Multimedia Use in the classroom: iPads - Thinking Outside the App Store

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Attard, C. (2013). Teaching with Technology: iPads and primary mathematics. Australian Primary Mathematics
Classroom, 18(4), 38-40.

Multi media usage in the classroom, what does that look like? Well the easiest answer I could initially find was apps. iPads, and other tablet devices are relatively cheap(er) and are easy to use. There are hundreds of apps that could be used on them. However, before we go into the apps and multimedia in the classroom, we need to define multi media.
In my opinion multimedia can be many different things. Multimedia can be an iPad, or a television that is presenting a video on a topical subject, multimedia could even be a digital form of a book that allows students to highlight save their favorite passages. Multimedia is just using multiple forms of media within a classroom.
Now we can talk about apps. Apps are nice and all, but they cost money, they are rigid, and they need to be downloaded. Is there another way we could use iPads in the classroom without having to rely on apps? Well the article that I read for today talks specifically about this.
The article talks about how apps can be used, in a primary setting, but then it goes deeper into iPad usage in the classroom. They mention a (long) list of things that should be considered when planning to use iPads in the primary school setting, things like:
-        What do you want students to learn
-        What function could you use the iPad to enhance the current lesson
-        How many iPads do you need
-        How can you tell if students are engaged
-        Etc.
Now we can really begin our talk about how an iPad can be used in a classroom without using it’s apps. As mentioned above the article talks about different factors to consider when planning on how to use an iPad within a classroom, they also go into further detail on a couple of simple activities that could be used using an iPad without a specific path. The first activity involves using the camera function on the iPad take pictures of different polygons that relates to the geometry lesson being taught in the classroom.
Not like the idea of using a camera on an iPad in order to take pictures and related to the lesson that I was teaching my class. This article brought up some more ideas that I had regarding multimedia in my own classroom.
I could use the simple web browser to have my students look of research for a paper, I could ask my students to check their math work using the built-in calculator, I could use the iPad’s built-in timer to keep track of different activities or break time for my students, I could even use the notepad to have my students write their thoughts down writing assignment without having to use a pencil and paper. There are many different ways to use an iPad classroom without having to download app after app after app. The important thing is that the teacher using the technology is able to think ahead and plan appropriately, which seems to be a theme with all technology.
To briefly summarize in one sentence plan ahead, there is more on the iPad than you may realize.

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