I have been learning a lot through this study. First, although I have used course sites on an intranet prior to this study, I find I have very little knowledge of the current technology - smart phones and tablets in particular. As a technology wimp, I have appreciated the opportunity to
“play” with the tablet. At first, I
wondered why a tablet would be valuable. How would it be different than a
laptop computer, except more portable? I have found and downloaded aps for my private tutoring, as well as for classroom uses. I have set up the icons and contents in a
way that is easy to find for me. (Now, when I have to turn in the tablet, I will
miss it.) I have identified what I think are some pros and cons; however, these will likely seem very basic for those of you with significant IT experience!
1. Pros:
a.
First, it is much faster to access the internet
than a laptop.
b.
I located a free trial of Office Suite Pro with
MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint. The full version now is $19.98 (it seems to me
the day I downloaded it, it was $9.99). Anyway, this would allow word
processing on the tablet, which will almost eliminate my need to carry the
laptop.
c.
During the Mobile Aps in the Classroom presentation, we
learned how to connect the iPad to the projector in smart classrooms. This
would allow the teacher to use his/her tablet to show the entire class, meaning not every student would need their own tablet. This is
a limitation only in that not all classrooms are smart classrooms. It would
seem that the more technology we want to use in the classroom, smart classroom
capability will be needed in more classrooms.
2.
Cons:
a.
I must have fat fingers. I have to be VERY
careful when making a selection. Even with care taken, I still get the line
under the one I want. Fortunately, I can go back quickly, but it is still kind
of a pain.
b.
Not all aps work off line
c.
Searching for appropriate aps does take time.
Sharing with others in the same department would be very helpful, especially if
someone in the department does have more experience with the technology. For
example, I had tried to find a document creating ap. However, my search was ineffective because I didn't know a specific-enough search term. When working with a tech person, we found the Office Suite ap
quickly.
d.
Grammar aps: there are many grammar aps for ESL
learners, but some are written by other ESL learners. Not all of these are good.
Some contain grammar errors.Sorting the good from the bad, in spite of positive reviews and downloads, adds to the time it takes to find something useful.
e.
While I am appreciating the concept of the
tablet, this project is showing me that perhaps the iPad is more user friendly
and has more features.
f.
After using the tablet, I am becoming more
comfortable with it. However, early on, I was frustrated by the lack of
intuitiveness. I kept trying to use it like a laptop – I kept looking for how
to close a file, for example.
3.
Since other teachers are like me (I believe …
hope… guess…), transition to use of
technology in the classroom will need ongoing support for teachers. During this
pilot project, we are having monthly meetings to answer questions and learn
more. This kind of session will be necessary for those without much experience
to gain it, and for the rest to continue to advance their skills. Learning the
devices does take time. Searching the aps does take time.But, the more I use it, the more I want to do with it; therefore, the more questions I keep coming up with.
