Literature
Review
Introduction
• The topic. Technology in education can have a huge effect
on student learning and student engagement.
iPads are one of these technologies that has shown great promise. The key issue educators are facing today is
how to use them effectively and not just for the sake of using technology in
the classroom.
• General overview of the literature. Studies
show great things about the effect of using iPads in the classroom. The majority of research done on this
topic has come to the conclusion, that using iPads in the classroom has engaged
students more and has increased student achievement.
• Your rationale. Since iPads are a relevant form of
technology for students in today’s world, it is important to explore more of
the research being done about this topic.
The types of literature being analyzed and compared in this review
are research studies. These are
important and necessary to look at because they show how iPads are being used
in the classroom and the effect they have on students. Research studies on ineffective uses of the
iPad are not included because the literature is not out there.
Body
•
Kinds
of work reviewed. The
literature being reviewed describes different research studies done at
different times. Therefore, they are
organized chronology with the most recent first and the oldest last.
• Description of selected important works.
A research
study showed that kindergarten students using iPads scored better on literacy
tests then kindergarten students who did not use them. The study took
place in Auburn, Maine and lasted nine weeks.
They randomly selected half of the school districts to have their
kindergarten students use iPads and the other half did not. Both groups were tested before and after the
study took place, and at the end of the study they found that those
kindergarteners using the iPads scored much better than those who did not. Not only did they see higher scores, but also
an increase in student engagement and excitement for learning in those students
who used the iPads (Dalrymple, 2012, p. 1).
iPads can be effective in the classroom as
well as the library. An iPad pilot
initiative that originated in Austin, Texas was done to find out how effective
they can be for high school students.
First of all, the teachers trained over the summer prior to this pilot
on how to use iPads. Then, a trial was
done with a few students before the school year started to make sure it went as
smooth as possible when the school year began.
Not only did the use of iPads increase creativity through the use of the
camera, video camera, and apps for story telling, but they also saw an increase
in productivity. Teachers were able find
ways to do things paperless, which saved money and time. In the library, which is a student “hang out”
for this school; they were able to see how students used the iPads on their own
with their peers. This study was well
thought out and is showing promising results on the effectiveness of the use of
iPads in education (Foote, 2012, p. 14-18).
Although this study was done using high school students, it is still extremely
relevant to showing how iPads can be effectively used in education.
iPods, iPads, and SMARTBoards are helping to
transform literacy instruction and the way students are learning. Some teachers claim that students see these
tools as exciting and engaging and not as schoolwork. They also become more creative in the way
they think and complete their work. By
using these technologies in their lessons students have been more engaged and
learning has increased (Saine, 2012, p. 74-79).
Research
has also shown that the combination of rich graphics, touch screen, and fast
processing speed is increasing student engagement.
There are so many uses for iPads in the classroom. Research has shown that there are great
applications that allow for students to be creative and use critical
thinking. First and second grade
students in Arlington, Virginia have created online books that include their
writing, images, and links to outside sources such as videos and websites. They then were able to share these with their
peers and parents by publishing their work to the web (Levy, 2011, p. 1).
A
pilot program was done in Virginia that purchased iPads for each student in
certain school districts to use in grades 4th, 7th, and 9th
grade social studies classrooms. There were problems that occurred during this
program, such as teachers having to learn as they went and problems with the
content being too advanced for the 4th grade students. Even with these problems the students and
teachers supported the continuing of the program. After reading about this program, it is clear
that using iPads in the classroom is something that needs continued research
and work get the best results (Quillen, 2011, p. 1).
Is
reading from an iPad more effective than reading printed text? A
study was done to test this theory. One
class used an iPad to read a certain text and the second class read the same
text but in the printed form. Then, they
switched and had the first class read from a printed text, different from the
previous text, and the second class read the same from the iPad. They found that using the iPad was much more
engaging, but did not improve comprehension like they though it would. This could be due to students becoming
distracted with the new technology (Sheppard, 2011, p. 12-15). This study is the oldest study included in
this review. Its purpose is to show how
far research has come and how improving the use of iPads in education has been
more successful.
Conclusion
•
How
your work is informed by the work of others. After this review of what others have
researched and determined, I have benefited greatly. I can see how problems will arise along
the way and how to solve them as I go.
By looking at literature from a year ago I can see that over a short
time adjustments are made and results will improve. I can see that in the study on whether or not
using an iPad to read is more effective than written text, even though
comprehension results did not improve, student engagement did. I also learned from the pilot program done in
Virginia that is extremely important for teachers to understand how to use the
technology first. By looking at the
pilot program that was done in Texas using high school students I learned that
I was correct in thinking that teachers need to be trained first. The training of the teachers benefited the
program and as a result the students were more engaged, creative, and better
learners. From this review I have
learned many things to help me in my research.
Most importantly, I have found that using iPads in education is
extremely beneficial for student engagement, creativity, and student
achievement.
References
Dalrymple,
Jim. (2012, February 17). iPad Improves Kindergarteners Literacy Scores.
Retrieved from http://www.loopinsight.com/2012/02/17/ipad-improves-kindergartners-literacy-scores/
Foote,
Carolyn. (January/February, 2012). Learning Together: The Evolution of a 1-1
iPad Program. Internet @ Schools, Vol. 19 Issue 1. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/ehost/detail?vid=6&hid=9&sid=b43d4010-e730-459c-ba48-533671a8167a%40sessionmgr12&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=eft&AN=72955946
Levy,
Peter. (2011, July 11). Putting the iPad to Work in Elementary Classrooms.
Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/07/11/putting-the-ipad-to-work-in-elementary-classrooms.aspx
Quillen,
Ian. (2011, June 15). Educators Evaluate Learning Benefits of iPad. Retrieved
from http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2011/06/15/03mobile.h04.htmlSaine,
Paula. (2012). iPods, iPads, and the SMARTBoard: Transforming literacy
instruction and student learning. New England Reading Association Journal, Vol.
47 Issue 2. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=9&sid=
b43d4010-e730-459c-ba48
533671a8167a%40sessionmgr12&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=eft&AN=74011864&anchor=AN0074011864-11
Sheppard,
Dale. (2011). Reading with iPads - the difference makes a difference. Retrieved
from http://www.minnisjournals.com.au/articles/ipads%20et%20t3%2011.pdf
