Hand-held tablets have changed the ways we think about and use digital technology. Desktop and laptop computers will continue to be used, but the digital landscape has changed dramatically and permanently. This is a great thing for learners because it has extended the range of options for learning tools, as well as other learning resources. I believe this is proving to be especially helpful for learners who require “assistive” technology to overcome barriers.

Apple has captured the lion’s share of the market with its vision of tablet computing. I use both an iPhone and an iPad, and the experience is generally positive. I’m grateful that my employers have made an iPhone and iPad available to me. I have written here about some of the many ways that iOS devices can be used effectively to support learning and provide solutions to specific learning challenges.

At the same time, I’m frustrated by limitations that Apple has built into its devices. At the top of the list is Apple’s refusal to allow Flash to run on its devices. Then there’s the matter of not accommodating USB or SD memory cards. It annoys me that without using a third-party app, I can’t even write or edit posts for this blog on an iDevice! I could go on…

The good news is that Android offers a viable and effective alternative. The open-source Android operating system, sponsored by Google, has evolved to the point where it is used to run a growing number of tablets that compete favourably with Apple’s iPad in terms of performance, quality, and price. Check out the Asus Transformer Prime, or Samsung’s Galaxy Tab.

The number of apps available from the Android Market is rapidly catching up with the total in Apple’s App Store. Many of the most commonly used apps are available for both Android and iOS. “As of September 2011, the Android Market had 319,161 active applications as compared to 459,589 for the Apple App Store.” (ReadWrite Mobile) Android also holds its own when it comes to accessibility.

Android 4 Schools is a blog that was started recently by Richard Byrne of Free Technology for Teachers, with some help from his brother Stephen. The new blog regularly highlights apps with educational value. Recent posts include: Use Google Sky to Know What You’re Looking at Tonight, AndroMedia Video — Video Creation and Editing on Android Tablets & Phones,  and CamScanner — Scan Documents and Create PDF’s With Your Android Device.

This new blog is an invaluable source of information about Android apps and ways they can be used to support learning. Extra effort appears to have been invested in making the blog searchable. In addition to a regular search bar, you can search by grade level or by keyword.

I don’t yet have an Android tablet, but I hope that situation changes soon. When it does, I’ll be an even more avid reader of Android 4 Schools!