Discussion #2: learning curve
The iPad’s portability could be a huge benefit for my context, but at the moment there are some prohibitive barriers.
The materials I develop support the people in a volunteer network across the province. If our outreach and liaison workers had access to iPads to share our learning resources when they were meeting with people in the field, I think that could be convenient, a great way to support the volunteers, and also an excellent way to support people using a new kind of tool.
Some of the challenges I would see with this would be ensuring that all materials we developed functioned on both the traditional computer and the iPad, since many of our volunteers do not have iPads (or other touch-screen devices). While I think the potential of touchscreen technologies for education is huge, I have yet to design anything for that environment and think the learning curve and testing required could be time-consuming. If you’re going to really take advantage of this kind of technology, I’m sure there’s a lot to learn about the kinds of interactions it supports, how people prefer to interact with it, not to mention the technical specifications.
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Deb Giesbrecht 6:35 pm on November 2, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for your post. In the situation you describe, I would wonder if an ‘all or nothing’ rule would apply. Everyone receives an ipad or all lean towards another device. Many devices support many applications in an attempt for universality, however, when you are creating something that is cross-cultural, applicable to 80% of the users and their preferences – there lies the challenge.
We do a lot of software development in the company in which I work and you are right – the testing required is not only time consuming, but can be all encompassing, especially when it does not work. We do more testing than most organizations related to the fact that patient safety is at risk, and therefore we need to ensure accuracy and reliability.
I would really like to see in the future apps shared amongst educators that are applicable to the many versus the few. Along with lesson plans and real success stories would assist to open the market for the ipad uses – although I really do not think Apple is hurting due to lack of sales!
Everton Walker 2:05 am on November 3, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Andrea,
I understand your concerns and share similar sentiments about the challenges involve. This is why I think it will take some time before ipads can make a game-changing impact on education. It’s not all about dumping some ipads in the respective departments and think they will work magic. The process requires a lot of thought and applications and training.
Everton
andrea 11:14 am on November 3, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Everton, your point that “It’s not all about dumping some ipads in the respective departments and think they will work magic” is such an important one. This applies to this week’s question about ‘is the iPad a game-changer’ – it can be if the applications, tools, and activities involved are educationally useful, but many technologies have been touted as such and failed to really deliver meaningful change.
Kristopher 12:31 pm on November 3, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Andrea,
I have the exact same situation– while our training partners are still paid, it is considerably difficult to insist on a specific piece of technology. Much worse is to not make it available for those that don’t prescribe.
I think the key for us is wikis and online information that is accessible with anything that gets you on the net. What do you think? Do you think there will always be a regular and a mobile version or websites?
Kristopher
Angela Novoa 6:52 am on November 4, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Andrea, thanks for sharing your ideas. These discussion kept my attention regarding to what do we expect of a technology when integrating it in our practices. As Everton mentioned “It’s not all about dumping some ipads in the respective departments and think the will work magic”. This phrase made think that it is not technology what will produce changes in education. It is the way in which we use technologies. So there must be some thinking, planning and assessing behind the integration of iPads or any other device. Does this make sense?
In response to Kristopher, iPad is a device that allows to work through different apps and also allows to work through Internet. So iPads (and other devices) could be conceived as complementary devices for the use of any Web 2.0 tool.
Angela.