Use Of Smartphones And Tablets In The Classroom: [Infographic] Jeff Piontek wants to know what you think
Undoubtedly, everyone understands the importance of projectors and PowerPoint presentation in the classrooms, but this time, all these stuffs seem little obsolete. As the modern technology advances, the format of classrooms are also changing. A survey conducted by Australian-based online course company “Open Colleges” has reported the top three reasons why teachers are relying on mobile technology; first, due to diverse learning style, second, boost students motivation and thirdly, enhanced material being taught.
In the U.S., 91% of teachers have computer in the classrooms and astoundingly, 1 in 5 teachers accepted that the classroom have right level of technology. In addition to these, 81% of teachers showed off their interest in enrich Tablet classroom learning, while 86% of students (during survey) said that learning on Tablet is quite effective.
1 in 5 students are using mobile apps to organize their course book, while 59% of students are more likely to use their own mobile devices to enhance learning. Almost one-third of all colleges in the U.S. are offering at least online courses; online enrollment saw 21% year-over-year growth, while on other hand, overall higher education growth in the country is just 2%.
Moreover, integration of social networking sites also plays crucial role in education. 4 out of 10 students believe that ‘integration of social networks in the classrooms’ would benefit their education.
See the infographic for further information:
As a UX designer, whether its a tablet or smartphone or laptop or smartboard, all of those fall into what I call “chrome”. That these are mere containers for the delivery of content. One might argue that teachers are a part of the chrome and great teachers are able to deliver content in just as if not more compelling ways than any current technology we have.
Is technology attempting to make mediocre or poor content compelling?
While the “Medium is the Massage” we cannot lose our focus on creating content that is appropriate to the form factor and medium and not re-purposing one to online.
As the parent of a 4th grader and 9th grader, I all too often see educators and parents wanting more technology in their schools as they think that this is symbolic of what the 21st century. I argue the opposite in that 1:1 face to face, real time inSitu collaboration are the skills not of the future but of the past. Using social media to collaborate when you can see the person, IMO is ridiculous!
The classroom of the 21st – THIS century should be about face to face, hands on, project based, tactile learning… supported by technology. I see classrooms more like a studio at IDEO rather than what we traditionally have today.
In the end, it is humans, not technology that will push us forward!
Comment by Mark Enomoto on August 6, 2012 at 10:02 am