Blog Post 2: Handheld Devices as Instructional Tools

The article, Get Deeper Learning with Tablets, written by Dr. Cynthia Conn, is about how a group of first grade teachers at Thomas Elementary School in Flagstaff, Arizona integrated the use of tablets, specifically iPads, into their classrooms in order to deepen the learning of their students.  Using the tablets, the teachers designed a science unit on animal habitats that would allow the students to access live webcam feeds in order to study several different kinds of animals in their various habitats around the world.  For several weeks the students utilized a class set of iPads to observe animals in their natural or captive habitats and then took notes, made observations and conducted additional research as needed. 

Through the lens of this project, the author of the article, Dr. Conn, makes several observations about the use of tablets in the classroom.  The most important note, in my opinion, is that by using the classroom tablets in a way that allows for “real-world experiences,” the students were able to deepen their engagement and understanding of the content.  As Dr. Conn notes, because the students were able to conduct, “hands-on, independent exploration” using the tablets, they were able to tap into a deeper level of understanding of the concept. 

A second point made by Conn is that having continual access to a class set of tablets is much more convenient, and time efficient, than having to wrangle and take an entire class to a computer lab to work.  The teachers mentioned in the article were able to provide valuable experiences to their students by utilizing only a small amount of class time because of the convenience of the in-class tablets.  Conn makes a third point in asserting that though the technology itself plays a valuable role in the classroom, it must always be effectively integrated through the design of instruction.   By this, Conn means that the lesson design must come first, and then the proper technological instrument can be incorporated in order to maximize the learning of the students. 

As educators, we are always looking for ways to deepen the learning experiences of our students, and incorporating tablets and other mobile devices into the classroom can help to achieve that goal.  Additionally, mobile devices in the media center/library can be an invaluable addition to any campus.  One way that a librarian can utilize mobile devices through the library is simply by providing access to teachers and students.  A district is unlikely to be able to afford class sets of tablets for every classroom, so the library may be an excellent place for teachers to conduct lessons using mobile devices, or to check out for classroom use.  The librarian should be a key point of reference to the teachers on campus for developing exploratory lessons that will enhance the students’ learning through the use of mobile devices.  Additionally, having some mobile devices that students can check out independently from the library could be an excellent way to reach some reluctant readers by enticing them with the interactive experience and “cool factor” of a mobile device.  The librarian can even pre-load the devices with some high interest reading material and can help students set up accounts on websites such as, Shelfari, where they can rate books and share reviews with one another.  Actions such as these would make the reading experience more engaging for today’s students, who are accustomed to the constant sharing of information and ideas as a way to yield a deeper experience.  By establishing the use of mobile devices through the library, the librarian can play a key role in helping the campus facilitate deeper learning experiences for all students.    

Conn, C. (2013). Get Deeper Learning with Tablets. Learning & Leading With Technology, 41(2), 35-37.