LESSON 18: TABLETS AS TEXTBOOKS FOR CLASSROOMS

LESSON 18: TABLETS AS TEXTBOOKS FOR CLASSROOMS

CONTENT

For years, tablets have enriched our lives at work and at home, allowing us to stay connected and access information with unprecedented ease. But they’re also playing a growing role in the classroom, upending traditional models of learning. Can mobile devices reshape education for the better?  Any parent can tell you that kids are prone to distraction, especially when you put mobile devices in their hands. Yet, research from Project Red suggests that in a classroom setting these technologies can have the opposite effect, helping young students engage with academic subjects and making them more eager to learn.That’s one of the reasons why educators are beginning to embrace tablets as learning tools.“Schools are definitely adopting mobile technology for students across the board,” said Elizabeth Crawford, who handles education marketing and strategy at Intel. “The concept of 1-to-1 computing, in which every student has their own device, and the bring-your-own-device-to-school models are at the center of this. It’s impacting how students learn today.”Integrating mobile devices in the classroom means using the technology in brand new ways to teach students digital literacy, how to navigate social media, and how to share content with the world.“It’s preparing them with the 21st century skills they’ll need in today’s workforce,” said Crawford. “Part of it is being able to look at information on the Internet and have the critical thinking skills to interpret it and be proficient in understanding it.”Intel’s Teachers Engage program works with a community of educators to expand opportunities for tech-assisted learning, and aids with curriculum, assessment, and professional development. One of its goals is making sure teachers are comfortable not just using the devices in their classrooms but also embedding them in the learning process.

The program focuses on delivering the “four Cs” to K-12 students: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.Tech integration in the classroom has already yielded tangible benefits. More than simply replacing the need to carry around textbooks, mobile devices can make a powerful impact on students’ performance. Project Red found that schools with a properly implemented 1-to-1 model have seen significant increases in test scores and graduation rates, and dramatic reductions in disciplinary actions and dropout rates.“We need to look at examples of how this technology is working really well and understand the changes that are possible,” said Crawford. “Graduation rates go up, behavioral problems go down, and students tend to be more engaged in their learning — they’re not bored. Students are actually excited to use the devices. It’s a totally different classroom than the one from the past.”

(Chambers, 2014)

EXPERIENCE

            I have no experience about this but, today lot students use tablets as their textbook. It is very easy and convenient to use. They download electronic books as a reference.

REFLECTION

            Time is changing. Everything change from the traditional one to the information age. It is very good since it makes the teaching and learning process more interactive and students become more motivated and interested to learn. Students also develop some skills which will help them in learning process.

APPLICATION

            In the future, schools will use tablets as a textbook because it is easy to use, though it is expensive it can help both the teachers and the students in the teaching and learning process. But still I believe that textbook is still very useful because of its reliability and it has more advantage than the tablets.