
The Arkansas Baptist will begin offering supplemental instruction using the iPad in Grades K3, K4 and K5 for the school year 2011-2012, according to Arthur Bennett, superintendent of the Arkansas Baptist School System.
The Apple iPad is a touch-pad tablet computer released in April 2010. It has Internet capabilities running on either WiFi or 3G.
"We are excited to be the first school in the area to introduce the iPad to the classroom," said Bennett. "Our kindergarten students will be able to work with an iPad on a daily basis. This will certainly not replace any curriculum but enhance and reinforce our core curriculum for these grades. There are hundreds of apps for the iPad that are geared specifically for these age groups."
"These children can relate to technology-driven instruction because they have grown up with it, "said Bennett. "We see the iPad playing a role in offering supplemental instruction in math, reading, art and foreign languages," he said.
Bennett said that the school district plans to create iPad Learning Centers with the devices. The school district will provide the iPads to the student at no additional cost beyond their current tuition schedule.