Teaching With Ipads

[sensei]

I am just wondering if there are any schools here in Thailand that are using iPads for teaching. If in case you are teaching in such a school, what are the advantages and disadvantages that you see?

Thanks for your insights.

[Loaded]

As always here, the advantages are for the person who authorized their purchase.

Edited February 19, 2012 by Loaded

[sensei]

I think it won't be that easy for anyone to make a profit here when all the prices of the "i" devices are prominently displayed on the Apple website and Apple won't even bend an inch even if a school purchases 100 iPads.

[tolstoy]

Ipads are just computers so I don't understand why spend the extra money. As for computers in the classroom it is a part of the MOE mandidate. You are suppose to use technology and multi media in your lessons.

Yes, it might seem more fun to touch the screen than use a mouse or a keyboard but the have the same function. In fact I find the touch screens are actually slower to interface with when I am doing multiple things.

[Loaded]

I think it won't be that easy for anyone to make a profit here when all the prices of the "i" devices are prominently displayed on the Apple website and Apple won't even bend an inch even if a school purchases 100 iPads.

The post of Education Minister (and Transport) is often a gift to the group of MPs who helped the government form a coalition. The contracts they award are lucrative. I can't believe any Thai government minister or administrator would allow a large purchase without their 'kin muang' cut anyway. The iPad scheme may be above this but it's hard to believe that there isn't padding to allow commission.

Getting back to the OP, it's hard to imagine how the iPad can be used in a communicative language class. I guess science classes would benefit. Access to information on the Internet certainly wouldn't be encouraged in a Thai history class.

[endure]

Good teachers light a flame that never dies. They don't need technology to do it.

[sensei]

Good teachers light a flame that never dies. They don't need technology to do it.

Those good teachers also taught their students that the world was flat until technology proved them wrong.

[sensei]

I think it won't be that easy for anyone to make a profit here when all the prices of the "i" devices are prominently displayed on the Apple website and Apple won't even bend an inch even if a school purchases 100 iPads.

The post of Education Minister (and Transport) is often a gift to the group of MPs who helped the government form a coalition. The contracts they award are lucrative. I can't believe any Thai government minister or administrator would allow a large purchase without their 'kin muang' cut anyway. The iPad scheme may be above this but it's hard to believe that there isn't padding to allow commission.

Getting back to the OP, it's hard to imagine how the iPad can be used in a communicative language class. I guess science classes would benefit. Access to information on the Internet certainly wouldn't be encouraged in a Thai history class.

Yes, PADding (pun intended) might be a possibility as it is a common practice in many government offices not only in Thailand but in Asia in general.

I actually teach Science and I can see a huge potential in using iPads to helps students visualize static text and diagrams.

[tolstoy]

How can it be any more useful than any other computer?

Edited February 19, 2012 by tolstoy

[sensei]

That is my point, tolstoy. We know how useful computers are especially with the physical keyboard and all. That is really the point of this post. I want to get feedback from those who have used iPads in actual teaching. I would like to know about their experiences.

[hrican]

iPads are used now in most schools in Nevada, I am an IT, professor and I can tell you by experience that students are much more interested in whatever subject matter is presented than conventional teaching methods, a marriage in teaching using I pads and regular teaching is a win win situation. Example: students learning Chinese, using both regular and iPad teaching really makes a difference.

[BlackArtemis]

If given the choice I would have a tablet pc (a real pc not a slate) and an over head projector. Allowing me to display interactive models at the front and allow me to monitor the room.

I don't like the idea of each kid have a tablet because I have already had trouble with cell phones being a distraction. No need to give them something they can play with and tab out of games etc when they should be learning.

I did this in highschool in the computer labs, we learned to bypass the lockouts, installed games and everytime the teacher wasn't paying attention to us we were playing games.

As i prepare to re-enter the teaching world in Thailand, I wonder if my classroom will have tablets and the headaches of "I forgot mine, I forgot to charge mine, Mine isn't updated, I need to download that app or access that site but the strain of all the kids sucking up the bandwidth is preventing me".

There are plenty of awesome things I CAN do with tablets though, I love using clicker programs, allowing all kids to answer but not have the embarressment of being wrong. It also lets me see how much of a class is grasping the material.

Double edged sword, and it's going to take a lot of practice to wield it.

[Fookhaht]

There are plenty of awesome things I CAN do with tablets though, I love using clicker programs, allowing all kids to answer but not have the embarressment of being wrong. It also lets me see how much of a class is grasping the material.

I'm unfamiliar with this software. Can you give more information? How does a clicker program give the students' feedback to the teacher?

[BlackArtemis]

There are a multitude of different programs both that come as either hardware or software based.

Basically you can have a question appear on the over head with A-D choices and the students can use a remote much like a garage door opener to select their answer. You can then show the answer, how many people chose what etc. You can even assign specific ID's to these clickers and each student so you can use it for grading. Though it's quite easy to share answers in the classroom doing this.

However, there are also software for android and cell phones, so perhaps this could be a great way to use tablets in your classroom.

an example in the university setting:

[Fookhaht]

Many thanks. So that the normally miserly schools don't have to spend a satang on some item that hasn't yet been budgeted, I like the idea of pursuing the android/cell phone based clickers (depending on how much it costs the student to transmit a message).

[thaicbr]

DON'T forget that here in Thailand they are not getting Ipads they are getting Chinese android tablets that may or may not come from a decent manufacturer (Lenova maybe)

Edited February 19, 2012 by thaicbr

[BlackArtemis]

Many thanks. So that the normally miserly schools don't have to spend a satang on some item that hasn't yet been budgeted, I like the idea of pursuing the android/cell phone based clickers (depending on how much it costs the student to transmit a message).

One way around this is on the first day have students take out 1 sheet of paper and 4 Colored pencils (any colors, but they ALL must be the same) Have them fold the paper into quadrants and then have them write a big bubble letter A-D on each square in a designated color.

You can ask questions verbally, on a white/chalk board or if you are blessed enough via a powerpoint. Students can then hold up their choice. So if the letter is B and you see that the majority of kids have chosen it, you know they grasp that question or concept.

I first saw this done in my meterology class a year ago, but it can be done anywhere on the cheap.

[Fookhaht]

Many thanks. So that the normally miserly schools don't have to spend a satang on some item that hasn't yet been budgeted, I like the idea of pursuing the android/cell phone based clickers (depending on how much it costs the student to transmit a message).

One way around this is on the first day have students take out 1 sheet of paper and 4 Colored pencils (any colors, but they ALL must be the same) Have them fold the paper into quadrants and then have them write a big bubble letter A-D on each square in a designated color.

You can ask questions verbally, on a white/chalk board or if you are blessed enough via a powerpoint. Students can then hold up their choice. So if the letter is B and you see that the majority of kids have chosen it, you know they grasp that question or concept.

I first saw this done in my meterology class a year ago, but it can be done anywhere on the cheap.

I have a feeling you'd be great running a teaching methods seminar!

[sensei]

Thank you, BlackArtemis for the insightful feedback!

[Forkinhades]

Ipads are just computers so I don't understand why spend the extra money. As for computers in the classroom it is a part of the MOE mandidate. You are suppose to use technology and multi media in your lessons.

Yes, it might seem more fun to touch the screen than use a mouse or a keyboard but the have the same function. In fact I find the touch screens are actually slower to interface with when I am doing multiple things.

kids multitasking...........

[Xangsamhua]

Nanyang Girls High School in Singapore has been using i-Pads for a couple of years in English, Physics, Chinese and Music.

The videos below give a short and superficial introduction to what they are doing. You could get more information from the net: https://www.google.c...rls+high+i-Pads

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x_wS6v_ibc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzYI3cWPueM

Edited February 20, 2012 by Xangsamhua

[Ijustwannateach]

It's quite simple. If there is no way to get a tea money cut, it won't be Ipads that are bought.

[Somtamnication]

I use it in my classroom. All my flashcards, funny photos to teach adjectives and nouns are in it, my trusty paiboom (sp) English Thai dic, music to teach pronunciation, pics of Thai Bhuddist temples around the world (always a big hit), some funny apps for warm ups and rewards, etc etc etc.

Maybe 30% of my time is with the Ipad, the rest, all experience.

[tolstoy]

Again, why couldn't you do the same thing on the PC. I imagine that you are not having 30-50 students crowd around looking at your Ipad. So if it is hooked up to the projector, what would be different than having that on PC?

[BlackArtemis]

If you have a tablet, you can hook up WiDi to the projector and walk around with the tablet in hand. I would love to be able to do so, I could put the board in front of any kid. Also movig around is how I like to teach, it's easy to maintain control of a class if you are moving about rather than stationary at the front.

[Somtamnication]

Problem with a pc is the size and the laptop will need to be turned a lot to be of any use to the students.

I raise the ipad and show what I need to show. The classrooms have tvs, but often they do not work and the apple composite cables do not work well with tube tvs.

Essentially, I use it for portability sake. And the good ones get rewarded by playing Angry Birds for a few minutes. Win win.

[aaronious]

I'm the project manager for a pilot program integrating iPad use into all core subjects. I've based our program on successful programs abroad and took implementation advise from Apple Education specialists in Thailand, Singapore, and Australia. Not many teachers around are excited, capable, and geeky enough to effectively utilize tablets IN the classroom. Understandably, most of us aren't excited to leave our "whiteboard marker" comfort zone.

Plenty of other high-tier schools in Thailand are supplying iPads to students, but the buck stops there. What I hear from parents/teachers from these schools is that teachers aren't trained, there is no infrastructure, no program development, and so on. It's usually just a gimmick. "Hey we're cutting-edge 'cause we've got iPads".

There are 650,000 Apps, 90,000 Books available to download. How many are age/subject/language skill level suited for classroom learning in ESL / Bilingual schools? Probably less than 1%.

My answer was to create custom content for our students. By doing so, using iPads in class has yielded incredible results so far. I've designed interactive textbooks for Science and Health. I've published a resource center for other teachers including YouTube video trainings which demonstrate how to make content (ebooks, tests, presentations, gameshows, etc). I give in-class support to teachers to help them become comfortable and independent. I've published a parent resource center online to keep them involved and informed. I've gone all-out to ensure that our program has substance.

I can confidently tell you, it really enhances learning and student engagement if done correctly. But in most cases, schools throw iPads into the hands of unenthusiastic teachers, ordering "reinvent the wheel".

[Somtamnication]

Nice dreamy post, but it is impossible to do that in govt. schools. Too crowded, too corrupt and only Angry Bird works with these kids. (Which I used on my ipad to teach **throw throwing, hit hitting, bomb bombing, pull pulling".

And that was with my P6 class.

I would recommend not to teach with Angry Birds in the South, where the verb "bombing" will come up. Do not want to give ideas of birds dropping egg bombs or dressed as black birds and doing the suicide thingy taught in this app.

[aaronious]

It hasn't been possible yet in our top international schools and demonstration schools. Why would that be possible in gov schools? Gov school tablets are only useful to shield against spitballs. What would you expect?

[otherstuff1957]

I've let my students use their pads & smartphones on occasion, with mixed results. I usually rely on my laptop & the classroom projector, which I find much more useful. (I use a wireless mouse, so I can walk around the classroom & even let the students click answers & so on) One of the biggest problems with using the pads is that when a whole class logs onto a website, the internet slows to a crawl.

As I see it, pads of various kinds can be a useful tool for some lessons, but I don't see the technology there for them to be the main teaching tool.

On a side note, I looked into replacing my laptop with a tablet last year and, after a fair amount of research, I decided that my laptop was still more useful than a tablet. My android smartphone is great for reading books and playing games, but for work I still need my pc.

Edited October 20, 2012 by otherstuff1957