The launch of iPads as effective educational tools has spread quickly across the nation, as educational technology specialists are recognizing the potential benefits of using tablets in the classroom. Taking that a step further, many schools have chosen to implement a one-to-one program, providing each student with their own iPad to use in the classroom. A recent article by John Paczkowski indicates that “nearly 1,000 K-12 schools have an iPad one-to-one program.”

In order to be successful in a 21st Century classroom, the teacher must understand that the role of the "instructor" is changing. This is in part due to the nature in which the students learn. Students have the resources to obtain information from a variety of sources 24/7. For them, a single resource is often not enough, and not necessarily the most effective when that resource is considered to be an outmoded method. In addition, students are often used to learning information within the context of solving a problem or learning a new skill. For this reason, teachers need to provide contextual learning environments while infusing project based learning to engage students in the classroom.

Project Tomorrow, an educational nonprofit organization focused on technology, recently published a survey report based on feedback from educators across the nation. The Speak Up National Research Project annually polls K-12 students, educators and parents regarding the role of technology in learning. This 2010 report, The New 3 E’s of Education: Enabled, Engaged and Empowered - How Today’s Educators are Advancing a New Vision for Teaching and Learning, explores the impact of three key trends in education: mobile learning, online and blended learning and digital content.