Melissa Fletcher
Fort Frances High School students have been experiencing a new way to learn this semester with the addition of iPads as educational tools.
The iPads have been used in English, Exercise Science, and even guitar courses.
“The iPads conserve a lot of paper, which is good, especially in a Natural Resource Management class,” noted Fort High student Elizabeth Morrisseau.
Students can learn with iPad apps (programs designs specifically for the iPad).
“The students are able to use apps such as the Greenhouse Effect Encyclopaedia, Google Earth, and Environmental Education all from their desk,” noted Natural Resource Management teacher Natasha Shack.
The school has purchased 18 iPads for student use.
“They are way faster than the school computers,” enthused Fort High student Derek Roy.
“The iPads are like mini laptops with touch screens,” he said.
Students in the Exercise Science course also enjoy the benefits of the iPads for classroom use.
“They have apps for the iPad that let us look at the human anatomy,” explained student Tina Pham.
“And it’s more efficient to search for information at our desk than having to use a computer lab,” she reasoned.
With technology always expanding, more and more apps are being added to the iPads every day.
“We even have apps for our English classes, like Shakespeare apps,” said student Danielle Murphy.
“It’s nice that the school is accepting changes in technology.”
“I think that the school is starting to realize that personal electronics are more than just cellphones and mp3s, they can be very educational,” stressed Fort High teacher Rob Donaldson.
“It’s our job as teachers to prepare our students not only for further education, but for the real world—and technology is going to be a big part of it,” he remarked.
