Research on impact of tablet devices in schools

http://www2.hull.ac.uk/ifl/ipadresearchinschools.aspx – the first national evaluation to investigate the use and impact of tablet technologies (specifically the iPad), across Scottish schools and local authorities was undertaken by a research group based in the Faculty of Education at the University of Hull and published in March 2013. The study investigated a range of issues associated with the deployment of personal mobile devices as tools for teaching and learning.The study focused on four principal themes related to the use of mobile devices as personal tools for teaching and learning. These were:
• How tablet devices impact on teaching and learning

• The leadership and management issues associated with the deployment of mobile devices in schools and local authorities

• Parental engagement with learning when students use mobile technologies as personal devices

• Professional development and learning for teachers introducing personal mobile devices into the curriculum

The headlines findings from the study show that:
• The ownership of a personal mobile device, like the iPad, facilitates many of the pedagogical aspirations set out in Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence framework.

• The adoption of mobile technologies on a personal basis significantly increases access to technology for students, both inside and beyond school, with many attendant benefits for learning which include greater motivation, engagement, parental involvement, and understanding of complex ideas.

• Personal ‘ownership’ of the device is seen as the single most important factor for successful use of this technology

• Teachers are equally engaged by the use of a device like the iPad which has a low learning curve enabling them to use it immediately as a teaching tool and a learning tool for themselves

• The use of the device is contributing to significant changes in the way teachers approach their professional role as educators and is changing the way they see themselves and their pedagogy:

• Parents also appear to become more engaged with the school and their child’s learning when the iPad travels home with the student

The full report findings can be found by following the link below:

http://www2.hull.ac.uk/ifl/ipadresearchinschools.aspx

http://glo.li/NWgGQT An overview of resources supporting educational establishments making a move to mobile devices has been collated here: http://glo.li/NWgGQT This covers the rationale behind the move to using mobile devices, studies on the impact on learning and teaching, practical implications for schools, acceptable use policies, recommendations for classroom management, examples of experiences of schools, and ideas shared by many teachers on ways to use mobile devices to enhance the learning and teaching experience across the curriculum.

https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/learningwithdevices/ The use of tablet devices in supporting learning and teaching is documented at Education Scotland’s Learning with Devices site which details experiences from various schools (pupils, school staff and parents) around Scotland.