Tablet_Tableau: Tablet Options, Tablet Uses, and Tablets in Education

Prompt: 
Your school has been offered the opportunity to apply for a 1:1 grant for the purchase of tablets at certain grade levels (elementary) or for particular disciplines (middle school/secondary/languages). Some of your colleagues have very definite ideas about what should be purchased and do not hesitate to state those prefaces with grate authority.  Since you (and you're "teaching buddy") are relatively new to the school, you have wisely held your counsel on the subject - which your Principal has noted.  The Principal calls you into the office to ask for your assistance.  The Principal asks the two of you to work together to prepare a neutral review of the array of options available that the principal can use as a point of reference for future discussions. 

Research:

1. Pros and Cons of 1:1 Tablets in Elementary Schools
• Partner: Tiffany Keener
• Pros
• Tablets would allow technology to be more available in the classroom. 
1. Teachers would be able to accept assignments, conduct lessons, reward students, and more if they have access to tablets for each student. 
• Tablets give teachers to teach their students responsibility. 
1. All things come with a certain level of responsibility.  Electronic devices require special handling to ensure their upkeep. 
• Receiving a 1:1 supply will eliminate an aspect of discrimination. 
1. Providing each student with the same quality of tablet will keep one student from claiming that their product is better than another students because they are a better student (or whatever qualifications they can dream up). 
• Tablets may lessen and/or limit the cost of books. 
1. Textbooks are very expensive, even at the elementary level; and if a student breaks or damages the book the book has to be replaced.  If the textbooks were on an electronic device, however, the teacher/school can just download the books on a new device which may be cheaper than some textbooks-and is definitely cheaper than five or six textbooks. 
2. There will still be textbook costs, however, whenever books are updated. 
• Tablets offer greater access to current events. 
1. With access to the internet tablets provide classrooms with the opportunity to access local and national newspapers and magazines.  This will allow the students to readily access current events from the local news and the world news. 
2. Additionally a news website NEWSELA allows teachers to differentiate the articles based on students' reading levels.  
• Tablets provide different opportunities for audio books/reading. 
1. Applications such as Audible and Kindle (both by Amazon) allow students to listen to copies of books. 
2. Applications such as video and audio recorders allow students to read to the device then listen to seek out their mistakes (self monitoring).  
• Tablet applications provide an opportunity for natural differentiation. 
1. Most teachers will (should) download learning specific applications/games.  As students play the games they will advance to he next level based on their ability to complete the level they are  on. 
• Tablets reach out to many aspects of Gardner's Multiple Intelligence's 
1. The multitude of available applications (many free) reach out to Gardner's areas of visual-spatial, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic, and logical-mathematical. 
• Currently, their is a hot discussion/debate regarding the affects/influences of electronic vs traditional books.  Monitoring the use of electronic books and traditional books in the classroom will allow teachers and the school to participate in the discussion and make the best decision on this subject for their classrooms and schools. 
• Cons
• Tablets can be a distraction in the classroom. 
1. Knowing that the tablets are in the room and that they, sometimes, have the opportunity to work with them may distract their attention from the lesson.  This will vary based on age, maturity, and attentiveness. 
• Schools would have to hold training sessions for teachers. 
1. Tablets are a very widespread piece of technology but there are some generations that do not have as much access nor have the spent much time using technological innovations.  Schools would have to provide some type of training to insure that the teacher is appropriately using the tablets to aid instruction, not just as a reward system.
2. The time and money for these training sessions is also a con factor. 
• Security 
1. Physical
• All devices of high value bring the risk of theft to the table.  Theft from the school and from the students (if they are permitted to take the home). 
2. Internet
• Schools would be required to set up internet security on each device to protect the device from viruses and to protect the students from adult content. 
• Maintenance 
1. Any electronic device would require special care.  Schools would have to provide teachers with cleaning products that are not harmful to the students and that would keep the devices in good condition. 
• Report: My partner and I agreed on most of the pros and cons we "hashed out."  As I prepared my list, however, I decided to move one item from the cons list to the pro list: that was tablets application to Gardner's Multiple Intelligence's.  My partner and I first listed this as a con because it does not reach the area of bodily-kinetic.  As I was typing my list I realized that no classroom device (electronic or not) will meet all areas of the multiple intelligence's.  Furthermore, the tablets reach a majority of the intelligence's (as listed above); which is more than a textbook can say. 
2. Small iPods/MP3 devices vs Medium to Large Tablets/iPads
1. Device size is dependent on a few factors, namely: age and intended use.  Age: some of the larger tablets are more difficult to hold for extended periods of time.  Younger students would benefit more from small to medium devices because they won't have built up the hand/wrist/arm strength to hold the large ones.  Intended use: if the classroom teachers plans to use the devices primarily for audio/voice recording the small devices such as iPods and MP3 players would suffice.  If the teacher, however, wants to take class polls, use them as a lesson supplement (where students are using them during instruction) or to use them for writing then the medium to large devices would be best.  Overall, with the idea of a 1:1 supply, I believe that the medium-large devices would be the best choice.  Smaller ones for listening/recording could be supplied minimally in the library or some other central location. 
3. Positives and Negatives of Operating Systems
• iOS (Apple) 
• Positive
1. Guaranteed virus free.
2. Better connectivity between devices. 
3. Lightweight 
• Negative
1. The batteries in these devices cannot be replaced.  If the device were to stop charging the device would have to be completely replaced. 
2. Would require the purchase of an office program if the teacher wanted to use the device for writing or presentations. 
• Android (Google) 
• Positive
1. Higher compatibility with third party applications and modifications. 
2. Equipped with a simplified office program. 
3. More affordable.
• Negative
1. Google accounts must be created for use. 
• Although it would be equipped with an office program the users must have a google account to use the software. 
• Microsoft (Microsoft)
• Positive
1. More user friendly. 
2. Most can function readily as a computer in tablet form. 
3. Comes with Microsoft office software and is equipped with advanced design software. 
• Negative  
1. Requires a strong virus protection software. 
4. Cellular: What it is and its affects 
• Cellular is the devices ability to maintain connectivity to a cellular phone tower. These devices require antenna and firmware so they can negotiate the signals to send and receive from cellular towers. This is how we have 3G and 4G connectivity.
• These devices are equipped to make phone calls in addition to the typical tablet functions. They also require a cellular plan to use the 3G and 4G connectivity. They are helpful for travel because the cellular connectivity allows them to use GPS functions. This feature is not necessary for classroom functions but may be helpful in the case of a power outage in the school, to allow teachers and administrators to communicate. (That is if the cellular towers are still functioning in a power outage).
5. How the Pros and Cons in number three relate to the school
• The pros and cons of number three are important for the schools decision of what devices to purchase for their classroom.  This information, however, may not be necessary if the school is given a grant or other funding that is applicable to only one operating system.  In that case the school must look deeper into the comparison of devices within one operating system. 
• If the school is using their budget for the tablet purchases they should highly consider the Android operating systems.  They are very efficient and cost effective.  Additionally, they are equipped with easy to use office software programs and they are most compatible with applications and third party devices.