laptop use in the classroom a preparation for the real world or a distraction from the real world?

“Maine is the only state in America with a one-to-one laptop program, and in recent years the program has become a model of social equity and access.”

(Coffi n, 2013, p. 68)

Laptop Use in the ClassroomA Preparation for the Real World

or

A Distraction from the Real World?

Laptops…

Real World Lesson

Science is technology

Increase Motivation and Engagement

Constant communication between students

Real World Distraction

Science is the natural world

Multitasking

Isolation

Laptops teach lessons about real world

science-Technology is part of science in the modern day (Bell and Bull, 2012)

-Laptops provide real world workplace training (Rafool, 2012)

Some Technologies

ExcelGIS(Becklin, 2013)

Laptops distract from the natural science

-Time with laptops takes away from…

-Time outside (exploring trees, animals, nature, rocks, astronomy, and the natural world).-Time with hands on labs-Field research

Laptops and technology increase students’ motivation

and engagement.

Research has proven that technology helps engage and motivate students in the classroom. (Rafool, et. al, 2012), (Jackson, 2012)

(One to One Institute, 2013)

Continued…

-Promotes student centered, inquiry based learning (Bull and Bell), (Wright, 2011), (Rafool, et. al, 2012)

-Helps students learn skills and concepts in a different method (Bull and Bell) (Wright, 2011)

(One to One Institude, 2013)

“Most importantly, the level of laptop use was negatively related to several measures of student learning, including self-reported understanding of course material and overall course performance. The practical implications of these findings are discussed.” (Fried, 2008)

Short term memory limited and students are multitasking. (Thagard, 2010)

Laptops distract students from the

lessons.

Laptops promote constant communication (just like the real

world).

Facebook

Blogs

Email

Skype, iChat, and videochat

The cloud

Laptops distract students from personal communication. Active Learning needs full communication

Discussions.

Computer can isolate

(Stone, 2011)

A Review…Laptops

Real World Lesson Real World Distraction

Science is technology

Increase Motivation and Engagement

Constant communication between students

Science is the natural world

Multitasking

Isolation

What does this mean for the classroom?

Teachers must use laptops as tools not lessons (Hammonds, Matherson, Wilson, Wright, 2013)

Close the gap between the real world and the classroom (Rafool, et al., 2012).

Balance time with and without laptops.

We, as teachers, need to catch up to students in our understanding of technology.

Resources

Becklin, E. (2013). Analysis to Support Conservation Research and consulting. Retrieved from pdfdownload.aws.af.com.

Bull, G., & Bell, R. (2012). Educational Technology in the Science Classroom. In Technology in the Secondary Classroom

(Chapter One). Retrieved from http://learningcenter.nsta.org/files/ PB217X-1.pdf.

Coffin, J. (2013, April). The New Digital Citizens. Maine, 66-72.

Fried, C.B. (2013). In Class Laptop use and its effect on student learning . Computers and Education, 50 (3), 206-914.

Hammoonds, L., Matherson, L., Wilson, E., & Wright, V. (2013). Gateway Tools: Five Tools to Allow Teachers to

Overcome Barriers to Technology Integration. The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 80 (1), 36-40.

Resources ctd.

Jackson, L. D. (2012). Is Mobile Technology in the Classroom a Helpful Tool or a Distraction. International Journal of Technology, Knowledge, and Society, 8 (5), 129-140.

One to One Institute. (2013). Why one to one (Images). Retrieved from http:// www.one-to-oneinstitute.org/index.php?/becoming-a-one-to-one/why-one-to- one/

Rafool, B., Sullivan, E., & Al-Bataineh, A. (2012). Integrating Technology into the Classroom. International Journal of Technology, Knowledge, and Society, 8 (1), 57-71.

Stone, M. (2011, June 1). 1,100 plus celebrate MLTI at Umaine. Retrieved from http:// mainedoenews.net/2011/06/01/celebrate-mlti/

Thagard, P. (2010). Banning Laptops in Classrooms. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com /blog/hot-thought/201007/banning-laptops-

in- classrooms-0.

Wright, S. (2011). Life in Inquiry Driven, Technology-Embedded, Connected Classroom: Science. Retrieved from: http://plpnetwork.com/2011/11/04/life-in-a- technology-embedded-classroom-science2/.