iPads in the classroom

iPads are one of the most innovative inventions of all time.  A small tablet that has everything you need at the small tap of the screen, ridiculous.  Yet in the class room, this awesomeness can be both beneficial and bad.  The beneficial side of the iPad in the classroom is enormous.  It's essentially an electronic binder, so you have everything you need.  Its as mobile as a cell phone.  It only ways about 3 pounds, and because you put all your books there, because they are ebooks, you save about 50-70 pounds worth of wait depending on which classes you take.  The iPad is a marvel to have in class, because it just spreads out the knowledge to a whole new, technological level, and honestly, I think it enhances and livens the learning experience.  Yet there are some things that are bad.  Having such great machinery at ones fingertips, the temptation to wander is a lot greater now.  Since it is essentially your classroom book and notetaker, one can only assume someone does these things, but there are distraction such as games, the internet, music, conversing and much more.  Even though this may slow down the class, it essentially slows the class down the same amount of time as if a pair of students were to be talking in class.  Very minimal compared to the positive results.  Overall iPad in the classroom is a terrific, and innovative idea.