iPad - is it Compatible Enough for Existing Classroom Education System?

Though the latest gadget, iPad, puts forward an exciting future for the education and teaching and learning online, we can not ignore the fact that many people still do not have or have very limited broadband access, which is a basic requirement for such futuristic improvement.

But, iPad, the latest hi-tech attraction as a concept is a stage-setter. It certainly gives us a quick peek of what the technological scene in the classroom may look like in near future. Though the current version of the iPad needs some more modifications before it becomes a sleek, elegant and classroom-friendly solution, the educational publishing industry should take it as a wake up call.

More importantly, though some universities are planning to facilitate every first year undergraduate student with a MacBook and an iPad, we need to re-evaluate the competency level of the students using such gadgets for education and learning purpose. Also, we can not forget that Apple has not yet sealed the deals with any textbook publisher to bring the textbook content to the iPad's iBooks store. Until now, Apple has published the e-books related only to fiction and nonfiction titles, like those available on Kindle.

iPad, the latest gadget would enjoy its status as an educational alternative of textbooks only if the educators adapt to this new technology and explore the new ways of teaching methods accordingly. And last but not least, the usage of this most desired technological gadget to its fullest will highly depend on students' response!