Project To Study Impact Of Computer Tablets On Students: Thailand

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Project to study impact of tablets on students

Supinda na Mahachai

The Nation

A pilot project on tablet use is being conducted with Prathom 1 and 4 (Grade 1 and 4) students at five schools in different regions of the country, while Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) plans to research the impact of tablet use on students.

"Having been questioned about the impact on students when they use tablets, the Education Ministry has assigned SWU to study the issue. However, many countries have found that Prathom 1 students can use tablets for education effectively, whereas older people can use them less effectively," Education Minister Woravat Auapinyakul said yesterday after presiding over a ceremony to officially launch the project at SWU.

Secretary-general Chinnapat Bhumirat at the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) said the five schools chosen for the pilot project were Srinakarinwirot University Prasarnmit Demonstra-tion School (Elementary) and Rachawinit School in Bangkok; Anuban Lampang School in Lampang; Sanambin School in Khon Kaen; and Anuban Pang-nga School in Phang-nga. A class with 40-50 students will be given tablets.

Chinnapat added that Lenovo Thailand had donated 600 tablets for the pilot project. Many companies had offered to donate the tablets, but the ministry chose only one firm as it required the same specifications.

Woravat said Obec would be responsible for the contents of the tablets and expected it to be completed in the next academic year.

In response to a survey that revealed 94 per cent of respondents at famous schools, including Triam Udom Suksa School, disagreed with the policy to allow Prathom 1 students to use tablets, Woravat said he would not rush to draw any conclusions or change anything.

"If students are given hi-tech tools suitable for their ages, they will be able to become leaders of the region or even of the world," he added.

SWU president Asst Prof Chalermchai Boonyaleepan said the university would conclude the study on the impact on students at the pilot schools, create guidelines for a course that will train relevant officers, and create a model and guidelines for integrating the tablets with teaching and learning.

-- The Nation 2011-12-22

[Scott]

Hmmmm.....don't you usually study a problem first, then design a solution? It seems this study should have been conducted BEFORE launching a problem.

I am in favor of using technology for learning and introducing it to children, but what age and what subjects can make the best use of it needs to be determined first.

Next a comparison of older methods--books, chalk, talk needs to be compared with the newer technology to determine the positives and negatives and balance between them.

Finally, an assessment of cost effectiveness needs to be done.

I fear the people doing the study have already been told what the results will be.

[yumidesign]

I remember reading an article in Aus. press about the results of a similar programme of giving computers to students which was an abject failure due to the fact that

The computers were low end cheap, no doubt like to Thai ones will be, and did not have necessary programmes or storeage to be useful to students and not updateable also

After two years the hardware was so out of date and slow that they were regarded as useless by students and teachers alike. There were also service and repairs issues due to rough treatment by students

Edited December 22, 2011 by yumidesign

[KKK]

The education ministry has already decided to issue tablet PCs to all students by May next year. Now they are asking for a study to be made on the impact on students when they use tablets. Isn't this around the wrong way? Or are they just looking for an excuse to get out of issuing the tablets and renage on another election promise.

[Scott]

One troll post has been removed.

[bkk_mike]

Tablets isn't the issue. The software on them is the issue.

You can go from the basic - use them as a replacement for student workbooks - where you should save on paper costs, and "should" be able to send out homework and get it handed in electronically - all the way to having properly written apps that test what's been learned and concentrate on areas where the testing shows the student is struggling.

The first is obviously simpler to produce. The latter is probably better for the student (that wants to learn).

One problem with current-gen tablets is that you control them with your fingers. This makes them simple to pick up and use, but at some point kids need to learn to use pens and pencils (or a stylus in tablet terms). Will the students be issued with resistive screen tablets (which, from experience with phones, don't work as well as capacitive touch screens, but do allow the use of simple stylus), or will they get the special stylii that work on capacitive screens...