On the morning of the 5th, a class utilizing iPads is being conducted at Deokseong Girls’ Middle School in Jongno-gu, Seoul. May 15, 2025. (Image courtesy of Apple)
SEOUL,May 15 (Korea Bizwire) — In a bright classroom at Deokseong Girls’ Middle School in central Seoul, students began their first-period social studies lesson not with paper textbooks but with Apple iPads, seamlessly streaming a video on refugees from the Gaza Strip.
It was a typical scene in one of South Korea’s pioneering Apple Distinguished Schools (ADS), where digital devices are rapidly reshaping how students learn.
On Thursday, the school offered a glimpse into its transformed learning environment, part of a broader initiative by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to integrate customized digital learning tools in public education.
Deokseong was among the first to adopt the “Dibut” (Device for Education) program during the pandemic in 2022, and by 2024, it had earned recognition from Apple as a model institution for integrating its ecosystem into classroom instruction.
Gone are the days of blackboards and chalk. Teachers now use Apple’s Keynote and Numbers apps—digital equivalents of presentation and spreadsheet tools—to conduct dynamic lessons, manage student assignments, and encourage collaborative learning.
In Thursday’s class, students used Apple Pencils to jot down ideas on refugee assistance directly on their devices during group discussions, while the teacher projected their answers to the classroom screen for review.
“Subjects like social studies benefit greatly when you can bring real-world material into the classroom instantly,” said Yoon Hye-kyung, a 40-year-old teacher leading the day’s lesson. “Digital tools make that process much easier and more impactful.”
A class using iPads is in session at Deokseong Girls’ Middle School in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of May 15, 2025. (Photo provided by Apple)
Students are allowed to take iPads home to review lessons, and faculty members have undergone special training to adapt their teaching methods to the digital format. Network upgrades in early 2025 have improved reliability, though occasional technical glitches—such as Wi-Fi issues or device syncing problems—still arise.
Some students also note the physical drawbacks of extended screen use, including eye strain and the hassle of charging devices.
Despite these minor frustrations, school officials and educators say the benefits far outweigh the limitations. Vice Principal Kim Ji-hyun emphasized that the school’s philosophy is “not to digitize education for its own sake, but to innovate learning with the help of technology.” She added that student creativity and satisfaction have both increased since the shift.
Parents have expressed concerns over potential distractions from apps and online platforms, but the school employs a centralized monitoring system, “School Manager,” that allows teachers to lock or restrict device usage in real time.
Still, as AI tools like ChatGPT and Apple’s new writing assistant gain traction, teachers are navigating new questions about digital ethics and student engagement. “We’re still figuring out how to guide students in using these tools wisely,” said literature teacher Joo Jin-wan. “It’s a challenge—but also an opportunity to rethink education for the next generation.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
