Tablets for Learning

It was excellent hearing from Mark Hines ETEC doctoral student and head of the Student Centered, Project Based Learning program called Mid-Pacific Exploratory (MPX).  He spoke about the wonderful and exciting ways that the Mid Pacific Institute has implemented and incorporated the Apple iPad into its curriculum.  It was really interesting to hear about the research and the decision making process that went into selecting the iPad.  He also discussed the many obstacles and challenges that took place while both teachers and students were being trained on the use of the iPad.

I still have my own doubts and reservations about using the iPad as a students exclusive technological device.  I myself am a avid and loyal iPad user.  However I mainly use my iPad for video chatting, web browsing, video/picture taking and social networking.  I have found through personal experience that typing on the iPad is extremely slow and cumbersome.  Even after I purchased a bluetooth keyboard for my iPad I found that typing more than a paragraph or two is very slow, uncomfortable and generally annoying.  Anytime I have to do any sort of extended writing for emails, letters, memos, or papers I find that using my laptop computer is far easier and more convenient.

While I do agree that the iPad is an innovative and groundbreaking device, I sincerely believe that it cannot be a students exclusive technological device.  It can and will function wonderfully as a supplemental device, but I sincerely believe that any serious student also needs a laptop to write papers, use spreadsheet software such as Excel and use other web page programming software.  So I guess the bottom line is that in an ideal world with an unlimited budget all students would benefit most from owning both an iPad and a laptop computer.  However if their were budgetary constraints, I would recommend that my students spend their money purchasing a laptop computer instead of an iPad.

     

Big Data and Learning Analytics

The topic of Big Data and Learning Analytics is one that has risen in popularity recently, however this is also a topic that is riddled in controversy.  It is a well known documented fact that many high profile retailers such as Target use big data and learning analytics to predict critical information about its shopper such as age, sex, socioeconomic status and even whether a person may be pregnant or not.  This cyber information is can be track, recorded and accessed easily through database storage and retrieval.

This information can be critical for the success and profitability online business and retailers.  Companies can adapt and custom tailor their sales, marketing and advertising strategies according to each particular persons demographic information and shopping interests.  This can obviously result in increased sales and profit margins.

However Big Data and Learning Analytics may also used effectively in the context of education.  There are certain test such as the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) that are known as CAT (Computer Adaptive Tests).  These tests base the difficulty of future questions on a participants correct or incorrect responses to priors questions.  These tests have been shown to be much more accurate and precise than traditional tests.

However educators can take this even further.  Teacher and administrators can examine students behaviors and responses to particular questions online via the internet.  This information can be dissected, compiled and examined.  Then concepts and topics that each particular student struggles with can be identified, and further instruction, remediation or action can be taken.

Mobile Learning

In todays day and age handheld mobile communication devices have become very commonplace.  I just  spoke with one of my neighbors yesterday and she mentioned to me that she had just purchased an iPad for her 3 year old daughter.  Even as I walk around my high school's campus I see students constantly talking, texting and surfing the web on their cell phones, iPads and other mobile tablet devices.  Many schools now prohibit or ban the use of these mobile devices during class times.  Instead of trying to ban the use of mobile technology, we as educators need to embrace and leverage these powerful tools.  These mobile devices can be used for note taking, research, communication, collaboration, creation and a plethora of other applications.  Now is the time for teachers to receive training and professional development to be better equipped to utilize these powerful mobile computing devices to enhance student learning and increase student achievement.