Emerging Technology

Starnes 1

Patricia Starnes

Michelle Childress M.Ed.

MEDA 5400

24 February 2013

Mobile Learning Devices:

iPads and iPods in the Classroom

The year is 1972 and Alan Kay has introduced his vision for the Dynabook, a personal computer that is intended to have easy usability for children of all ages. His vision was that children would be able to play games collaboratively on the device. The Dynabook, however, was never made commercially. Move forward to the year 2000 and Microsoft introduces the Microsoft tablet PC, a very practical device but it had it's own set of disadvantages. Now, fast forward to spring of 2010 and Apple brings us the iPad. Apples iPad, along with many other devices of its kind, have made a lasting impact in the world of education. Mobile learning has brought technology to the classroom and is impacting the learning of our students at an astounding pace through convenience, differentiation, motivation and evidence of success in academics.

Personal mobile devices such as iPads and iPods give students immediate access to an unlimited world of educational tools and information. These devices serve as a “hook” to catch the student's

Starnes 2

attention and reel them in to learning at a level that we could only have imagined 30 plus years ago. Mobile devices are not only convenient from a student's perspective but from an educator's perspective as well. In The Reed College iPad Study, educator's who participated in the study found the iPads to be quite useful in classes that required moving from classrooms to labs and back again. The longevity of the devices battery life and the small size played a key factor in the success of the study. The convenience of iPads in the classroom is evident at all levels of learning. Elementary and middle school classrooms have become dependent on mobile labs. High school and college students are beginning to carry a mobile device as their prime source of note taking because of the storage space, it's ability to print and the many study apps that are at their touch. Sandra Sutton Andrews, research director in the Applied Learning Technologies Institute at Arizona State University states "The concept is perfect for education--a lightweight computer, relatively inexpensive, capable of being used almost anywhere: in your hands, on a table, attached to a wall, or built into a tabletop”.

We are living in a technology based world with a very high percentage of today's students exposed to and dependent on some form of technology on a daily basis. Today's modern classroom has at it's finger tips computers, smart boards, Elmo's and more recently mobile iPad labs.

The insurgence of the iPad has provided motivation in classroom's

Starnes 3

throughout the United States. The use of iPad's in the classroom has enabled teachers to provide differentiated learning activities to suit different learning styles and different learning abilities. Autistic children have learned to use tablets, such as iPads, as a way to communicate with their teacher by simply showing them what they would like for lunch. The device becomes almost like a story board communicator which can minimize hours spent in frustration for the child as well as the teacher. The tablet also provides immediate feedback for a child with fine motor difficulties who might struggle with a pad of paper and a pencil. Physical education teachers have incorporated iPads and iPods into their curriculum as well. Physical Education Instructors can create videos of activities they want to teach then show it on the iPad in class. If students don't understand a particular skill they have the video right in front of them to look at. The iPad and the iPod alike allow P.E. and Music instructors to download their music for an entire year and store it on their mobile device to use whenever and wherever they need to.

Students today have been born into a tech savvy world and are eager to embrace any new form of teaching and learning. Edudemic Magazine for iPad conducted a three year study of using iPads in the classroom. The principal of the school participating in the study states, “the changes I've observed in teaching style as a result of this project is likely the most amazing thing I've ever had the privilege to be a part of”.

Starnes 4

He noticed that students performed better, shared better, and learned extensively that there is more than one way to problem solve. The school principal also noted that students quantity of work improved but more importantly the quality of their work improved. Several additional studies have been conducted with kindergarten age students. One such study was conducted in Auburn, Maine. The Auburn District randomly assigned iPads to half of it's kindergarten population for a complete grading period. During the grading period the other half of the kindergarteners worked without iPads. Individual testing was performed before and after issuing the tablets. “According to the literacy test results classes using the iPads outperformed the non-iPad students in every literacy measure they were tested on”.

I find it obvious from my research that students are motivated by the opportunity to use mobile devices in the classroom. The chance to possibly increase test scores is definitely an attraction but more than that seeing students interacting in the classroom whether on an individual basis or with other student's is so encouraging. However, we can't just throw the technology at the students. Teachers have to be motivated as well to learn with these devices and become dedicated to meet the instructional needs of the student so students can be successful at their own level and pace.

Starnes 5

Works Cited

Dalrymple, Jim. “iPads in the Classroom Raise Math Scores.” The Loop . Web. 13 August 2012

Davis, Haydn. “The iPad in Education; The Professor's Perspective.” Educational Ideas, Academic Technology @ Palomar College . Magazine article from a database. 4 July 2011

Harrison, Denise. “Ushering iPad Into the Classroom.” The Journal . Magazine Article from a database. 13 October 2010

Sitkins, Fred. “The Early Results of An iPad Classroom Are In.” Edudemic. Web. 12 November 2012

Williams, Mary-Jane. “iPads Especially Helpful for Special Needs Students.” Washington Post . Newspaper Online. 18 April 2012