The benefits and challenges of the iPad in classrooms
Response to module 3
Apple released the first iPad in 2010, so it is a relatively new computing device (Roblyer & Doering, 2014, p.18). Yet its infancy has by no means hindered its integration into education, as Karsenti & Fieves (2013) reinforce “…the iPad is by far the most widely used device in schools around the world” (p.3). Karsenti & Fieves (2013) state in their report that the iPads “… strong penetration into the classroom is due as much to its appeal as to the often claimed potential of technology for education: that it motivates students to learn” (p.2). In an aim to uncover the benefits and challenges surrounding the use of iPads in classrooms Karsenti & Fieves (2013) surveyed 6,057 students and 302 teachers from across 18 Canadian schools. The results from this survey (Karsenti & Fieves, 2013) revealed that students and teachers largely agreed on the following benefits of the iPad:
Apple released the first iPad in 2010, so it is a relatively new computing device (Roblyer & Doering, 2014, p.18). Yet its infancy has by no means hindered its integration into education, as Karsenti & Fieves (2013) reinforce “…the iPad is by far the most widely used device in schools around the world” (p.3). Karsenti & Fieves (2013) state in their report that the iPads “… strong penetration into the classroom is due as much to its appeal as to the often claimed potential of technology for education: that it motivates students to learn” (p.2). In an aim to uncover the benefits and challenges surrounding the use of iPads in classrooms Karsenti & Fieves (2013) surveyed 6,057 students and 302 teachers from across 18 Canadian schools. The results from this survey (Karsenti & Fieves, 2013) revealed that students and teachers largely agreed on the following benefits of the iPad:
-
Increases motivation
-
Highly portable device
-
Facilitates access to
information
-
Nurtures creativity
-
Enhances student learning
and performance
-
Allows students to make
multimedia presentations and make notes on pdf documents
-
Makes it easier for
students and teachers to organise work and assignments
-
Encourages collaboration
among students and between teachers and students
-
Improves computer
literacy and IT skills
-
Fosters individual
learning
Teachers identified that the iPad
enabled them to cut down their use of paper which also creates significant environmental
benefits (see Moodie, 2014 & Karsenti & Fieves, 2013). They (Karsenti
& Fieves, 2013) also identified that the iPad allowed for a variety of
educational resources and teaching strategies to be accessed and used in the
classroom.
Introducing the iPad into the classroom
does not occur without its challenges, these were identified by students and teachers
in this study as being:
-
Distracting
-
Difficulty in writing.
-
Problems organising work
to hand in
-
Difficulties with
textbooks- particularly when all students need to be connected to the internet
at the same time (Karsenti & Fieves, 2013)
A few students and teachers noted
that the use of the iPad had negative impacts on the academic performance of
some students (Karsenti & Fieves, 2013). Karsenti & Fievez (2013) concluded
their study, saying that the “results of this study show that the benefits of
the iPad outweight the challenges” (p.1). While there are obvious challenges
surrounding the iPad, it is necessary that we seek to overcome these issues in
order to be revealed to “… breathtaking cognitive potential” of this device (Karsenti
& Fieves, 2013, p.1). I believe that it is important that students and
teachers learn the skills and knowledge necessary to meet and overcome these
challenges in order to experience the rewards that the iPad can offer to our
classrooms.
References:
Karsenti, T., & Fievez, A.
(2013). The iPad in education: uses, benefits, and challenges – A
survey of 6,057 students and 302 teachers in Quebec, Canada.
Montreal, QC: CRIFP
Moodie, A. (2014, February 25). Is
digital really greener than paper? The Guardian.
Roblyer, M., & Doering, A.
(2014). Pearson New
International Edition. Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching.
Harlow, England: Pearson.
Hi Isabella, I find the use of iPads really interesting. My kids primary school seem to use them a lot but I haven't seen them used as much in a secondary setting (perhaps because I don't have a high schooler yet!). Do you know if the Karsenti study was in a primary or secondary setting? I've noticed that the one student I know who has an iPad for her secondary "BYOD" device seems to use it more in a laptop style (i.e. with a keyboard attached).
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle,
DeleteYes, it is interesting that the iPad has been designed to replace the mouse and a keyboard and yet these are both accessories people often buy to go alongside it (Nations, 2016)! While the iPad has an onscreen keyboard I believe an attached keyboard allows you to type freely with two hands and it puts the iPad into an upright position- much like a laptop. I think the flexibility of the iPad to go from an entirely standalone device to a laptop is another advantage of this device.
Karsenti & Fievez’s (2013) study was conducted on teachers and students from eighteen elementary and high schools in Canada. Their study does not separate their findings from primary to secondary students- it would be interesting to find out if primary and secondary students engage differently with the iPad.
References:
Karsenti, T. & Fievez, A. (2013). The iPad in education: uses, benefits, and challenges – A survey of 6,057 students and 302 teachers in Quebec, Canada. Montreal, QC: CRIFP
Nations, D. (2016, August 5). Should you buy a keyboard with your iPad? Lifewire. Retrieved from https://www.lifewire.com/should-buy-keyboard-with-ipad-3972871