According to the Ramona Sentinel, several classrooms in the Ramona Unified School District in California have embraced new technology, like the iPad, through pilot programs at the elementary and high school levels.
Advanced classroom technology devices, such as a tablet computer, document camera or HDMI projector, provide technology solutions that streamline processes for IT coordinators and lesson plans for teachers. When students are easily connected to established networks, they have access to a variety of educational media beyond the classroom.
Officials are pleased with how the program, funded by an Economic Impact Aid Funding grant, has fared so far, though they stress the importance of properly training teachers and IT coordinators on the technology in order to optimize its use.
"The whole process of setting up the use of the iPad 2 to support instruction has been exciting and terrifying at the same time," Cori McDonald, a high school math teacher in Ramona, told the source. "I'm excited at the opportunity for students, but the logistics are a little frightening."
McDonald's freshman students told the source that they enjoy using the iPads, which provide both a reprieve from traditional problem-solving methods and a unique perspective on mathematics.
