An Associated Press article expressed the fact that the iPad and app builders are tapping in to the toy market for Christmas 2011. Products such as the iMarker by Crayola allows children to doodle on the iPad just like they would a crayon on a coloring book.  And that Apple products have a certain "cool factor" with kids that toy companies, which can make up to half of their revenue during during the holidays, are hoping to tap into.  The article states that 44 percent of 6 to 12-year-olds want the iPad this year, according to a survey by research firm Nielson.

  While games are a tremendous percentage of apps developed for the iPad one Christian school in southeast Texas is tapping into the wealth of educational apps. At Ridgewood Christian School we encourage the students of all ages to bring their iPads to class where educational apps such as Anatomy Quiz, Stack the States and Math Bingo are used on a regular basis. We believe that educators across America will begin to recognize the tremendous benefit of the interactive aspect of the iPad. Younger children can trace letters in a new and exciting way, middle school students can interact with math apps which makes learning their math facts (2 + 2 = 4 or 3 x 5 = 15) actually seem fun. Older students can dissect a frog without all the mess, muss and smell. 

 Every year in our Biology class the students simply have to memorize the parts of the body.  Memorizing bones from a two-dimensional picture has been the method of study for decades. And when it comes time for a quiz or test the student must simply label the parts. With apps such as Bone Scan Bob and the Anatomy Quiz students can interact with and instantly receive feedback.  When asked, one student commented that the interaction of the app has greatly improved her grades, not only because it makes learning easier, but fun. Chemistry students across America are asked to memorize the periodic table. All well rounded students should know that the symbol for the element oxygen is O and the symbol for the element hydrogen is H. Flash cards have long been the study method of choice but with the app MajhongChem they can play a relatively popular game while learning the elements and their symbols.  The Elements app, while somewhat expensive, gives the student an interactive three-dimensional way to dig deeper into the details of each element.

 Many parents will read the AP article and give in to the massive media push that promotes all the exciting games that can be played on the iPad. But take heart parents who desire more than just an expensive toy. The iPad is a tremendously effective educational tool as well. So go ahead and buy that iPad for little Susie or Johnny but don't just download games for them to stare at for hours.  Check out and download apps that will challenge him/her to learn. Or better yet, download some of the educational apps that will be fun for both of you.