In Gregg Agena’s physical education classroom at Ewa Makai Middle School in Honolulu, students are ready for the day’s lesson on basic tumbling: mats on the floor, tennis shoes off—and iPads up and at the ready.

As Agena blows his whistle, half of the students perform “logrolls” and “shoulder rolls.”

The other half uses an iPad to film their partner.

Then students switch places. iPads change hands. And Agena’s whistle blows again.

Ewa Makai started using iPads in all of its phys-ed courses last week as part of a pilot project aimed at helping teachers figure out new ways to engage modern students who thrive on hands-on learning.

“It keeps them more on task,” says Agena.

Once the exercises are done, the students break off into pairs to watch themselves performing the exercises. Then, using a second iPad and a special application the school’s ed-tech department created, the students determine whether they hit all the steps needed to perform the moves correctly.

For a forward roll, did the student finish by standing—hands above the head? If so, check the box for a point. For a logroll, did the student veer off course and end up rolling off the mat? If so, that’s one point deducted.

When the points are added up, students click “submit.” Instantly, each child’s score is sent to Agena’s computer, where he can quickly see how his students are doing—and what kind of progress they’re making over time.

Ewa Makai, which purchased 150 of Apple’s popular iPads this year, is determined to be a pioneer among Hawaii’s public schools in the use of the slim computer tablets as an instructional tool. In addition to those iPads being used in the pilot, a few teachers have been given iPads to explore other innovative uses in their classrooms.

“A lot of people are asking, ‘How do you use the iPad in education?’” said Jordan Higa, the school’s coordinator. “That’s what we’re trying to find out. We’re trying to incorporate technology meaningfully into the classroom.”

Many schools nationwide are working to bring iPads into instruction, as everything from replacements for textbooks to interactive animal dissection simulators. But the devices remain an emerging technology, and there are plenty of questions about whether the tablets are worth the price.

iPads cost $499, but schools can get a small discount on large orders.

Though several Hawaii schools have purchased the devices, most administrators continue to opt to spend their limited technology dollars on traditional computers, said David Wu, chief information officer for the state Department of Education. Last fiscal year, which ended June 30, schools statewide spent more than $10.5 million on Apple products, he said.

The bulk of that funding went to laptops and desktop computers.

Wu did not have an estimate of the number of iPads in Hawaii schools.

He said that for many schools, the price of the iPad is a little off-putting. However, he added, the device offers a good “curriculum supplement for the schools that can afford it.”

At Ewa Makai, teachers and administrators see iPads potentially being deployed to every classroom. They want to create electronic portfolios for each student, which would include everything from videos to presentations, and they believe iPads would be less cumbersome for classrooms and kids than buying video cameras, digital cameras, and other gear, all separately.

The school also sees iPads as fitting with its pledge to go paper-free.

After finishing their tumbling exercises Oct. 21, students pored over their iPads as they watched themselves and their partners go through each exercise.

Partners Anissa Gallardo, 14, and Katie Casabar, 13, both eighth-graders, said the iPads are a welcome addition.

“We feel very privileged to have this. We are just very grateful,” said Anissa.

Katie added that she was “shocked” when Agena, her phys-ed teacher, told the class they would be using iPads. “It’s a lot easier” than paper and pencil, she said.

Ewa Makai, the state’s newest public school, opened in January and has pledged to become a model 21st-century school. iPads could be a key part of that model if teachers determine the tablets can be worked into classroom instruction and, more important, actually help students.

Higa said the school isn’t there yet. iPad technology is still new, and some teachers are a little more wary of it than others.

“The teachers are still trying to get used to all the new teaching tools,” he said. “It can be overwhelming.”

Agena volunteered to guide the iPad project, even though he said he’s anything but tech-savvy. He said he went to Higa with the idea of using iPads for student self-assessment, and Higa created an application to fit his needs.

So far, Agena said, students seem to really enjoy using the iPads—and they appear to be putting extra effort into their work. “This … is what the kids are all into now,” he said. “It only enhances their learning experience.”

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