize to post syllabi, notes, assignments, etc as a means of communication to students. Itunes U creates a virtual classroom that is in turn accessible to all students and teachers at all times (Digital 2012). As schools across the world begin to discard textbooks and transition to using ipads as textbooks in the classroom, studies of students' test scores are sprouting. A year ago this January, students in Ameila Earhart Middle Schoolin California's Riverside Unified School District began to embark on a one year pilot program with ibooks. Previous to this journey with the use of traditional textbooks, 59% of the students scored in the "proficient" or "advanced" range on California Standards Test. However, in Spring 2011, 78% of those same students scored in the "proficient" or "advanced" range, a 19 point improvement. Bethlam Forsa, executive vice president of Global Content and Product Development at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the company in charge of the pilot program at Riverside is quoted to say, "By engineering a comprehensive platform that combines the best learning material with technology that embraces students' strengths and addresses their weaknesses, we've gone far beyond the capabilities of an e-book to turn a one-way math lesson into an engaging, interactive, supportive learning experience." This quote sums up the progression this transition to digital textbooks has made and the potential it has for school districts and students in the future as well. (Students 2012). There is not an extensive history on the use of iPads within the classroom. At this point, more questions exist than answers so teachers are going into this change not quite knowing what to expect, however, as Ian Wilson puts it, "this is the exciting part" of integrating new technology into the classroom (Wilson).
 * __History __**

Integrating iPads into the classroom has many advantages. iPads are easily portable and enable users to carry many textbooks around on one device, weighing much less than hauling many textbooks (Coeus, 2008). Textbooks on a computer are more environmentally friendly because it does not require killing many trees to print as many books as the class needs (Coeus, 2008). Another huge advantage is that iPads can be more engaging for students than a traditional textbook. They allow students to click on links and watch videos within the text so they can gain a deeper understanding of the course material without having to read the book and then go over to the computer for supplemental materials (iPads in the Classroom, 2011). Students with visual impairments who might have difficulties reading the small text in the traditional textbook would have an easier time using an iPad because the font sizes are easily adjustable (Coeus, 2008). Textbooks purchased for use on iPads, called ebooks, can be easily purchased and downloaded to an iPad. Once the ebook has been downloaded, internet access is not required for the textbook to be read. They also enable users to search the book for a specific topic without having to page through the entire book (Sasson, 2011).
 * __Advantages __**
 * The use of ebooks will repay for itself over and over. Textbooks are expensive to produce, ship, and buy.
 * Because textbooks are expensive, school districts use them for too long and they become outdated. The use of ebooks will be a less expensive way to keep text up to date for students which will greatly benefit their learning (Digital 2012).
 * "Textbooks aren't always current. Digital textbooks can be updated immediately" (Munarriz 2012).
 * Don’t need a separate light source in order to read an iPad (Coeus, 2008).
 * Notes made can be easily made, found, or deleted (Coeus, 2008).
 * No “wall” of a laptop screen in between the teacher and students (Crump, 2010).
 * Can’t multitask, only one window can be open at once, helps to focus better (Crump, 2010).
 * Ebooks withstand more time than regular books (Sasson, 2011).
 * No packing or shipping expenses (Sasson, 2011).
 * Hundredes of educational iPad apps, more every day (iPads in Education 2012).
 * The ibooks 2 app allows for immediate access to a dictionary for words that students may not comprehend (Digital 2012).
 * Ebooks allow students to carry multiple books in one single source without adding extra weight (Munarriz 2012).

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 * __Disadvantages __**
 * Security: iPads can still get all the viruses that a normal computer can get, they are more expensive to replace if lost or stolen ($100 dollars for service to track lost iPads, more expensive to replace), false apps at the app store (pay for it and it doesn’t work) (Mills, 2010).
 * Eye Strain if read for too long (Coeus, 2008).
 * Needs power to function, not always ideal for bringing on long plane flights, to the beach, etc. (Coeus, 2008).
 * A little spill can be the end of all of your books and notes (Coeus, 2008).
 * Current lack of ebooks, just haven’t been created yet (Crump, 2010).
 * Expensive starting up cost to initially purchase the many iPads that would be needed for an entire classroom or even an entire school
 * Even with a protective case, an iPad will break if not handled with care (iPads in Education 2012).
 * The iPad has a maximun storage of 64GB (iPads in Education 2012).

The many advantages of ebooks provide the future possibility that ebooks will eventually replace traditional textbooks. This means that teachers will need different training in how to incorporate this technology and make the switch from textbooks to ebooks. One of the biggest issues that needs to be dealt with is that more ebooks would need to be made available if teachers hope to eventually switch over to all digital textbooks (Crump, 2010). With this change in textbooks comes a new hope that students will be engaged, eager to learn, and willing to participate in the classroom. The future holds a change in how students learn through textbooks. By means of a traditional textbook students are prone to be bored, lose interest, and not pay attention. The interaction provided through the use of an ipad can allow students in the future to constantly be active learners (Munarriz 2012).
 * __Future __**

Technology is updating and improving every single day. As educators, it is completely vital to keep classrooms innovative and students engaged in reading and learning. With this in mind, the growing use of ipads and ebooks in the classroom to replace traditional textbooks should be taken into consideration. With students today being avid technological learners, there may come a day when students will not want to or will not be able to take in new information in textbooks. The implementation of digital textbooks may be the change students are going to want to see made in traditional classrooms.
 * __Conclusion __**

(2011). In //Apple in Education //. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from []
 * __References __**

(2011). iPad. In //TechTerms//. Retrieved February 10, 2012, from []

Coeus,. (2008). Ebooks Vs. Paper Books: The Pros and Cons. In //Hubpages //. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from []

Crump, M. (2010, March 29). Pros and Cons of the iPad in Education. In //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Gigaom //. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from []

The Digital Textbook Revolution (2012, January 29). In //Ipads in Schools//. Retrieved February 11, 2012, from []

iPads in the Classroom WRWR 38. (2010, September 13). In //YouTube//. Retrieved September 30, 2011, from []

iPods and iPads in Education. In //T4 – Jordan School District.// Retrieved February 10, 2012, from []

Mills, E. (2010, January 28). Expert Sees Security Issues With the iPad. In //CNET News//. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from []

Munarriz, Rick A. "3 Reasons Apple's Ipad Textbooks Will Rock the Classroom." //Daily Finance//. N.p., 19 Jan. 2012. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. [|<http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/01/19/3-reasons-apples-ipad-textbooks-will-rock-the-classroom/>.]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Sasson, R. (2011). The Benefits and Advantages of Ebooks. In //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">SuccessConsciousness //. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from []

"Students' Math Scores Jumped 20% with iPad Textbooks, Publisher Say." //Apple Insider//. N.p., 20 Jan. 2012. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/12/01/20/students_math_scores_jumped_20_with_ipad_textbooks_publisher_says_.html>.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Wilson, I. (n.d.). Why Use iPads for Learning?. In //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">iPads In Education //. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from []

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