This year people are very excited about the new iPads. The whole middle school got them for school purposes. They are helpful because we use less paper, it decreases our trips to the labs, and they are fun to use. I prefer to use iPads for taking notes and doing written homework, but some people still like to use paper.

The technology people have done a really great job setting them up. People think iPads are like portable computers, but they are a little bit different. Computers are easier to use for typing and can print documents. Also, I think computers are easier to use because the touch screen of an iPad can have some glitches. A few ways to help that though is to get a bluetooth keyboard, which you can match to your iPad, or a stylus, which limits touching your iPad. At school, now we have the option of the iPad and paper for most things. I would like the school to eventually have the option of using iPads and paper for everything.

An annoying thing about the iPads is the notifications and the keyboard clicks during class. There is a way to turn it off but not everyone has. In my opinion the iPads are helpful and useful but they can be distracting. I am excited to see what people will think of them.

Photo from flickercc