The Challenges of Integrating Mobile Technology in the Classroom Examining an iPad Professional Development Project

Michael K. Barbour*, Tamme Quinn Grzebyk**, Michael M. Grant***, Jason Siko****
* Associate Professor, Instructional Design, College of Education and Health Sciences, Touro University, California, USA.
** Senior Lecturer, Department of Management, Mike Ilitch School of Business, Wayne State University, USA.
*** Assistant Professor, Educational Technology Program, University of South Carolina, USA.
**** Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Technology, Grand Valley State University, USA.
Periodicity:December - February'2017
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jsch.12.3.10386

Abstract

The iPad is a tool that could change the way in which teachers prepare and deliver instruction in the K-12 environment. But, while proponents tout its capabilities, school administrators run the risk of purchasing yet another tool without understanding its potential impacts on the teacher, students, and classroom environment. This study used iPads to implement a four-month professional development program aimed at helping teachers integrate technology into their classrooms. The iPads were deployed to classroom teachers in the science department at a suburban high school. Professional development was tailored to the teachers' interests, and was followed by individual interviews by the project leader. Results of the study showed that while teachers are open to new technologies, their focus is more on teaching considerations than on professional development. The study also indicated that teachers have difficulty considering incorporating a single device into a classroom of multiple students. It is recommended that this study be replicated, without the technical problems, on a larger scale and in subject areas beyond the sciences.

Keywords

Teacher Professional Development, Technology Integration, Mobile Technology, Tablet Computers, iPads.

How to Cite this Article?

Barbour, M.K., Grzebyk T.Q., Grant, M.M., and Siko, J., (2017). The Challenges of Integrating Mobile Technology in the Classroom Examining an Ipad Professional Development Project. i-manager’s Journal on School Educational Technology, 12(3), 22-33. https://doi.org/10.26634/jsch.12.3.10386

References

[1]. Al-Mashaqbeh, I., and Al Shurman, M. (2015). “The adoption of tablet and e-textbooks: First grade core curriculum and school administration attitude”. Journal of Education and Practice, Vol. 6, No. 21, pp. 188–194.
[2]. Bar, F., Weber, and M.S., Pisani, F. (2016). “Mobile technology appropriation in a distant mirror: Baroquization, creolization, and cannibalism”. New Media & Society, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 617–636. Retrieved from http://doi.org/ 10.1177/1461444816629474
[3]. Barbour, M., and Quinn Grzebyk, T. (2014). “iPads for teachers? The challenges of integrating technology in the classroom”. In M. Searson & M. Ochoa (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2014, pp. 1628-1632. Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.
[4]. Bogdan, R., and Biklen, S.K. (2007). Qualitative th Research for Education, 5 edition. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
[5]. Brinkerhoff, J. (2006). “Effects of a long- duration, professional development academy on technology skills, computer self-efficacy, and technology integration beliefs and practices”. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 22-43.
[6]. Burden, K., Hopkins, P., Male, T., Martin, S., and Trala, C. (2012). iPad Scotland Evaluation. East Yorkshire, England. Retrieved from http://www.janhylen.se/wp-content/uploads /2013/01/Skottland.pdf
[7]. Cole, K., Simkins, M., and Penuel, W.R. (2002). “Learning to teach with technology: Strategies for inservice professional development”. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 431-455.
[8]. Davies, R.S., and West, R.E. (2014). “Technology integration in schools”. In J. M. Spector, M. D. Merrill, J. Elen, & M.J. Bishop (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Educational th Communications and Technology, 5 ed., pp. 841–853, New York: Springer.
[9]. Desimone, L.M., Porter, A.C., Garet, M.S., Yoon, K.S., and Birman, B.F. (2002). “Effects of professional development on teachers' instruction: Results from a threeyear longitudinal study”. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 81-112.
[10]. Du Four, R., Eaker, R., and Du Four, R., (2005). On Common Ground: The Power of Professional Learning Communities. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.
[11]. Ertmer, P. A. (1999). “Addressing first- and second-order barriers to change: Strategies for technology integration”. Educational Technology Research and Development, Vol. 47, No. 4, pp. 47–61.
[12]. Ertmer, P.A., and Ottenbreit-Leftwich, A.T. (2010). “Teacher technology change: How knowledge, confidence, beliefs, and culture intersect”. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 255–285.
[13]. Ferlander, K. (2012). 21st Century Technology in the Classroom: Ten Elementary Schools doing it right. Retrieved from http://www.online schools.com/blog/21stcentury- technology-in-the-classroom-ten-elementaryschools- doing-it-right
[14]. Franklin, T. (2011). “Mobile learning: At the tipping point”. Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 261–275.
[15]. Garet, M., Porter, A., Desimone, L., Briman, B., and Yoon, K. (2001). “What makes professional development effective? Analysis of a national sample of teachers”. American Educational Research Journal, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 915-945.
[16]. Gleason, B.J. (2012). “The unlimited textbook - Schools in the age of the e-book”. Paper presented at the International Conference on Technology and Business Management. Retrieved from http://www.ictbm.org/ ictbm12/ICTBM12CD/pdf/D2018-done.pdf
[17]. Grant, M. M. (2015). “Using mobile devices to support formal, informal & semi-formal learning: Uses and implications for teaching & learning”. In X. Ge, M. Spector & D. Ifenthaler (Eds.), Full Steam Ahead: Emerging Technologies for STEAM, pp. 157-178. New York, NY: Springer.
[18]. Grant, M.M., and Barbour, M.K. (2013). “Mobile teaching and learning in the classroom and online: Case studies in K-12”. In Z. Berge & L. Muilenburg (Eds.), Handbook of Mobile Learning, pp. 285–292. New York: Routledge.
[19]. Grant, M.M., Tamim, S.R., Brown, D.B., Sweeney, J.P., Ferguson, and F.K., Jones, L.B. (2015). “Teaching and learning with mobile computing devices: Case study in K- 12 classrooms”. TechTrends, Vol. 59, No. 4, pp. 32–45.
[20]. Greenberg, S. (2010). iPods for Kids: Touch-screen Devices a helpful Resource for Learning, Fun. Memphis, TN: The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved from http://www. commercialappeal.com/news/2010/dec/16/ipods-forkids/
[21]. Heck, D.J., Banilower, E.R., Weiss, I.R., and Rosenberg, S.L. (2008). “Studying the effects of professional development: The case of the NSF's local systemic change through teacher enhancement initiative”. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 113-152.
[22]. Hew, K.F., and Brush, T., (2007). “Integrating technology into K-12 teaching and learning: Current knowledge gaps and recommendations for future research”. Educational Technology Research and Development, Vol. 55, No. 3, pp. 223-252.
[23]. Howland, J., and Wedman, J. (2004). “A process model for faculty development: Individualizing technology learning”. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 239-263.
[24]. Hu, W. (2011). “Math that moves: Schools embrace the iPad”. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www. pearsonschool.com/drm/2010/ipadpilot/NY_Times_iPad_s tory_1-4-11.pdf
[25]. Johnson, L., Adams Becker, S., Cummins, M., Estrada V., Freeman, A., and Ludgate, H. (2013). NMC Horizon Report: 2013 K-12 Edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.
[26]. Kearney, M., Burden, K., and Rai, T., (2015). “Investigating teachers' adoption of signature mobile pedagogies”. Computers & Education, Vol. 80, pp. 48–57. Retrieved from http://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu. 2014.08.009
[27]. Kiger, D., Herro, D., and Prunty, D., (2012). “Examining the influence of a mobile learning intervention on third grade math achievement”. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 61-82.
[28]. Lawless, K.A., and Pellegrino, J.W. (2007). “Professional development in integrating technology into teaching and learning: Knowns, unknowns, and ways to pursue better questions and answers”. Review of Educational Research, Vol. 77, No. 4, pp. 575-614.
[29]. Mama, and M., Hennessy, S., (2013). “Developing a typology of teacher beliefs and practices concerning classroom use of ICT”. Computers & Education, Vol. 68, No. 10, pp. 380-387.
[30]. Mcfarlane, C. (2013). “iPads and their potential to revolutionize learning”. In J. Herrington, A. Couros, & V. Irvine (Eds.), World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications, 2013, pp. 1690–1695, Waynesville, NC: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education. Retrieved from https://www.editlib.org/p/112193/proceeding_112193.pdf
[31]. Mouza, C. (2002-2003). “Learning to teach with new technology: Implications for professional development”. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 272-289.
[32]. Ostashewski, N., Reid, D., and Ostashewski, M. (2011). “The iPad as mobile teaching device: Multimedia database access in a classroom context”. In Proceedings of Global TIME, 2011, (pp. 49-53). Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.
[33]. Parry, D. (2010). “The iPad and higher education”. The Chronicle of Higher Education: Profhacker. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/the-ipadhighereducation/ 22960
[34]. Penuel, W., Fishman, B., Yamaguchi, R., and Gallagher, L., (2007). “What makes professional development effective? Strategies that foster curriculum implementation”. American Educational Research Journal, Vol. 44, No. 4, pp. 921-958.
[35]. Petko, D. (2012). “Teachers' pedagogical beliefs and their use of digital media in classrooms: Sharpening the focus of the 'will, skill, tool' model and integrating teachers' constructivist orientations”. Computers & Education, Vol. 58, No. 4, pp. 1351-1359.
[36]. Polly, D., and Hannafin, M.J. (2010). “Reexamining technology's role in learner-centered professional development”. Educational Technology Research and Development, Vol. 58, No. 5, pp. 557-571.
[37]. Polly, D., Mims, C., Shepherd, C.E., and Inan, F., (2010). “Evidence of impact: An analysis of the influence of PT3 Projects designed to transform methods courses and field experiences”. Teaching and Teacher Education, Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 863-870.
[38]. Project Tomorrow, (2015). Digital learning 24/7: Understanding technology-enhanced learning in the lives of today's student. Irvine, CA: Author. Retrieved from http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/SU14DigitalLearning24- 7_StudentReport.html
[39]. Rogers, D. (2000). “A paradigm shift: Technology integration for higher education in the new millennium”. AACE Journal, Vol. 1, No. 13, pp. 19-33.
[40]. Roschelle, J.M., Pea, R.D., Hoadley, C.M., Gordin, D.N., and Means, B.M. (2000). “Changing how and what children learn in school with computer-based technologies”. The Future of Children, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 76–101.
[41]. Scribner, J.P. (1999). “Professional development: Untangling the influence of work context on teacher learning”. Educational Administration Quarterly, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 238-266.
[42]. Silvernail, D.L., and Lane, D.M.M. (2004). The Impact of Maine's one-to-one Laptop Program on Middle School Teachers and Students: Phase One Summary Evidence. Portland, ME: Maine Education Policy Research Institute, University of Southern Maine Office.
[43]. Stake, R.E. (1995). The Art of Case Study Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
[44]. Vaala, S., Ly, A., and Levine, M.H. (2015). “Getting a read on the app stores: A market scan and analysis of children's literacy apps”. New York: The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop.
[45]. Van Es, E.A., and Sherin, M.G. (2008). “Mathematics teachers' ‘learning to notice’ in the context of a video club”. Teaching and Teacher Education, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 244–276
[46]. Vescio, V., Ross, D., and Adams, A. (2006). “A review of research on professional learning communities: What do we know?” NSRF Research Forum, pp. 1-37.
[47]. White, T., and Martin, L. (2014). “Mathematics and mobile learning”. TechTrends, Vol. 58, No. 1, pp. 64–70.
[48]. Wilkerson, M.H., Andrews, C., Shaban, Y., Laina, V., and Gravel, B.E. (2016). “What's the technology for? Teacher attention and pedagogical goals in a modelingfocused professional development workshop”. Journal of Science Teacher Education, Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 11-33.
If you have access to this article please login to view the article or kindly login to purchase the article

Purchase Instant Access

Single Article

North Americas,UK,
Middle East,Europe
India Rest of world
USD EUR INR USD-ROW
Pdf 35 35 200 20
Online 35 35 200 15
Pdf & Online 35 35 400 25

Options for accessing this content:
  • If you would like institutional access to this content, please recommend the title to your librarian.
    Library Recommendation Form
  • If you already have i-manager's user account: Login above and proceed to purchase the article.
  • New Users: Please register, then proceed to purchase the article.