Emerging Classroom Technology - Research Paper Example

TABLET COMPUTING FOR HGH SCHOOL Following the rapidly increasing level of wits concerning science and technology, there have been suggestions concerning channeling the same technologies to the education sector too. Some of these technologies may include Mobile Apps, Tablet Computing and Game- based learning. This paper will majorly focus on Tablet computing and its implementation in the high schools in the next five years. (Keywords: Tablet, Tablet computing) Emerging Classroom Technology It is true to note that the 21st century has brought numerous innovations in the scientific and technological field that could be applied to different aspects of life in an attempt to simplify and modify the already existing ways of performing certain tasks today. One clear and concise field this has been exhibited is in the education sector where digitalization has been seen taking over the previously existing means of offering learning services in school settings. Some levels of instructions like the higher education may be slightly ahead of the others (elementary, secondary and high schools) in instilling and embracing such technology. Students today love to study anywhere, anytime and not to be restricted to being in the classrooms at all times to obtain some resources that technology can bring closer to them (Adams and Cummins 2012, pg 6). Tablet computing for high school What is a tablet? By description, a tablet is a kind of laptop, much smaller in size but slightly bigger than a mobile phone, and it uses its touch screen for data input. Computing refers to the action of feeding data to a computer. Tablet computing, therefore, refers to the action of manipulating, entering and retrieval of useful of useful information from the tablet. The use of tablets in the classroom setting can be a critical and efficient technique as students pursue education. Owing to the fact that the tablets are portable, have an extensive display and easier input of data, these appliances are absolutely what people will have to look out for in the next five years especially in the high schools, targeting the adventurous teenagers (Rouse Margaret, July 2014). Relevance of the tablets in high school learning There are many learning activities that may use tablet computing for more efficient learning, examples; In the medicine-related subjects like Biology, students can conduct studies on bones just by zooming in and out the input high-quality images unlike taking a whole high school class for an unnecessary trip to a medical school. In the case of an educational field trip, the students can take pictures of some of the principal physical sources of information they would not want to forget. They can later view these images of high quality anywhere and anytime without necessarily having to travel back to the fields. The high school students too will enjoy live recording of the lectures in the next five years lest this technology is implemented. The students can watch some of the captured important steps a lecturer may be explaining, for instance, in a chemistry practical class where steps are important for scoring marks. Repeatedly watching these video clips can be more enjoyable and an easy to remember method of ideas. The tablet can also be useful when it comes to storage of books. It has enough storage space that can store a large number of written and published books alike within just an A4 size machine. All the books in a high school student’s bag can be compressed into the tablet thus enhancing efficiency in portability. Instead of dragging along tens of textbooks in the bags that can prove futile carrying, the textbooks in a tablet will undoubtedly be of great help to the high school students too alike. The tablet also allows for fast web browsing which will assist the high school students in accessing some extra information not mentioned in the classrooms. They will be able to browse easily for useful information on the internet and learn from them. Currently, internet is a rich source for educational material. It provides books, journal and articles in electrical form, which student across the universe can share and engage in useful debates. Taking of notes will be a very easier task in the classrooms when this technology is embraced. The students will be able to type these notes and keep them safely in the tablets where they can be read and accessed anytime and anywhere, even in the bus on the way home. In addition to the modification, the notes will be able to be taken by the students’ handwriting by use of digital ink on the same tablet without the students worrying of filling up of book pages (VirginiaTech). Teachers too, on the other hand, will enjoy easier work when teaching the high school students. Writing on the board will have been outdated at the time as teachers will just have to type the intended message and turn on sharing with all the other students in his class instead of the hectic writing and erasing on the board. The teacher’s burden of books will also have been lightened as they will be able to condense all their notes in a single tablet rather than tagging along numerous books in each class they teach. There are apps in the tablets that also encourage creativity in students. Software applications provide an easy platform to complete tasks. Thus, the students would have extra time to complete other constructive ideas. In addition to this relevance of the tablet, it will also enable easier submission of non- papered assignments. In five years time, most assignments will be required in soft copy form this will be aided by the tablets, as the articles will be able to be prepared one time through the tablets (Adams and Cummins 2012, pg 14-18). Advantages of tablet computing Tablet computing will see a significant improvement in the learning criteria of the high schools in the in the next five years if this move is embraced. The tablet touch interface for data entry is user-friendly and interesting to use to the learners and the high school teachers. Its portability greatly proves as an upper hand in the lifestyles of the current youths. The students can take with them their ‘books’ wherever they please and retrieve the information anywhere. The tablets would make the student learning interesting to the students since youths enjoy interacting with these technological appliances. Many apps are created every year, apps that make learning much more enjoyable too. Some games that promote critical thinking come with the apps too. Some tablets are also solar rechargeable thus can be efficient even in the reserves where electricity may not be in reach of by the students (College of engineering, 2014). Disadvantages of tablet computing in education However, it cannot go unnoticed that there are some disadvantages that will have to be rectified in the tablet computing in an attempt to make this service more useful for both students and teachers alike. These rectifications take place within a span of 5 years to see to it that the tablet learning is fully functional. The entertainment that the tablets possess may distract the students during the class times and they may find themselves playing unnecessary games in class or even hanging around in social media instead of focussing their potential energy to their teachers. The tablets also are not yet modified to multitasking like the computer where several windows or files can be opened simultaneous. This can slow down teaching process especially when the tablet hangs. Another limitation of these tablets is the fact that they rely on batteries, hence when one runs short of battery, automatically his lesson will have been disrupted. In an attempt to fix this, most schools will have to direct electricity to each student’s desk where one can get sufficient electric energy to take one through the whole academic day with the tablet. In addition to these, the prices of these tablets are not so friendly in as much as they are becoming more accessible. When damaged, it can prove quite futile repairing them thus school will have to be ready for a substantial degree of investment in purchasing and running maintenance of the same. It cannot be assumed that all teachers at this stage are in a position to use these devices comfortably. Due to this, training will require all the teachers over time such that in five years, uniformity will cut across all high schools teachers and no claim of other teachers using better resources. Lastly, not all the syllabus textbooks are available in soft copies for use by students and teachers. Over time, this should be improved on to ensure such resources can be accessed by each student (Smith, 2014). Conclusion It therefore goes without saying that tablet computing is one of the technologies that when incorporated in high school learning, could prove as a very effective tool. In as much as there could be challenges slowing this move, when these challenges are keenly observed and rectified in the next five years, then we would see a very digital generation. This should not just stop at the high school level, most effectiveness would be witnessed if it is brought down further to elementary and primary levels though this could take slightly a longer extra time. References College of Engineering “The Benefits of using a tablet” Retrieved from http://www.eng.vt.edu/it/tabletbenefits Johnson, L., Adams, S., and Cummins, M. (2012) The NMC Horizon Report: 2012 Higher Education Edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium. Kelly Smith. June 14 2014. Tab Times. “Tablet use in primary schools: the benefits and the downsides” Retrieved from http://tabtimes.com/analysis/education/2014/06/14/tablet-use-primary-schools-benefits-and-downsides Rouse Margaret. July 2014. Essential Guide “ Tablet (tablet PC) Retrieved from http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/tablet-PC Read More