According to the Cedar Valley Courier, schools in Waterloo, Iowa, are piloting a wireless tablet computer program to see if a system-wide implementation of the devices in classrooms is a worthwhile investment. The school board plans to purchase 160 iPad 2s and 165 Android-based Asus Eee Pads for use in 11 classrooms at the elementary, middle and high school level, according to the source.
Access to classroom technology, like a tablet computer, interactive whiteboard or
DLP projector, can give students advantages that traditional classroom environments can't. Tablet computers, in this case, allow students to connect wirelessly to view documents, videos and multimedia lessons, and the digital devices also help schools save on textbook costs.
Waterloo Community Schools officials said that the tablets will help teachers make more comprehensive lesson plans, and they hope the program will give administrators an idea of how best to implement the devices across the board.
"We recognize the role technology can play in really engaging students," Matt O'Brien, WCS director of technology, told the source. "Our goal here is really to look at how tablet technology can be used in our district to increase student achievement."
