Findings and recommendations from an action research project where 6 tutors in a large FE college have worked together to experiment with a class set of iPads

1. Action Research using iPads:
Findings
Cathy Clarkson
Kirklees College

2. What can a group of tutors learn from
each other in making effective use of
mobile technologies with their
students…
• Support from & discussion with colleagues is
invaluable
• Sometimes there are so many ideas it’s
overwhelming and difficult to know where to
start
• We need technical skills and confidence &
pedagogical skills and confidence

3. What can a group of tutors learn from
each other in making effective use of
mobile technologies with their
students…
• Defining the term ‘effective’ is not clear cut
• The value of stepping out of our comfort
zones and taking risks to try something new
• With experimentation comes confidence in
using technology to support our students
• For example …..

4. iPad Whiteboard Apps
• Wide range of apps that have similar (but
different) functionalities
• Beware - Developers can close your favourite
apps down

5. iPad whiteboard Apps: uses
Pre-reading task
using a Wordle
Ss listen and read or
record themselves
reading

6. iPad whiteboard Apps: uses
Exam prep: ss make a
recording of changes
to a flyer
Describe a house
they have built in
another app

7. Benefits of mobile technology
portability Ease of use
Built in functionality: camera, voice recorder,
internet. For example ….

8. Internet: uses
Self directed
vocabulary
development using:
• Google images,
• translate and
• an online
dictionary

9. Internet: uses
Searching Google images for
houses in your home country &
doing a mingling task to share
with classmates.

10. Camera: uses
Walk around college for
inspiration for a project. Take
photos and return to class to
discuss and plan.

11. Relationships between tutors
Although we never all managed to get together
at the same time, discussions and collaboration
happened between individuals within the group
…….

12. Discussions between:
ESOL
Foundation
learning
ESOL /Teacher
education – me!!
maths
ESOL ESOL
Teacher
education
Science
Another ESOL tutor started
using the iPads after
discussions with the ESOL
tutors involved in the project.
The science tutor
joined the project

13. Recommendations
Give Tutors freedom
to take risks
Use peer obs as a
vehicle for CPD
Consider JPD as an
‘offer’ of CPD
The 2014
Professional
Standards:
20. Contribute to organisational development
and quality improvement through
collaboration with others