Recently,
I attended EdTech Classroom Conference 2013, Digital Citizenship and
Augmented Reality. I have chosen to
attend session that related to iPad educational application. The sessions were appealing
for me and I got beneficial information, so I decided to do more investigation
in this subject which is the use of iPad and its applications in education.
1.
How Use of an
iPad Facilitated Reading Improvement
Citation:
McClanahan, B., Williams, K., Kennedy, E., & Tate, S.
(2012). A Breakthrough for Josh: How Use of an iPad Facilitated Reading
Improvement. Techtrends: Linking Research And Practice To Improve Learning,
56(3), 20-28.
Summary:
This article is a
part of diagnose and tutoring project in an elementary education reading
course. In this project, teachers were asked to use an iPad to facilitate fifth
grade struggling reader with ADHD. The use of technology
with struggling readers has been investigated by
researchers for decades. Study
has shown that reading eBooks in the classroom resulted in improved engagement
with text and deeper comprehension. Although iPad has much more functionality
than other reader such as Kindle. It too soon to expect well designed studies
for its usefulness with struggling readers or student with ADAH. However,
Teacher trying out these technologies in their classroom.
The result indicated that that the student -who is
that target of this project- had gained one year’s growth in reading within a
six weeks’ time period. The student also gained in confidence and sense of
being in control of his learning. the study indicated that using this device
and applying certain strategies might improve more positive attitude towards
leering in general.
Review:
Before I review ADA In chapter 7 I know
thing about disabilities and
their learning problems. This article gave me an idea about some tools and
strategies that might be used with student with ADAH to improve their
reading skills. Even though the project result cannot be generalized because it
was conducted to one student, it must be considered as model and guideline to further
studies in the field. I recommend this article to people who are interesting in
disability’s teaching and learning.
2.
Teaching and Learning with iPads, Ready or Not?.
Citation:
Murray, O. T., & Olcese, N. R. (2011). Teaching and
Learning with iPads, Ready or Not?. Techtrends: Linking Research And
Practice To Improve Learning, 55(6), 42-48.
Summary:
Within weeks of becoming available, the iPad
reportedly sold over 3 million units. The revolution of iPad and its more than
400000 applications that could run on the device and a similar interface to the
popular iPod Touch and iPhone make it more appealing to educational researchers
and professional. This article consider
the potential effect of both the iPad and its applications might have on
teaching and learning in K-12 settings and whether these technologies allow
educators and students to accomplish what they otherwise could not, from a
teaching and learning perspective.
The authors categorize the iPad application to four categories:
tutor, explore, tool, and communicate in order to consider this application as
a learning technology. Using Means’
categories authors cataloged 112 of the applications we analyzed as tutor, 79
as exploration, 73 as tool, 38 as communicate, and 15 as collaborative
educational technologies. The Main guiding question of these articles is
whether or not the iPad and its software environment allow user to do things in
education sitting that they could not otherwise do. The observation of these
applications indicated that there are many applications that can replace. For
example, the 3D4 Medical Images and Muscle and Bone anatomy applications this
can be extremely beneficial for science and medical classes in the sense that
it can replace unwieldy and costly textbooks and reference materials.
Applications like Math Board and free Books follow in this tradition. And many
others.
Review:
I fund this article is very interesting as
instructional technology student that seeking to more knowledge of specific
educational applications that available to iPad and its family. I think the
authors have done a great effort to categorize and analyses these application.
I like the section when the authors express their finding in Collaboration and
Support of 21st Century Skills and the way the categories the applications. I
think this article must be revised by all instructional technology students.
3. Personal Devices
in Public Settings: Lessons Learned from an iPod Touch/iPad Project
Citation:
Crichton, S., Pegler, K., & White, D. (2012).
Personal Devices in Public Settings: Lessons Learned from an iPod Touch/iPad
Project. Electronic Journal Of E-Learning, 10(1), 23-31.
Summary:
This study was conducted to gain an understanding of the infrastructure
required to support handheld devices in classrooms; the opportunities and
challenges teachers face as they begin to use handheld devices for teaching and
learning; and the opportunities, challenges and temptations students face when
gaining access to handheld devices and wireless networks in K – 12 schools. In this
study authors used A mixed method approach was used: online survey, monthly
professional development activities with teachers, collected samples of lesson
plans and student work, and regular classroom observations.
The study indicated that – this is a simple of its
findings- participants (students, teachers, and IT support staff) preferred a
range of devices for a variety of commonplace tasks hey indicated they would
select the iPod Touch for recording voices / sounds, listening to podcasts, and
playing games. They preferred a laptop for searching the Internet, creating
media, and checking email, and they selected paper or traditional options for
drawing, reading, and tracking work. In order to use personal devices in school
settings, the school / district needed to create a common iTunes account and
dedicate a computer to sync, share, and organize applications (apps), content, and system settings
Review:
Although this study does not concentrate on iPad
applications and the use of its applications in education aspect, I think the
study finding could be used as platform to many educational administration
decisions. I think all school district have to conduct such study to before
taken essential decision that related to the use of technology in their
school.
4. Exploring the Use
of the iPad for Literacy Learning
Citation:
Hutchison, A., Beschorner, B., & Schmidt-Crawford, D. (2012). Exploring
the Use of the iPad for Literacy Learning. Reading Teacher, 66(1),
15-23.
( Non scholarly journal )
Summary:
The introduction of the iPad, and other tablets like
it, has changed mobile learning possibilities for teachers and students. the
iPad now promote anytime, anywhere learning in schools where the student does
not have to be sitting in front of a computer in a laboratory setting. The goal of this investigation
was to explore how a fourth grade teacher
could integrate iPads
into her literacy
instruction to simultaneously teach print-based and digital literacy goals.
The
Writer explains how to develop lessons that meaningfully integrate iPads is
presented, as well as lessons learned from the project.
The paper came out with many lessons learned from
this experience: Students were able to apply their prior knowledge of other
digital literacy tools to figure out how to navigate the iPad without a lot of
instruction from the teacher. The use of Doodle Buddy encouraged students to reread
their text and revise their work many times. The availability of many different
apps, as well as the many features of each app, made it easy to differentiate
assignments for students. As with any digital technology, teachers had to
troubleshoot at times. This reality required the teacher to have a willingness
to explore the potential causes of problems that arose.
Review:
In my
opinion, this paper is very interesting. It is well organized paper. I like the
way authors organized this paper. They presented there learning experience. At first,
they state the reading focus then they describe the app that use in this lesson
then they present what they did learn from this experience. The paper provides
lessons about how iPad can enhance instruction. And the paper present hint
about aspects of literacy for which iPad would not be useful
5. The Use of an
iPad2 as a Leisure Activity for a Student with Multiple Disabilities
Citation:
Helps, D. H., & Herzberg, T. S. (2013). The Use of an iPad2 as a
Leisure Activity for a Student with Multiple Disabilities. Journal Of Visual
Impairment & Blindness, 107(3), 232-236.
Summary:
This is a practice report. The primary
purposes of this case study were to determine preferred activities
available on an iPad2 for a young woman, Ariel, who had multiple disabilities,
teach her the necessary skills to make choices on the iPad2, make modifications
if necessary, and then teach Ariel the skills that are necessary for her to
participate in the desired activities
as independently as possible.
At
the end of this intervention, Ariel has learned so many digital iPad
skills such as Identify the movie icon and select movie, Identify and use all
necessary icons to initiate choices of activities. 3 A three-inch binders and a
nonskid mat were placed under the iPad2 to stabilize Ariel’s arm and hand 15
Unlock the screen and press play to begin a movie.
Review:
The report is helpful
for those how work or have a student with disability. I like the conclusion which
express that he use of an iPad2 provides numerous choices of
activities that are appropriate for any age. If educators want individuals with
multiple disabilities to engage in meaningful leisure activities, then the
activities must be chosen by the individuals and taught in small steps that are
rewarding. I think the result of
this intervention cannot be generalized due to the limitation
of study sample.
