Landen Zachary (Repeating a comment Landen posted on 9/9/2010 on the “The News from Project RED: “Technology Can Impact Learning”” of the blog “Tech Disruptions”. ): Speaking of using technology properly, what do you guys think about this http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/117625-california-testing-ipads-as-algebra-textbooks. It seems like a school in California is giving 8th grades iPads to replace their algebra books and then comparing their scores to those of their peers who use traditional textbooks. It’s an interesting article. Any predictions on the outcome? My only comment is I hope they are using it to replace all their textbooks and not just algebra, I don't see any reason to limit it unless the other subjects aren't available.
Cathie: Thank you, Landen, for pointing out this pilot study to us!
Elliot: The study will surely show the iPad to be superior to the textbook method. Why? Here is a description of the iPad study from the newspaper article: “Students with iPads will have instant access to more than 400 videos from teaching experts walking them through the concepts and assignments, rather than having to rely on the teacher's explanation in class. There is also a homework coach and animated instructions on how to complete assignments.”
Cathie: In other words, the iPad class is going to have considerably more resources than the traditional textbook class.
Elliot: Yup, it will have more technology, more curriculum materials, and more instructional support.
Cathie: So, when the iPad class shows higher test scores, there is no way to tell if it was the iPad per se or the 400 videos or the coach or the myriad of other elements that caused the gain in test scores. In fact, it is probably all the factors and given the confounds…
Elliot:… academics talk funny.
Cathie:… oh hush… there is no way to even correlate an increase in test scores with the use of the iPads.
Elliot: This situation points out the absurdity of traditional physics-style experiments in social contexts. There is simply no way to hold everything constant except one variable!
Cathie: The crazy thing is: what if the iPad class does worse than the traditional algebra classes? Does that mean that iPad is bad?
Elliot: No! To do a real educational experiment is expensive, time consuming, and requires considerable planning. The “experiment” organized by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and the California Secretary of Education in several districts in California does not sound carefully conceived.
Cathie: The best part of the article is the comments! Over and over the commenters complain about the cost of the iPad…
Elliot: .. which misses the point…
Cathie:… absolutely! Today the iPad may be costly, but down the road…
Elliot: … in 2 SHORT YEARS…
Cathie:… the iPad will cost half of what it does now. In doing this sort of experiment, we are looking ahead to the future…
Elliot: … and to buy the future today may not be particularly cheap.
Cathie: “The future is here now. It’s just not evenly distributed.”
Elliot: WOW!!! Such a cool observation by William Gibson!
Cathie: Pretty accurate too: in the future all classes will be using iPad-like, mobile learning devices – not paper-based textbooks – for learning.
Elliot: Careful, careful., there. Can’t be biting the hand that feeds us.
Cathie: eGads! Usually I am the one that chastises you for ruffling feathers, and I really like books!
Elliot: Heh, heh, Fun stuff, eh?
Cathie: …. Thanks again, Landen for a great blog post opportunity!
Cathie: Thank you, Landen, for pointing out this pilot study to us!
Elliot: The study will surely show the iPad to be superior to the textbook method. Why? Here is a description of the iPad study from the newspaper article: “Students with iPads will have instant access to more than 400 videos from teaching experts walking them through the concepts and assignments, rather than having to rely on the teacher's explanation in class. There is also a homework coach and animated instructions on how to complete assignments.”
Cathie: In other words, the iPad class is going to have considerably more resources than the traditional textbook class.
Elliot: Yup, it will have more technology, more curriculum materials, and more instructional support.
Cathie: So, when the iPad class shows higher test scores, there is no way to tell if it was the iPad per se or the 400 videos or the coach or the myriad of other elements that caused the gain in test scores. In fact, it is probably all the factors and given the confounds…
Elliot:… academics talk funny.
Cathie:… oh hush… there is no way to even correlate an increase in test scores with the use of the iPads.
Elliot: This situation points out the absurdity of traditional physics-style experiments in social contexts. There is simply no way to hold everything constant except one variable!
Cathie: The crazy thing is: what if the iPad class does worse than the traditional algebra classes? Does that mean that iPad is bad?
Elliot: No! To do a real educational experiment is expensive, time consuming, and requires considerable planning. The “experiment” organized by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and the California Secretary of Education in several districts in California does not sound carefully conceived.
Cathie: The best part of the article is the comments! Over and over the commenters complain about the cost of the iPad…
Elliot: .. which misses the point…
Cathie:… absolutely! Today the iPad may be costly, but down the road…
Elliot: … in 2 SHORT YEARS…
Cathie:… the iPad will cost half of what it does now. In doing this sort of experiment, we are looking ahead to the future…
Elliot: … and to buy the future today may not be particularly cheap.
Cathie: “The future is here now. It’s just not evenly distributed.”
Elliot: WOW!!! Such a cool observation by William Gibson!
Cathie: Pretty accurate too: in the future all classes will be using iPad-like, mobile learning devices – not paper-based textbooks – for learning.
Elliot: Careful, careful., there. Can’t be biting the hand that feeds us.
Cathie: eGads! Usually I am the one that chastises you for ruffling feathers, and I really like books!
Elliot: Heh, heh, Fun stuff, eh?
Cathie: …. Thanks again, Landen for a great blog post opportunity!
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