Westmont College
Academic Technology Faculty Pilot Projects
MOBILE WRITERS: iPAD MINI EUROPE SEMESTER PROJECT
GOING MOBILE:
Mobile Media Technologies and their Impact on Academic
Collaboration Beyond the Walls of the Classroom
Mobile Media Technologies and their Impact on Academic
Collaboration Beyond the Walls of the Classroom
What action can I take to discover the impact of mobile media technologies on academic collaboration and communication beyond the walls of the classroom?
GOAL: The purpose of this action research project is to discover the effect of mobile media technologies on the learning thought of as "informal", that happens in the spaces and times outside of the classroom. Current research has shown that the use of mobile media tools have begun to change our understanding of place. It is possible that this change can be leveraged by schools to incorporate the academic collaboration and knowledge building that happens beyond the walls of the classroom into the students' "formal" learning environment. The impact that mobile media technologies have in this space is the focus of this action research project.
ACTION:
I helped a group of professors and their students strategize and implement the use of specific mobile media technologies (iPad Mini tablets) and related software (Pages, Maps With Me, Kindle) for their academic collaboration in the field on a four month Europe semester, study abroad program. The tablets were integrated into the syllabi for the courses, encouraging student's use of these tools to capture and reflect on their learning experiences in the places they visited (Athens, Rome, London ) and bring that documentation back to the group to share and collaborate. The hypothesis was that the use of these mobile media tools would enhance the students' experience "in country" and effectively enable their communication and collaboration without regard to place or time.
I researched and helped implement the use of Apple iPad mini tablets for a traveling group of 35 students and professor in a Westmont College off campus, travel abroad program. Word processors were vetted, deciding upon Pages for the student writing assignments and course reflections. Students used these tools in place of books, laptops and paper journals. In each location of their course of study, students used the iPad minis to collect evidence of their learning using text, audio, sketches and photographs to describe their experiences and aid in the knowledge they were building together. Read the project proposal page. ...
RESEARCH QUESTION
If iPad mini tablets are set up for a study abroad class as their primary tools for reading, writing and collaborating, how will the use of these mobile media technologies impact academic collaboration beyond the walls of the classroom?
EVIDENCE USED TO EVALUATE THE ACTION
A set of online survey questions was given to the students and professors. The poll was collected one and half months into the program. This allowed the students and professors to reach a certain level of comfortability with these new tools and their academic application. The responses from this survey poll were put into a spreadsheet and analyzed for common themes and compared to research data from previous cycles of research. The survey included a mix a multiple choice questions and essay questions to allow participants to fully express their thoughts and ideas from this experience in integrating these mobile media tools into their global learning environment.
EVALUATION
Students on this educational trip in the past have taken over 25 pounds of books, laptops and cameras in support of their experience "in country." On this semester abroad, the students and professors were able to pack all of their reading needs in their coat pockets. The convenient size and mobility of the iPad mini allowed students to always have their learning tools with them as they focused on immersing themselves in the country and culture where they were located. The data in this cycle report was taken from student feedback on their educational experience.
The poll responses from the students and professors in this research project, documented their experience with this technology integration. Writing, reading, researching and collaborating wherever they were on their travels allowed their academic work to not be bound to any one physical space. As a result, the students responded that there was a greater freedom to interact with and reflect upon their experiences in this culture different than their own. With a more open access to technology use, these students found that their technology use enhanced their experience "in country". The survey responses point to a similar theme seen throughout the previous cycles of this research with regard to the importance of strategic use of technology. When properly planned and implemented, academic technology can be a helpful tool in expanding student learning beyond the walls of the classroom. While mobile media technologies are simply tools and not solutions in and of themselves, this research supports the potential their inclusion can provide in formal and informal learning environments. Read the full report
ACTION:
I helped a group of professors and their students strategize and implement the use of specific mobile media technologies (iPad Mini tablets) and related software (Pages, Maps With Me, Kindle) for their academic collaboration in the field on a four month Europe semester, study abroad program. The tablets were integrated into the syllabi for the courses, encouraging student's use of these tools to capture and reflect on their learning experiences in the places they visited (Athens, Rome, London ) and bring that documentation back to the group to share and collaborate. The hypothesis was that the use of these mobile media tools would enhance the students' experience "in country" and effectively enable their communication and collaboration without regard to place or time.
I researched and helped implement the use of Apple iPad mini tablets for a traveling group of 35 students and professor in a Westmont College off campus, travel abroad program. Word processors were vetted, deciding upon Pages for the student writing assignments and course reflections. Students used these tools in place of books, laptops and paper journals. In each location of their course of study, students used the iPad minis to collect evidence of their learning using text, audio, sketches and photographs to describe their experiences and aid in the knowledge they were building together. Read the project proposal page. ...
RESEARCH QUESTION
If iPad mini tablets are set up for a study abroad class as their primary tools for reading, writing and collaborating, how will the use of these mobile media technologies impact academic collaboration beyond the walls of the classroom?
EVIDENCE USED TO EVALUATE THE ACTION
A set of online survey questions was given to the students and professors. The poll was collected one and half months into the program. This allowed the students and professors to reach a certain level of comfortability with these new tools and their academic application. The responses from this survey poll were put into a spreadsheet and analyzed for common themes and compared to research data from previous cycles of research. The survey included a mix a multiple choice questions and essay questions to allow participants to fully express their thoughts and ideas from this experience in integrating these mobile media tools into their global learning environment.
EVALUATION
Students on this educational trip in the past have taken over 25 pounds of books, laptops and cameras in support of their experience "in country." On this semester abroad, the students and professors were able to pack all of their reading needs in their coat pockets. The convenient size and mobility of the iPad mini allowed students to always have their learning tools with them as they focused on immersing themselves in the country and culture where they were located. The data in this cycle report was taken from student feedback on their educational experience.
The poll responses from the students and professors in this research project, documented their experience with this technology integration. Writing, reading, researching and collaborating wherever they were on their travels allowed their academic work to not be bound to any one physical space. As a result, the students responded that there was a greater freedom to interact with and reflect upon their experiences in this culture different than their own. With a more open access to technology use, these students found that their technology use enhanced their experience "in country". The survey responses point to a similar theme seen throughout the previous cycles of this research with regard to the importance of strategic use of technology. When properly planned and implemented, academic technology can be a helpful tool in expanding student learning beyond the walls of the classroom. While mobile media technologies are simply tools and not solutions in and of themselves, this research supports the potential their inclusion can provide in formal and informal learning environments. Read the full report
PILOT PARTNER REFLECTIONS
My experience collaborating with Doug and Jeff was very positive in two in two main respects: the tone and attitude of the collaboration and the substantive technical help I was offered.
As regards to tone, when I first approached Doug and Jeff with the idea (using iPad minis as the hub for all academic work on Europe Semester) I was concerned that they would see this project as "extra" work added on top of their already-busy role in the life of the college. What I discovered was quite the opposite. Throughout months of working together in a cycle of brainstorming, research, testing, and problem-solving, this project was never treated as a bother but was clearly prioritized and valued. I encountered real enthusiasm from the Doug and Jeff, who regularly reiterated to me how much they welcomed being approached for new ways of supporting the academic program.
In terms of technical help, I brought a number of questions to the Doug and Jeff-some general, some very specific. They were indispensable in figuring out how to clear the obstacles that I came up against. They took time to educate me in where I needed to learn more and provided me with additional hardware (some of which I didn't even know existed) that was needed to make the project work smoothly and reliably.
The upshot of all of this is that the students' experience of off-campus learning on Europe semester was significantly enhanced by the iPad minis. Doug and Jeff were a very important part of making that happen and it was a pleasure to partner with them.
My experience collaborating with Doug and Jeff was very positive in two in two main respects: the tone and attitude of the collaboration and the substantive technical help I was offered.
As regards to tone, when I first approached Doug and Jeff with the idea (using iPad minis as the hub for all academic work on Europe Semester) I was concerned that they would see this project as "extra" work added on top of their already-busy role in the life of the college. What I discovered was quite the opposite. Throughout months of working together in a cycle of brainstorming, research, testing, and problem-solving, this project was never treated as a bother but was clearly prioritized and valued. I encountered real enthusiasm from the Doug and Jeff, who regularly reiterated to me how much they welcomed being approached for new ways of supporting the academic program.
In terms of technical help, I brought a number of questions to the Doug and Jeff-some general, some very specific. They were indispensable in figuring out how to clear the obstacles that I came up against. They took time to educate me in where I needed to learn more and provided me with additional hardware (some of which I didn't even know existed) that was needed to make the project work smoothly and reliably.
The upshot of all of this is that the students' experience of off-campus learning on Europe semester was significantly enhanced by the iPad minis. Doug and Jeff were a very important part of making that happen and it was a pleasure to partner with them.