The Use of Technology in University Classrooms to Extent Are Smartphones and Tablets - Research Proposal Example

The use of technology in rooms to extent are smart phones and tablets useful room tools Date Abstract Due to the invention computers and the internet, there have been very many successive technological developments that have brought about other changes in different sectors of the economy. Technology can be viewed as a civilizing force through examining the changes that have occurred in the education sector. There has been a tremendous change in education in the manner in which information and instructions are passed from the tutor to the learner. This has been seen as the key approach towards the realization of the greatest benefits from education. This paper therefore looks deeply in educational technology in which reference has been given to the use of technology in class rooms. Introduction Due to the invention computers and the internet, there have been very many successive technological developments that have brought about other changes in different sectors of the economy. One of the most touched sectors is that of education. There has been a tremendous change in education in the manner in which information and instructions are passed from the tutor to the learner. This has been seen as the key approach towards the realization of the greatest benefits from education. However, there have been a number of issues that have to be addressed if the world is to meet these goals towards educational technology. This paper therefore looks deeply in educational technology. Survey Questions 1. Is the use technology in classroom helping learners? 2. What has been the result of adopting technology in classroom? 3. What is the future implication and use of technology in classroom? 4. When did the idea of technology (Tablets and smart phones) in school start? 5. What is the response of students towards smart phones and tablets? 6. What are the features of tablets and smart phones that make them adaptable to schools? 7. Is there a link between the application of technology in schools and students’ performance? 8. Why are tablets and smart phones superior to other similar products? 9. Are there economic benefits for the use of tablets and smart phones as compared to books? 10. If students were to choose between the use of smart phones and tablet, which option would win their favor? Literature Review Smart phones and tablets have several benefits whilst using them in classroom. For instance, tablets are considered to be more convenient due to their mobility as compared to personal computers. On the other hand, smart phones have various benefits, thus this makes them popular and ideal. As a matter of fact, smart phones contain multifunctional applications. It is worth noting that such multi-functionality enables smart phones to be for visual and audio communication. The idea of technology is not a new concept in school since in the 20th century, every major invention was supposed to have a kind of implication on schools. Many companies dealing with CD-ROMS, computers, televisions, and typewriters, among others, pledge their support to improve student’s performance via technology or any other means. For example, in the late 1980s, a great deal of cash went into computers to boost education in the dot.com boom. Over the years, technology has advanced in leaps and bounds such that what was unimaginable a couple of years ago is a norm today. This discussion seeks to explore the application of technology in schools with a special focus on smart-phones and tablets. Each and every day has been closer developments in education. The development of new technology has led to improved performances in education sectors. This has seen the third generation of education moving forth to the fourth generation which has been full of technological developments and better performances. Educational technology, which will as well be known as learning technology, has come this far. This is the study or ethical practice in which all aspects of learning are addressed in order to improve educational performances through the creation, management, and improvement of all technological procedures which are farther adopted for educational developments. This term, educational technology, has more often been attributed a closer association with learning theories and instructional theories. With this kind of technology, it should be agreed that education has been undergoing a number of key transformations. These transformations have been on constant improvement over the past years. The introduction of tablets in schools especially colleges can be traced back in 2010. Specifically, Apple’s iPad was introduced in April 2010 as CISCO (2010) indicates. The number of schools with access to tablets is huge with approximately 30 million units already sold to-date and about 20 million iPad OS-based applications bought. These findings are in accordance to CISCO (2010). Tablets have the ability to deliver a broad range of content as well as applications which support video and audio streaming. Other features include texts, social media and pictures which make them ideal for students. Advancement in technology and the increased accessibility are among the factors enabling a more personalized learning experience than any other method of teaching. It is not a surprise that, according to Blackboard K-12 (2012), many discussions in favor of tablets are also gaining momentum in smart phones. The increase in the accessibility to mobile gadgets by educators, students and parents is the reason behind the widespread use and acceptance of mobile gadgets in learning activities. The introduction of Smart phones can be dated back in 1992 whereby IBM produced the first smart phones on large scale. As Ozgur (2011) explains, these smart phones had a number of features such as calendars, calculators, email services, address book, and touch screen. In 1996, Nokia introduced a series of smart phones. Later on in 2000, Ericson brought to market the R380, which had features such as touch screen and foldable keyboard. According to Ozgur (2011), this was the first device to be called smart phone. In 2000, Blackberry, Ericsson P800 and Palm Treo appeared in the market. The latest devices had a QWERTY keyboard just like a personal computer. As the time went by, the Apple’s coveted iPhone come into existence with its excellent app store. As Dean (2012) notes, the popularity of smart phones can be deduced from the number of college students in possession of smart phones. In fact, smart phones are penetrating into colleges at a faster rate than the old feature phones. Studies reveal that 53% of all campus students in the US owns a smart phone and 47% of the have feature phones. These figures are in accordance with Dean (2012). As Dean (2012) notes, students prefer varieties of smart phones with iPhone topping in the list at 40%. Other brands of smart phones in the list include RIM Black-berry; Android based operating system phones and Windows operating system phones. As Dean (2012) reports, RIM Black-berry follows iPhone at 26% while Android and Windows based phones come next at 22% and 8% respectively. The popularity of tablets can be explained by the need for a convenient way of managing academic life. As Mahal (2008) explains, the use of tablets allows him to be more organized and productive than use of books. He observes that tablets make complex tasks easy with convenience. Again, tablets are more convenient in terms of mobility than personal computers. All these factors help to see why students consider the use of tablets in managing academic activities. The popularity of tablets is low as compared to smart phones among most university students. Smart phones have several advantages which make them ideal and popular. First, smart phones, according to Lefa_M (2011), have multifunctional features. This multi-functionality allows them to be used for both audio and visual communication. They have several app stores that support a number of programs. These programs make it possible to chat or do other activities that are not common with other phones. Huber (2013) observes that this aspect of multi-functionality is not only unique for smart phones but easy since one can write to friends and start a communication at any moment. Other feature based benefits of smart phones include: fast communication, excellent information sharing, flexibility, trendy, and high functionality. Another aspect of smart phones that makes them popular is facilitation of social media communication. One can easily link up with friends via Facebook, Twitter, Podcast, and MySpace among others. According to Lefa_M (2011), one can easily check out a menu, shop, bookmark a new site, and look up an address. Shopping has been made extremely easier by use of smart phones than ever before. Nowadays, people prefer to make payments by use of phones since this offers convenience and security. Krueger (2013) confirms that smart phones are just the right technology that offers this kind of service. With regard to e-business, smart phones enhance productivity through the ability to access the internet anywhere and at anytime. According to IT@Intel White Paper (2013), this aspect is particularly advantageous to people who do online marketing or foreign exchange. Methodology This section explores the benefits and challenges/disadvantages of Smart phones and tablets as applied to classroom. As Lefa_M (2011) puts it, smart phones have the ability to bring a revolution in e-commerce. This benefit is made possible by the ability of smart phones to capture clear pictures and videos. Clips that explain how a product is used are posted on the internet for consumers’ view. Marketers are usually attracted to this functionality of smart phones since the aim of any marketer is to make sure that consumers are fully aware of all aspects of their products. Therefore, smart phones offer the advantage video clip and pictures which can be utilized for the success of e-commerce Tablets also come with a package of benefits especially relevant to students. As Clarke (2012) notes, these benefits result from the inherent features in tablets. First, the screen sharing allows teachers with tablets relay content to students’ tablets who can in turn share content among themselves. This feature goes beyond screen shot because it is the real content being shared and not a static picture. Lastly, tablets help in high degree management of information pertaining students. According to Noono (2012), teachers can view or edit student details such as grades, class attendance and general data. The student management function allows the students access their own details, which reflects their progress. Students can then evaluate their overall performance in school for the purpose of planning. For instance, students may plan how they will improve on their academics from the information reflected on tablets. It is also important to note that tablets are relatively cheaper than some PCs. Apart from the above benefits, smart phone and tablets have a number of limitations. Like all other devices with internet connectivity functions, security threat is the major limitation. Many of these threats are similar to the ones that attack multi-purpose computing platforms such as desktops and notebooks. Smart phones malwares are presented as legitimate software which relies on the user to disregard the permission listing. As Husted (2011) cautions, some permissions requested are blatant warnings. For instance, the AdSMS malware is a premium-rate texts malware, which relies on such permissions. After installation, the application collects personal data from the user’s phone and then sends messages to global numbers. Findings and Discussion According to Dean (2012), the popularity of smart phones and tablets can be inferred from the number of student who owning them. As Dean (2012) explains, 53% of campus students in the US own a smart phone while 47% have feature phones. The following chart explains some of the functions found in smart phones The following graph illustrates the number of apps launched per day among students. As the graph shows, there has been an upward trend in the number of apps launched by students. According to Dean (2012), the values rise from 7.2 in 2010, 7.5 in 2011 to a peak of 7.9 in 2012 According to Husted (2011), the use of tablets with regard to various age brackets is as shown in the table below. Two major types of malware that have soiled the Android market are Droid Dream Light and Android Market. As Husted (2011) observes, Droid Dream hit the Android market in 2011 while Droid Dream Light came after about six months. Both malwares gain unpermitted access to personal data and are almost similar to the traditional Trojan. The problem of malware presents such a huge challenge since it can corrupt information stored in tablets and smart phones. Lastly, according to Mobile Enterprises (2012), smart phones and tablets can promote unhealthy academic behaviors such as cheating in exams. Students use smart phones especially to google answer when doing exams. Other students convert notes learned during class into PDF format and then save them into coded folders. During exams, they retrieve the PDF notes and copy the answers. However, there is a gap in research with regard to how tablets and smart phones have been used in academic dishonesty. Most researchers focus on the benefits of application of technology in schools but do not demonstrate how that technology is abused in classrooms. It is indeed a fact that most students use tablets and smart phones when cheating in exams. Educational or technological technology has been intended by the world as one of the appropriate ways through which education can be improved through the continued utilization and appreciation of technology. With this case, a student can be able to get the information and instructions posted by the tutor wherever he or she is around the world. This improves efficiency and makes it easier to provide the necessary information to all the students and learners wherever they may be. This has improved efficiency in the learning practice hence becoming a major benefit for the practice Conclusion In conclusion, smart phones and tablets have brought drastic changes in education. Smart phones command the largest portion of students in possession of such gadgets. Researchers note that the popularity of smart phones among many students is due to the availability of diverse applications. These applications make it possible for students and teachers to share contents. Again, teachers can monitor the academic progress of students in class through information stored in tablets. This information gives details regarding grades, term assignments and the general student portfolio. Effectively, teachers can identify students who need specialized attention in order to improve on grades. Studies have showed that the adoption of technology in schools has led to a remarkable improvement in students’ performance. Tablets and smart phones have a number of advantages as well as limitations but the benefits outweigh the limitations. Bibliography Communication Report 2011-12 Series. Smart Phones and tablets Take-up and Use in Australia. Retrieved from: http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/main/lib310665/report-3-smartphones-tablets-comms_report_11-12_series.pdf Blackboard K-12. Learning in the 21st Century: Mobile Devices + Social Media = Personalized Learning. Retrieved from: http://www.blackboard.com/resources/markets/k-12/collateral/project-tomorrow/K12_Prjct-Tmrw_Mbl-Rpt_2012.pdf Chicago and New York. Education Technology: Catching on at Last. 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