Ipad Case Study Essay

Abstract

This case study examined how to use one to one devices (in this case iPads) with a focussed group of year 3 students (aged 8 at the time of the study). These students were chosen according to their reading and writing ability levelled against the English National Curriculum.

The use of iPads in the school setting is new and a novelty. The approach employed was based on the idea that many students see using iPads as enjoyable and a privilege and enjoy the change that this may offer aside from the normal environment for the subject.

Aims and purpose of the study

Why Writing?

Improving achievement and progress in writing is a key part of our primary school development plan. At the end of year 2 and year 6, our reading results are significantly better than our writing results.

I had seen how motivated all students were to use this technology, many of them claiming that using the iPads didn’t feel like lessons at all. I decided it would be interesting to see whether using this technology could motivate my group of boys to write, as well as actually improve their achievement in writing.

I began to investigate research about using ICT to improve boys’ writing. I also investigated a number of Apps that could be used to help improve the skills areas that I had already identified in my focus groups’ writing.

Increasing the number of iPads in the school is also on our SDP as is increasing staff confidence in using them. I know from my own experience that technical difficulties either in the infrastructure of the school (Wi-Fi, app buying and sharing etc.) or in the classroom itself, is enough to put technology shy staff off of using it.

By trialling the use of the iPads in the classroom, I also aimed to investigate any technical issues that arose. These would be fed back to my head of school as well as our IT support team.

Questions at the beginning of the