Some data on the students' perspectives

I have to post more about how the end of our pilot class using tablets went, but for right now, I'm just going to post some data from a survey I did with our students. In the end, we didn't use them in class that much, mostly because we couldn't all get on wifi and take a quick quiz, download a new app, do clickers with Socrative Student/Teacher, or use angel. Students still brought them to class and we could pull up websites and such, and we also continue to use google docs for our labs. It also seemed that the students weren't using them that much.  We wondered what was up so we asked a few questions:

On average, I use my tablet: 
only during class- 10%
1-3 times per week outside of class, and during class- 60%
3-5 times per week outside of class, and during class- 20%
every day of the week, and during class- 10%


60% liked using google+ for class communication, but 40% didn't.

Student responses when asked, "I would use my tablet more if..." :

it was actually mine

it functions smoother

it was faster

it wasn't so slow and functioned better

I like the the tablet wctually, I think more classes whould have them.

I did not own a iPad

Î had more time

I could have more than one application on the screen at the same time.

we used it more in class and had a better internet connection.

It was a 3G device

		Other general comments included that they wished for a "better device", really wished for 3G devices, wished for better reliable wifi so we could all use the devices in class, would recommend getting netbooks rather than the tablets (they said tablets are output devices, not input devices so it was hard to type and enter data on the tablets), and that they wish they could keep the device.
		-Heidi

Statistics App Idea

I'm thinking about some mini-app ideas for statistics. Here's one idea: we calculate probabilities by finding the area of a portion of a normal (bell) curve. Students need to label the mean (center point on the bell curve), figure out what portion of the bell curve we actually want and shade it in, and then figure out how to type that calculation into their calculator.

For example, if the mean is 3.1 and we want the probability of being 3.5 or higher, the picture would look like this:

First, I would like the mini-app to ask for the mean, ask for the parameters (let the student enter 3.5, then choose more or less), and draw the curve with the shaded portion.

The calculator only finds probabilities BETWEEN two points, so it can find the area between 3.1 and 3.5. So the student needs to figure out that the area we want would be half the curve (0.5) minus the area between 3.1 and 3.5. So I'm envisioning the app highlighting half the curve, and then crossing out the part between 3.1 and 3.5 to illustrate the subtraction, then print on the screen "0.5 - area between 3.1 and 3.5"

If the area were more than half the curve, you'd have to take 0.5 and add a piece, so I'd like to see that visually as well.

This is a really dry example of an incredibly applicable calculation that is the backbone of inferential statistics. (It is how ACT and SAT scores are normed, and underlies most of the statistics in the media and in academic research.) But it is a calculation that really trips students up. I'd love to have this interactive app to help us get past the calculation and into some really cool research projects.

Ipad to Big Screen

Big Screen

I was successfully able to connect my Ipad to the big screen in L111 lecture hall. I did this last week during lecture and the students were able to view some of the anatomy apps that I have downloaded. It was pretty cool.

The people from AV support were great in helping me to do this! I appreciate their support.

So, it is possible to connect the IPAD to the projector screen with the right tools! It didn't bother me that is was not wireless as I usually stand by the podium to lecture anyway.

That is all for now.
When do we hand these in????? I forgot........

Hi All,

Now that it is time to be handing in these IPads, I have finally figured out a few things that I can do with them. I have utilized the anatomy apps during my IStan simulations to allow the students to review anatomy while we are doing a scenario about that particular system. The first time, they thought it was OK. The second time, many of the students thought it was way cool and was really excited, guess it took a few times for it to catch on!
I also started utilizing it as an electronic medical record tool for my students to chart their assessment of the patient during the simulation to practice charting. Just started that this week, I am a late bloomer.

For Dave's class, I think it would be cool to have an app to instruct students how to read a blood gas sample and the different disorders. A fluid and electrolyte app would be really cool too, examples of imbalances and the signs/ symptoms.

That is all for now, and yes, getting used to the blog thing alitte more now too, Just takes me awhile! Dec 7 is not that far away, did I really sign something??

Deb

Has anyone seen my iPad?

Seriously......I was carrying my iPad back and forth to work every day, but realized that it was never coming out of its overly large zippered case that someone noted resembles an Inuit parka. I decided that this made as much sense as carrying all those ungraded papers back and forth every day without putting any red ink on them. Thus the iPad was relegated to a convenient half wall I have inside the back door of my house where I pile all my ignored work materials - to the dismay of my wife.

She was once excited by the prospect of getting an iPad, but has yet to touch the darn thing. My daughter, who spends two thirds of her waking hours texting and Facebooking, is barely aware the thing exists. When it disappeared, no one noticed for a week or more. Not even me. Every member of my family has an iPhone. If one of those disappeared I wouldn’t hear the end of it. All that testing of the IRIS alert system this past week was a personal favor.

I used to be a slow adopter of technology. But now the more technology I use the more I want. And the more I use the further I want to push the limits of their capabilities. I now know how to make an Angel LMS scream for mercy. My iPhone can do tricks, it fits smartly into my pants pocket, it wirelessly syncs all my audio books through the iCloud with my iPad (even if iLost it, iAssume), and it has my GroupWise email and schedule! Now I never miss anything – except for 8 a.m. meetings.

A few weeks ago, before I lost the iPad, I lost the charger. But that was not an immediate problem because of the incestuous nature of Apple devices, which are becoming so common and specialized that there will soon be a 5.827 inch iPalm to fill that all important niche of paperless bathroom reading. Seriously! Apple already has the second largest market capitalization of any public company in the world – behind Exxon Mobil, of course, although probably not for long. How did this happen?! Oh yeah – the Wilsons own four iPhones.

My personal laptop has a huge monitor; maybe bigger than the monitor on our desktop. Despite that it’s also thin and very portable and fits neatly on my lap. I use it for a variety of reasons including browsing the internet, word processing, and email. This is truly a great tool for all the evening and weekend grading and email that I do for my online course. No red ink. No Safari. No fingerprints all over the monitor.

Oh wait. I know where it is. I put it in my computer bag with my laptop when I went to my workshop last week. Not sure why. I guess I thought it might come in handy – but alas.

So, how exactly am I supposed to fit this tablet device into my life with all the other devices that already do what I need very well? Perhaps I should trick it out with one of those Bluetooth keyboards. That strikes me as an odd confluence of portability and complexity. Perhaps a clever paperweight? Nah, I already have a Wacom tablet device occupying that niche. Maybe a paperless bathroom reader? No, I’d have to cancel my iPalm on preorder.

I guess I’ll just have to figure out some clever educational strategy to convince my students that learning science is much easier and more fun if you do it while sliding your greasy fingers across the screen where a chemical reaction is being simulated. This shouldn’t be too hard; especially if I can convince them that there will be less red ink in their future. Perhaps the iPad can wirelessly transmit critical information to their brains during an exam through a cerebral iCloud interface device. I’m sure someday Dave Bock’s class will have a mini-app for that.

Dave

I am ramping up to use it in my classroom...

I will have to be honest and say that I love the iPad...but, I have not used it nearly as much as I thought I would. Life has been busy and it is one more thing to "do" amongst a long "to do" list. But, when I have used it, it has almost always been work related and I have learned a lot! I have downloaded a lot of anatomy and physiology based apps. Some of which I took their mini-quizzes and realized I have a lot of tiny upper-level terms that I had not used in a while that I am rusty. It was humbling as an instructor. But, also very motivating at the same time.

I did pay for a "rotator cuff rehabilitation" app that is amazing. It allows for general diagnostics, provides recommendations as to where to go from here (for example see a doctor), and then it demonstrates both prehab and rehab exercises that could be used with the rotator cuff. I teach a human movement class and I have been very anxious to use that $4 app for the class. But, with only one iPad, it seems difficult to include. But, I still think it would be of value. So, at this time I am investigating the possibility of borrowing a few other iPads, paying about $16 to install it on 4 more machines and then have students break up into groups with a few case studies and then go though the diagnostics and go through the recommended rehab as if they were the patient. I am very excited about it! I love the fact that with the apps, they are not WiFi dependent and can be used without worry of network issues. BONUS!

We were also asked to reflect on another question...List at least one idea for a "mini" app that you'd like to see developed by Dave's spring 2012 class (how would it enhance your curriculum and/or the students' learning experience?)

Dave and I have had a couple conversations. I told him to "be careful of what he asks for" that I have more than enough to keep his students busy for years! ;-) But one that jumps out as the most beneficial app would be a blood distribution app where students can look at blood distribution comparing a resting individual to an exercising individual depicting acute changes in blood flow occur. Things that would need to be included in the app are: total blood flow increasing 5x, blood flow to the muscles increasing drastically while total blood flow to the brain would remain constant or elevate slightly, and touching on blood flow and distribution to the select organs/organ systems. It would be wonderful to have virtual people with a beating heart on the side visually while mathematically demonstrating cardiac output and stroke volume as exercise intensity increases.

I already passed the book and calculation off to Dave on the topic...I can't wait to see where it goes from here! :-)

Toni

Whole Lot of Crap out There

I'm trying to find some good math animations, tutoring programs, activities, etc. So far the Droid Market is leaving much to be desired. I found:

A grapher that is less sophisticated than the graphing calculators the students already have

A statistics quick reference that is just pages from a textbook

An app that is nothing but a formula quick reference sheet

A math "game": if you get a bunch of math problems right, you unlock a game that has nothing to do with math

A series of tutoring lessons that are all audio, no visual at all

A tutoring app that will walk you through solutions steps but has no real explanation of those steps

Among the crap, I did find one promising app for statistics: DroidSurvey is designed to do market research. It allows you to set up a survey, and then walk around with your tablet and have people answer the survey right there on the tablet. Unfortunately, it doesn't calculate any statistics--you have to download the data to your computer and use a statistics program to do that.

So, disappointed with the available apps. As much as I hate Apple, I'm wondering if I should have gone with the iPad.