Teaching and Learning: Using iPads in the Classroom Updated 01/2014 If I had thirty iPads in my class, what would I do with them? How would I use them to help my students learn better and help me teach better? Speaking of computers, they were supposed to be the transformation of teaching and learning as we know it. Kinesthetic Learners The iPad has a number of unique features that provide for interesting possibilities in teaching and learning. As a completely portable learning tool, the iPad camera allows documentation to be taken to a whole different level. Students can also attach videos, and voice recordings to their field notes. In math class the GPS of the iPad establishes locale in ways that are profound. Connecting Beyond the Classroom Of course, the mobility provided by the iPad's wireless telephone connection capability allows the unprecedented access to the Internet anywhere students are. How do you use iPads in the classroom to help teaching and learning?
Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator Exploring Students' Mobile Learning Practices in Higher Education Key Takeaways A university-wide survey on students' mobile learning practices showed that ownership of mobile devices is high among students and that tablets are the most popular devices for academic purposes. The survey also found that mobile learning typically occurs outside the classroom, with only limited guidance from instructors. To improve mobile learning effectiveness, students and instructors need help adopting more effective learning and teaching practices across content areas. Baiyun Chen and Aimee deNoyelles are instructional designers at the University of Central Florida. Mobile technologies are playing an increasingly important role in college students' academic lives. The popularity of mobile technologies among college students is increasing dramatically. To successfully adopt mobile technologies across the university, however, we need more information about the student population's mobile access and use. Key Issues Methods We collected data (N = 1,082) in summer 2012. Notes
Elementary Students Use iPod Touch To Learn – The Authority in Online Education A handheld device once considered a form of entertainment has made its way into a South Dakota elementary school; students at Lowell Math Science and Technology school have each been assigned their own iPod Touch to use in the classroom. The Sioux Falls school district purchased the devices for about $80,000 with a federal grant provided to schools with low reading and math assessment scores and school districts with a high percentage of low-income families. Each iPod cost about $220, significantly less than it would have cost the school to purchase laptop computers. Wade Helleson, a technology instructor for teachers at Lowell and other elementary schools, said that the first time he used an iPod Touch, his “wheels started turning on how they can be used in schools.” The iPod can be used for a variety of purposes in the classroom, like research and writing or to scroll through virtual flash cards, making it a valuable tool for students of a wide age range studying different subjects.
Mobile Learning: A Rising Trend in Education - Online Learning Tips By Dr. Robert L. GordonProgram Director, Reverse Logistics Management at American Public University During the past few decades in education, the mass production of computers and widespread Internet availability fueled the expansion of online education beyond what anyone could have imagined. Although brick-and-mortar universities initially resisted this change, the academic world accepts online education today. For example, Ivy League universities resisted online education for years. Other institutions felt that online education did not offer a robust enough platform to allow for a quality educational experience. Mobile Learning Offers Students Greater Flexibility, Immediate Skill Growth More recently, there has been a further shift in electronic learning (e-learning) to mobile learning (M-learning). A lot of mobile learning is self-paced, giving students the ability to learn when they can, rather than delaying their education indefinitely. [Learn more about the APUS mobile app.] Dr.
Do mobile devices in the classroom really improve learning outcomes? Mobile devices as teaching tools are becoming a more and more common part of the American education experience in classrooms, from preschool through graduate school. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 58% of U.S. teachers own smartphones — 10 percentage points higher than the national average for adults. Those teachers are building that tech-savviness into their lesson plans, too, by embracing bring-your-own-device policies and leading the push for an iPad for every student. In 2013, an estimated 25% of U.S. schools had BYOD policies in place and it’s reasonable to assume those numbers have risen in the past two years. What do these mobile devices really add, though? Is there more to this tech trend than just grabbing the attention of students? Research finds benefits of mobile technology That same Pew Research Center survey asked a group of Advanced Placement and National Writing Project teachers about the educational impact of Internet technology in the classroom.
Blogging | Technology Resource Teachers What is Blogging? A blog is a contraction of the term "Web log." According to Wikipedia, a blog is a "Website usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog." In the world of education, many teachers and students use blogs as a way to share ideas and thoughts both in their school environments, or through distance learning opportunities. Blogging in Plain English from Common Craft Curriculum Connections How can I use blogs with students? create book discussions (great for literature circles or book reports)post prompts for writingcommunicate with parents and students about classroom news, policies, and eventsjournal writing onlinepublish student work (writing, photos, video, etc.) Equipment Needed Safety Considerations 1. Fourth Grade Kidblog "Mrs.
The challenges of mobile learning in the classroom and how to overcome them While the physical structure of a classroom with students sitting at desks in rows may look familiar to most, the explosion of Internet-accessible, mobile devices in the hands of those students has definitely changed the way students interact with each other, with their teachers, with the greater education community, and with instructional materials. This is especially evident over the decade, as schools have increasingly adopted mobile learning as a signature initiative using BYOD and 1:1 programs and investing in tablets to provide their students with access to a wealth of relevant educational content and learning opportunities. Mobile students Young students do pretty well in terms of mobile devices ownership. Tablets are the number one choice for classroom learning, as they are somewhere in the middle ground between the reliability of laptops and the mobility of smartphones. Challenges of adopting mobile learning in the classroom Designing learning materials for mobile devices
Education Update:Make Parents Your Partners:Can Mobile Devices Transform Education? The popularity of smartphones, including Droids, iPhones, and BlackBerries, that now have GPS, texting, voice, and multimedia capabilities has prompted industry and education reformers to shine the light on these mobile devices as vehicles suitable for transforming K–12 learning for the 21st century. Although they present challenges as well as potential benefits, education experts reason that these powerful small computers motivate students; provide constant access to the wealth of knowledge, tools, and experts on the web; and are cheaper and more plentiful than laptops or desktop workstations. "A big choice for us is: we have this very flexible tool, much more like a Swiss army knife than a hammer. What do we want to use it for?" says Christopher Dede, Timothy E. Compared to laptops and computer workstations, mobile devices are cheaper, more portable, and physically less obtrusive, especially during collaborative work. The Innovators Augmenting Reality
iPods in Education Current trends in media technologies have great potential for education. Specifically, personal audio and video players enable educators to expand their curriculum to meet the mobile and media-rich learning styles of today's students. Furthermore, they extend teaching and learning beyond the normal classroom hours, allowing students to easily and continuously learn. Educational iPod and iPad Uses at a Glance Podcasts - Sync education podcasts created by students and teachers for learning on the go. Pricing iPod Features, Specs, Gallery iPod Specs What is an iPod Touch? PROS AND CONS OF iPODS IN EDUCATION PROS Portable and lightweight Battery Life 7-10 hours Supports student engagement, differentiation, and collaboration needs Access to information is immediate and current Educational podcasts and apps are abundant, free, or inexpensive Possible management and theft issues No camera No applications Small Screen / Keyboard Droppable and breakable iPod Apps Learning Resources
Mobile Learning: Why Tech Savvy Educators Are Turning to Podcasts As our world becomes more connected, podcasts are becoming the driving force behind a shift in the way we learn. Technological advances are allowing educators to interact with their students with more engaging content than ever before. The best part is that these changes not only increase learning rate, retention, and recall, but are reaching millions of new students every year. This is mobile learning. Infographic licensing What is mobile learning? Mobile learning, or mLearning, is a multifaceted learning experience that utilizes social interactions through mobile devices. Mobile learning incorporates mobile technology into the learning process for the benefit of the student. So, why is mobile learning important? Mobile technology, in the form of cell phones and tablets, is the fastest spreading technology in human history. While mobile technology is helping some educators reach around the globe, it’s helping others better engage with the students in their classrooms. The podcast solution
iPod Touch in Elementary Classrooms..Need Ideas [Archive] I wouldn't suggest iPods, maybe netbooks? iPod touch isn't the easiest to type on, and it has a really small screen, which makes it undesirable for research. You can do a quick google or check your email, but you wouldn't want to read on it for hours. Same with the ebooks. Would they be going home? I could see some sort of assignment thing on them for that. Personally...... it um, sounds like a recipe for disaster! Don't get me wrong, there are lots of cools things to do on them, but as a parent i wouldn't want my school providing something like that my 4th grader. OK, that is unheard of today in the public school arena from what i can see - but how would you handle it when a parent said, NO? I guess, well, personally, i'd not be excited about it. OH, and how is the socio-economic makeup of your school? I can see the possibilities...... just not sure as a parent i'm ready for that in the classroom. ANYWAY, i'll be curious to see what others have to say.
How—and Why—We Can Improve the Future of Mobile Learning When Massive Open Online Courses (or MOOCs) were first introduced, people quickly realized these platforms could help students learn more effectively at their own pace on their own schedule. “Formal” education was no longer constrained to traditional classroom hours, if it ever was. This development, combined with tremendous growth in mobile device usage due to improved technology, naturally led to a shift in mobile learning patterns. Students were now free to engage with diverse educational content—videos, podcasts, interactive games, and so on—from any location with a cellular signal. Despite this promising beginning, the role of mobile devices in the classroom and in education overall is still rather limited. To make true mobile learning a reality, here is where we, as an industry, should focus: The creation of flexible experiences The average student juggles half a dozen—or more—classes, a variety of extracurricular activities, sports commitments, and perhaps a part-time job.