Academic Goals and Building Support for Tablet Use
The development of goals and the building of support for tablet use in teaching are intertwined. This is because it is through the development of solid and attractive goals for tablet use in teaching that support for the same will be generated from all stakeholders. Tablet use has two major academic goals. The first is as an end while the second is as a means. As an end, tablet use on teaching enables learners to prepare for a future that is increasingly becoming computerized. The computerization of this world is all rounded and all-inclusive from smart homes, computerized modes of transport to computerized offices and industries. As a means, tablet use acts as a tool to facilitate ease of learning and communication between the learner and the instructor. It is through elucidating these great goals, akin to marketing, that support will be generated for the use of computers by all learning stakeholders.
Types of Technology Available for Schools
Tablet use takes a combination of hardware, software, and infrastructure. The hardware entails enough easy to use tablets for each learner in a class. This is the fundamental piece of technology for teaching using tablets and the foundation for all other technology to be used. The second available technology is the software programs. Currently, there is specialized and mainly patented software technology specifically designed for teaching purposes. A school can also apply to have the said software technology personalized and tailor-made to fits the specifications desired by the school. A wide variety of ordinary programs can also be used for teaching purposes. Finally, there is the infrastructure that will enable intranet and internet communication. This can be done with an internet service provider or a cloud system. It will enable local communication within the class and school as well as connection to the internet.
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Instructional Models
Learning takes place from the moment the student steps into the school compound to the moment they depart. This can be divided into general learning that involves the entire school and specific learning that is done within the classrooms. The most effective use of the tablet would be combined use for all form of learning both general and specific. For example, learners are expected to move flawlessly through the program of the day, which includes multiple activities. Developing a daily program complete with reminders using the tablet would be a good way for learners to understand time management and general order. Within the classroom itself, lessons can be reduced into preset software sets, made available to all students through the intranet. This should be on a class-to-class basis as well as on a lesson-to-lesson basis. Through software installations, the tablet will be divided into the collective uniform setting where class work is undertaken and the personalized settings, which is specific to individual students. To make the right choice of the system to be used, considerations such as the age and class level of the students, availability of enough tablets and requisite software as well as proficiency in using the device should be considered.
Structuring the Learning Environment
In both the analog and the digital learning process, all focus must be on the teacher during lessons. Indeed, focus only moves away from the teacher and to learning material as and when the teacher instructs so. It is on this basis that the traditional class would have students in rows facing the teacher, a fact that gave an advantage to some students over others. With access to the teacher when using tablets being digital and with there being no need of a writing board at the front of the class, students can be arranged in a boardroom format. Several large tables can be used with learners seated in a roundtable format. The tables can also help the teacher organize students in groups with highly proficient learners sitting together and struggling students together. This seating arrangement will also enable the teacher deal will diverse learners. The faster learners will not feel encumbered by the slower learners while the slow learners can get extra attention from the teacher. Secondary instructions can be given through voice that will be audible to all students in spite of the direction they seat in.
Introduction, Engagement, Rules and Procedures
Like algebra, learning moves from the known to the unknown and tablet-based teaching should not be any different. One of the most common gadgets kindred to the tablet is the smartphone, a gadget so abundant that all learners will have heard about it. This would be the logical place to begin, with the tablet being introduced as the school version of the smartphone for each student. This will cause the students to treasure the tablet and enjoy using it as a learning tool. Further, tablets are especially well suited for developing engagement. This can be done using the multimedia components such as music, pictures, and videos, all well incorporated into the learning. General rules and regulation for the insurance of decorum must be employed in class. Further to that, learners must be strictly forbidden from accessing or installing untoward content in through the devices. Finally, during every lesson, all students must be on the same page and moving through the virtual lesson uniformly to ensure order. The expectations of the class must also be set based on achievability. A high bar is good to booster hard work but the same ought to be achievable to avoid disappointments.
Managing Students and Devices with Ease
It is hard to handle tens of children who hold gadgets that have a nearly infinite set of commands. The best way to control students, more so during class work is through the control of the devices themselves. This is mainly because it is not possible for the teacher to physically superintend all the tablets contemporaneously. Learning software programs can be installed that have a teacher control system. Further, the cloud system used as an intranet system can have a teacher’s override to control functionality through active studies. The teacher should, however, allow for more freedom in between lessons.
Formative and Summative Assessments
Formative assessment is a continuous process and ought to be enjoined into learning. The first example of how it can be undertaken is for the teacher to give an assignment and have the children carry it home and work on it, which will bolster individual learning. The second example can be through group work where using the intranet, learners can work on assignments together. Summative assessment is periodical in nature. A good example of the same would be preset and software based formal examinations for students to undertake. Another example of the same can be for the teacher to give viva voce instructions for the students to follow using their tablets. All these tests should be designed to gauge tablet use proficiency as well as course content.
Reflection
Teaching ought to be much more than just installing information into the minds of learners . It also entails preparing the learners for a future in the world that they will live in as grownups. Towards the end of the 20 th century, computerized devices proficiency is crucial for success. In the 21 st century, the said proficiency is becoming primary for survival itself. It is therefore fundamental for the same to be engendered in teaching as a means of preparing the learners to survive in a world that is continually relying on computers for even mundane activities. Using tablets enable students to learn in the same way that they will work and leave in future. Further, school curriculum continues to expand exponentially with every passing day. This calls for a wide array of textbooks and learning material necessary, making learning cumbersome. Easing learning by replacing tens of books with one tablet will enhance learning efficacy, this enabling more learning and ease of advancement.
