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What is my favorite technology in the classroom? That is a tough question due to the fact that I am not actually teaching in the classroom at this time. Therefore, I am relying on life experiences that I have observed over the last few years with my own children in our state education system. After observing my son use his iPad over the past six months for education, I would pick the iPad and tablets as my favorite technology. My son has used his iPad in the classic academic setting for math, science, and history. However, I have also seen it be useful in his extracurricular activities, cross country and golf. My original degree is in physical education and I can see how the iPad and its apps can be useful in monitoring running distances, heart rate monitoring, and other training and fitness programs in sport activities. This past year I observed Homewood High School teaching a pilot program in physical education where students used technology to track their fitness progress throughout the school year. One type of learning I think the iPad fosters is discovery learning theorize by Jerome Burner, he believed education should provide environments where a student can explore alternatives and recognize new ideas (Bruner, 1973, p.43, Roblyer and Doering). Roblyer and Doering point out that technology integration with materials such a problem-solving and simulations software can be very useful “providing step-by-step sequence of learning activities matched to specific performance objectives” (p.40). The iPad and the many apps that the technology provides is very useful with these learning sequences. The iPad supports the constructivist theories of learning with” co-operative work and nontraditional exploration methods because they are designed to help students think on their own, work with diverse groups, and see the relevance of skills to their daily lives”(Roblyer and Doering, p. 46). Students can receive immediate feedback after studying by taking on-line quizzes and other tools the technology delivers. Roblyer and Doering point out that innovative technologies still require valid means to track a student’s progress (p.46). The iPad can do this thru many avenues, such as student created journals, web pages, and other self reporting instruments. In my field of physical education and athletic training apps on the iPad can be used to track weather conditions such as thunderstorms and heat index that relate to the safety of athletes in high school sports. In conclusion, I think iPad technology can really complement the two theories of instruction of directed and constructive methods of instruction described by Roblyer and Doering (p.35).

 Link to more technology in the classroom:  http://www.ehow.com/about_5384898_pros-cons-technology-classroom.htm