Jocko McKean's List: iPads in Classroom

• we are testing the proposition that they learn differently as well.
• how should faculty be assisted in using the tools?
• training faculty and staff in the multiple uses of interactive and assistive technology
• working with multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs) such as Second Life; Web 2.0 applications such as screencasting, podcasting, wikis, and other collaborative tools; multimedia resources such as iMovie; assistive technology tools and resources such as the built-in accessibility features of a computer operating system, popular screen-reading applications, and scan/read devices; and the use of video-gaming concepts to support the instructional process.

• arly assessment data show that faculty use the iPads in several areas:

  • Immediate and Authentic Information Gathering: Google Earth in history class; pulling up information about a piece of art on display while in the art gallery; researching information presented in class
  • Instruction and Reinforcement: using apps for building resource directories for small group discussions; creating excitement about writing; illustrating concepts taught in class; back-channeling to allow the active participation of students of all abilities
  • Instructional and Student Presentations: using interactive games to illustrate concepts; pulling statistical information to support or refute an argument; having students in laboratories view podcasts on instructions for the experiment

  In addition, the faculty and students happily endorse the decreased use of paper for handouts, readings, and syllabi and benefit from formative assessment opportunities such as in-class quizzes that can be discussed immediately, clicker responses for understanding attitudes and knowledge, and short essays as examples of developmental writing. Some Seton Hill faculty also benefited from being in an e-textbook pilot program. iBooks and other e-book sources provided easy access to free primary sources and allowed students and faculty to use these resources in class, including text search and dictionary functions.
• The desire to "stay connected" continues to move everyone toward mobility.

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