Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

The iPad and its apps are the latest tech gadget that can help in the classroom (any kind of classroom in almost any setting). One issue is that once a student loves the iPad, they ignore the teacher – the person. Persons have feelings and sometimes persons have hurt feelings. Let’s employ the gadgets that work and appreciate the persons who make them work.

My grandson, now three years old, continues to teach me. I have an iPad (the first model). There are neat applications made to help little kids learn their numbers and letters and such. There are applications that help little kids learn all sorts of things. I have been told many times by many people,

but if they use an iPad for that, they won’t pay attention

These people don’t add the two words that I added in the title of the post. The eager-to-learn little kids, and what little kids are not eager to learn, will pay attention. They will pay attention to the lessons on the iPad. They will pay attention to the iPad.

This attention to and adulation for the iPad is crushing for the in-person, in-the-classroom teacher. I understand what it is like to be a distant second best.

Let’s consider someone else here. Let’s consider the person who created the iPad. Let’s consider the person who created the iPad app that enthralls the eager-to-learn little kid. How do you think that person feels to see the little kid delighted and enlightened? I know how I feel when I make something that enthralls and enlightens my grandson,

Greatest feeling in the history of the world!

Maybe some of this anti-tech gizmo in the classroom feeling is about who is receiving the credit. I understand that. As I wrote earlier, I understand what it is like to be a distant second place. I know rejection.

What I find to be a shame is that much of what happens in classrooms is not about how much learning is happening, but about who receives the credit. That, however, is part of the human condition. People want to achieve the mission of the group. People also want to be recognized. Let’s try for both.