With the growing popularity of tablet computers, speculation about the integration of this technology into education has begun to grow. The Consumer Electronics Show proclaimed 2011 to be the Year of the Tablet PC, and others have gone on to declare it the Year of the Student Tablet PC. But even while sales are soaring (tablet computer unit sales will see a 1,571% increase between 2010 and 2013, says Businessweek), students and educators are still debating the hardware’s classroom value.

According to a January press release from International Data Corporation, the worldwide tablet market grew by a little over 45% in the third quarter of 2010, with the sales being driven almost exclusively by global demand for the Apple iPad. Indeed, the iPad represented almost 90% of the tablet market at the close of 2010.

Even so, The Chronicle of Higher Education suggests that the iPad is not the best tablet for classroom learning. In a recent article, The Chronicle presented the findings of several universities who had begun implementing tablet use into classes. Testing at the University of Notre Dame demonstrated that the finger-based interface and the glassy surface of the iPad made it difficult to take in-class notes or mark up readings, while Chatham University found that it actually made written course work more difficult. Other stated drawbacks included the lack of textbooks available on the iPad, as well as the flaws with current stylus inputs.

Still, while The Chronicle article toted the educational flaws in the Apple iPad, it also pointed out several benefits. From a pedagogical standpoint, professors at Notre Dame and at Reed College found that articles and required readings were more readily available to students in class via the iPad. Furthermore, students who used iPads were better capable of collaboration, being more in sync with one another and at greater ease to share the content on their screens. Add to that the fact that the iPad is smaller in size than traditional laptops or tablet PCs, with an extended battery life and a competitive price, and the scales seem to be weighing even.

Ultimately, though, the argument, both in The Chronicle and in the educational market as a whole, boils down to one major determining factor: student preference. If the 90% market share offers any indication, that decision has already been handed down. Not to mention, with educational iPad use extending to younger age groups (iPads for kindergarteners), the potential for building brand loyalty is endless.

That’s not to say that competition isn’t out there, but as All Things Digital notes: Apple has delivered its second generation tablet while most of its competitors have yet to ship their first. Whether these competitors can close in on Apple has yet to be seen, but whether they will be able to better serve educational needs will be something to look out for.

Manhattan GMAT has always prided itself on hiring the highest-quality instructors in the industry.  It’s one of our greatest points of distinction, and probably the first thing we would mention if you were to  ask us what sets us apart “ we have the best instructors out there. But what, exactly, does that mean?

In 2010, MG Prep received 915 resumes from prospective instructors.  After reviewing their credentials, we conducted phone interviews with 274 applicants. From there, 232 people were offered the opportunity for an online audition, where we got a chance to check out their knowledge, teaching methods, and classroom persona.  Of those auditions, 102 applicants were invited to our corporate offices in New York for a face-to-face audition.  Only 18 were hired.

In that final face-to-face audition, applicants are asked to teach real problems to students of varying ability levels.  We look for instructors who teach to every level of understanding, who interact positively and productively with their students, and who are receptive to criticism and eager for their own improvement. Plus, we always like to hire instructors with vibrant, engaging personalities and a deep-seated passion for education.  If the audition process is any indication, the 18 applicants who were offered positions were selected for more than just their 99^th percentile score and their teaching backgrounds.  They were selected because they truly are the best of the best. (Think about it: Harvard Business School accepts 12% of applicants. Manhattan GMAT accepts less than 2%.)

If you’ve had the opportunity to interact with any of our instructors, you have some idea of what we mean.  We spend over 100 hours training our instructors, we pay them 4x the industry standard, and we expect them go above and beyond.  They are continually meeting to discuss the best teaching strategies and how to make the most of the course format, and they are always eager to work on improving the curriculum.  It’s not uncommon to hear a conversation between instructors in which the words I love that problem make several appearances. Manhattan GMAT instructors are great at what they do, and, more importantly, they love it.

Want to learn more about Manhattan GMAT’s outstanding instructors? Check out our instructor bio page, where you can read about their backgrounds and take a look at what former students have said.

Imagine it’s five, ten, twenty years ago…

Congratulations, you just got into college! You are super excited, and your parents are so proud.  The time they spent reading to you, checking your homework, and quizzing you on vocabulary was well worth it, and they are excited to send you off to face your next adventure.  But first, they will leave you with a few parting words of wisdom: Join a club. Don’t drink anything green. Be sure to manage your time well. They’ll send you care packages, and be there for you when you need advice so that, while you may be on your own, you still have someone to turn to.

Now speed ahead five, ten, twenty years…

Congratulations, you just got into business school! You are super excited, and your Manhattan GMAT instructors are so proud. The time they spent drilling you, checking your quant problems, and quizzing you on sentence correction has been well worth it, and they are excited to send you off to face your next adventure.

But, of course, they have their worries. Will you know that you are supposed to pronounce all the letters in ROI? Will you remember your excel shortcuts? Will you be able to work well with your learning teams? What if you have questions about supply chains or microeconomics or how to balance wine and cheese in one hand? Who will you turn to?

Well, GMATers, we have you covered.  Carrie Shuchart and Chris Ryan, two former Manhattan GMAT instructors and successful MBAs, have written you the perfect care package. Case Studies and Cocktails: The Now What? Guide to Business School is both a handbook for the social side of school and an academic primer on the material you’ll have to master.

From the day you receive your first acceptance letter in the mail, Case Studies and Cocktails will prove to be an invaluable guide to the ins and outs of business school.  Whether you are stressed about paying tuition, valuing bonds, repairing a dysfunctional team, or mastering the recruiting process, the solutions are in this comprehensive guide. Filled with the advice of students and staff from over a dozen top business schools, numerous dowloadable calendars and worksheets, and a glossary of need-to-know b-school jargon, Case Studies & Cocktails will provide you with all the tools you need for living and working as a business school student.

For more information, check out the Case Studies & Cocktails website.  Want a sneak peek? Read an excerpt on Poets & Quants or on Fortune.