Inquiry+Model

I-Search

Selecting a Topic The topic I chose for this project is iPads and their uses and benefits to the school library program. I chose this as my topic because I am very interested in learning more about iPads and what they have to offer especially for education.

Finding Information There is so much information out there that I am finding it overwhelming to sort through everything. At this point, I am wondering what the iPad can't do. A question I have is how iBooks work? I have contacted an Apple employee to help me with my search for helpful and useful information.

January 27, 2012

I have been searching the internet and have found a valuable website devoted to iPads and their uses and benfits. I have used this to create my concept map. This process is new to me and I am not sure I am conducting my researh correctly. In fact, I am not sure I fully understand what I am doing with this project. I have also found a blog by a school librarian that I need to explore more, but from just a cursery glance it looks like it will be helpful as I continue through this project. I am wait to hear from two Apple employees to see if they have any information that would benefit me in my inquiry. Right now my concept map has me stuck. I don't know how to move it from bubbl.us to my wiki.

February 1, 2012 Discussed with Apple employee about using iPads in the library. He told me about iBooks and how teachers can create their own textbooks with this software.

February 9, 2012 I emailed a UB librarian to find out his opinion on the iPad being used for education. He response suprised me. He mentioned that technology is a part of a students world and should be accessible, but he was concerned by what he called the "haves and have nots." Working in a small rural school I can definitely relate to this concept, but I feel if the library had iPads for students to access and use it would bridge the gap between the "haves and the have nots."

February 13, 2012 The articles and websites I have been reading include great information about apps that can be used for the iPad to help educators and librarians. I am having trouble locating significant amounts of information about other uses of the iPad. I am also abandoning the search for benefits of using the iPad in education. The information I have located about the benefits ties directly back to the apps the iPad has to offer.

February 24, 2012 In a recent post to the website iPads in School, iBooks Author was discussed. IBooks and iBooks author are interesting to me. I believe that both provide practical applications for the library and the classroom in general. The author of this post discusses what iBooks Author has to offer. Teachers would be able to create their own interactive textbook. Using this application would allow teachers to include important videos, link, lectures, photos, documents, and other images to their textbook. The textbook would be focused on what the teacher wants and needs the students to learn. The iBooks app contains digital textbooks that schools can purchase for students to use. The author of this post does mention that the main drawback to this is providing students with the iPads. How can schools provide each student with an iPad?

February 26, 2012 I have found that most of the information I have encounter has been about the apps that are available for the iPad. Some of the apps are great educational tools, but I was looking at other uses for the iPads not just apps. This week as I look back on the research I have done I changed my focus to just the uses of the iPad and not its benefits. The educational uses for the iPad are actually its benefits. Kathy Schrock's website provides a comprehensive list of apps for the iPad that are useful for educators and students. Using Information February 8. 2012 The librarian at the school I work for and I were discussing eReaders and iPads because she is considering making a purchase. Our discussion led us to making a pros and cons list of the Kindle, Nook, and iPad. Since the school is very small and the budget is even smaller, the librarian needs technology that can multitask and can be used by students from kindergarten through 12th grade. As we looked into it, the iPad offered a portable OPAC, educational apps, iBooks and iBooks author, video streaming, camera, and much much more as well as being an eReader. I plan on sharing additional information with the librarian as I conduct my inquiry. My hope is that the information I find will be useful to her as she makes her decision for which technology to purchase.

February 13, 2012 In a blog written by Mellissa Venable for [|www.onlinecollege.org], Dr. Venable provides 20 cool uses for ipads in libraries. This blog had me thinking out side the box for iPad uses.

February 24, 2012 Melissa Venable's blog discussed using the iPads as eReaders. I like this idea because with budgets being cut everything a school purchases must multitask. I really like Dr. Venable's idea of using the iPad as an interactive read aloud. I think younger students would be engaged throughout the whole story if they had the opportunity to interact with the story as it was being read. Dr. Venable also suggests a iPad workstation for patrons. This workstation could be used by students for gaming or research. She mentions that iPads are easier and more familar to students. This blog provided me with the information I had been looking for. I think everyone is aware tha that the iPad provides great educational apps, but I wanted to see what else this technology offered.

February 27, 2012 I found some really great ideas about using the iPad in the library. Since the iPad is light and portable, it can be used as a mobile research device or a mobile OPAC. This way students can walk around the library with the OPAC helping them locate materials they may need. The iPad can also be use to create interactive displays in the library. I think using the iPad as part of a display is a great way to get students and teachers interested in eBooks. The iPad can also be used to download magazines and newspapers. The most interesting thing I found in a post by George Kolom on [|www.ipadsandiphones.com]. Mr Kolom mentions a Research study (sorry he doesn't mention the study by name) the found that teenagers open to and want to eBooks and using iPads in the school library. An article in //Teacher Librarian// written by Joanne Troutner, offers a couple of ideas for libraians ready to explore the iPad. The article suggest learning how to use EverNote so as librarians we can introduce this tool to students and teachers as a way to make learning interactive. The author also suggests the website teachwithyouripad.wikispaces.com. This wiki offers information on how to set up the iPad and provides links to apps.

Developing a Final Project Synopsis The Apple iPad has the potential to change the world of education. The iPad offers a diverse array of educational tools that can be utilized in the classroom and the library. Through my research, I learned that there are many benefits to using the iPad as an aid for students’ learning. The applications (apps) that are available for free and to purchase provide teachers and librarians with a plethora of games and tools that students can interact with and be engaged while learning. Several educational sites provide lists to useful apps for most subjects. iBooks is an app that allows the user to download eBooks to the iPad. iBooks offers textbooks as part of this app. Schools could benefit from purchasing less expensive textbooks in eBook format. Students would also have all of their textbooks with them on one device. The iBooks textbooks also provide students with an interactive learning experience. For example, students can click on a picture and they are linked to more information about that picture. Apple has also just created iBook Author. This app allows the teacher to create their own textbook for students. The teacher can upload pictures, documents, lectures, and photos to their textbook. iBooks and iBook Author allow for creative and engaging learning experience for the student. The librarian can download iBooks for students to read onto the iPads. The librarian can also facilitate workshops on how to use iBook Author. The versatility of the iPad in its capabilities makes it a relevant tool for library. The iPad can be used to create interactive eBook displays. Students can use the iPad as a mobile OPAC. Students can take the iPad into the stacks with them while trying to locate a book. For younger students, the iPad’s ability for interaction takes read aloud time to a whole new level. Students can use features like Face Time to ask the librarian questions while conducting research. Through this project I have learned that the iPad has numerous uses for the classroom and the library.