Strategies for Effective Laptop Use in Higher Education

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Strategies for Effective Laptop Use in Higher
Education

• Dr. Robin Kay Dr. Liesel Knaack
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology
• Presented at EDUCAUSE 2004, Denver.

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University of Ontario Institute of Technology

• Canadas newest university
• Opened Sept 2003
• 1 hour east of Toronto
• Focus on sciences, business/IT, criminology,
  education
• 2000 students 6500 in 2010
• All laptop (IBM Thinkpad)
• Community college/university partnership

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Underlying Philosophy

• If one of your goals is to make students more
  proficient in using computers
• Laptops are the way to go
• The lecture format is ineffective it simply
  does not work well
• Laptops can change the fundamental way education
  is delivered

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Overview
Sound Pedagogical Theory
Student Use in Class
Teacher Use in Class
Teacher Use Outside Class
Student Use Outside Class
The Results
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Sound Pedagogical Theory

• Cooperative Learning (Johnson Johnson,1994)
• Constructivism (Bruner, 1983, 1986 Vygotsky,
  1978)
• Learning Styles (Gardner, 1983)
• Problem Based Learning (Collins, et. al., 1989)
• Higher-Level Thinking Skills (Resnick, 1989)
• Connect to Real World Knowledge (Lampert, 1986)
• Applying Knowledge (Carroll, 1990)

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Student Use In Class

• Java Applets
• Streamed Videos
• Fast Feedback
• Web Articles

• Probes
• Kits Activities

• Debates
• Case Studies
• WebQuest
• Research
• Online Surveys
• Software
• Robotics
• Digital Video

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Student Use Outside Class

• Discussion Boards
• Posting Solutions
• Streamed Videos
• Mini Educational Video Clips

• Portfolios
• Video Projects
• Resource Collections
• Group Projects

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Teacher Use In Class

• Organizer
• PowerPoint
• Polling Students
• Brainstorming

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Teacher Use Outside Class

• Web Page
• Lesson Plans
• Communication
• Web Resources
• Online Discussion

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Student Use In ClassDebates
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Student Use In ClassCase Studies
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Student Use In ClassWebQuest
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Student Use In ClassResearch
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Student Use In ClassOnline Survey
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Student Use In ClassJava Applets
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Student Use In ClassVideos
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Student Use In ClassFast Feedback
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Student Use In ClassWeb Articles
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Student Use In ClassRobotics Hands On Activities
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Student Use In ClassSoftware
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Student Use In ClassDigital Video Capture and
Analysis
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Student Use In ClassProbes Probeware
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Student Use In ClassKits Activities
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Student Use Outside ClassOnline Discussion
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Student Use Outside ClassPosting Solutions
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Student Use Outside ClassStreamed Videos
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Student Use Outside ClassMini Educational Video
Clips
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Student Use Outside ClassPortfolios
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Student Use Outside ClassVideo Projects
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Student Use Outside ClassResource Collections
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Student Use Outside ClassGroup Projects
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Teacher Use In ClassOrganizer
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Teacher Use In ClassPowerPoint
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Teacher Use In ClassPolling Students
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Teacher Use In ClassBrainstorming
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Teacher Use Outside ClassWeb Page
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Teacher Use Outside ClassLesson Plans
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Teacher Use Outside ClassCommunication (Email)
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Teacher Use Outside ClassWeb Resources
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Teacher Use Outside ClassOnline Discussion
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The Results

• Attitude
• Ability
• Levelling the playing field

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Attitudes
p lt .001
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Ability
Before
After
p lt .001
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Levelling the Playing Field

• Individual differences in ability between males
  and females disappeared after 8 months
• Individual difference between beginners and
  experts disappeared after 8 months

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Summary

• Pedagogy must be there
• Need to consider In and Outside Class Use
• Need to consider teacher AND student use
• Outside class does not need laptop
• Inside class does key advantage
• Bottom Line
• Engages students
• Improves attitude ability
• Acts as an equalizer

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Contact Information

• Robin Kay
• robin.kay_at_uoit.ca
• Liesel Knaack
• liesel.knaack_at_uoit.ca