Tablet vs Laptop?

I am constantly confronted with the question of WHY we chose to go with tablets instead of laptops in our 1:1 learning environment. It was one of those extended moments where I probably didn’t fully understand the answer until I had to articulate it succinctly. I figured it was worth sharing more widely, so here it is:

First, I will say that we never adopted a technology initiative. We had decisions to make about how we would allocate tech resources in a building, and 1:1 describes how we chose to allocate our tech resources. The focus of our 1:1 iPad program is to provide necessary tools and resources for a progressive learning environment characterized by flexibility, collaboration, personalization, creativity, and technology-rich learning.

This--like everything else we do--is a learning initiative. We are constantly striving to implement the Iowa Core, which spells out the characteristics of effective instruction:

• Student Centered Instruction--changing the role of teacher from "sage on the stage" to "guide on the side"

• Teaching for Learner Differences--meeting each student where she is and moving her forward

• Assessment FOR (rather than of) Learning--providing timely, meaningful feedback throughout the learning process, rather than testing what has been learned at the end of some period of time

• Rigorous and Relevant Curriculum--connecting essential content across content areas and to real world, unpredictable situations

• Teaching for Understanding--engaging students in a process where THEY construct deep meaning over time, rather than recite and recall information provided to them

These are our goals--and there is nothing I can see about a laptop that leads us closer to these goals than a tablet does—just different means to the same end. Remember, we are educating our children for THEIR future, which is quite different than our current reality. So, while I recognize that the world of work is largely dominated by desktop and laptop computers, I don't believe it will stay that way for long. In fact, many Gen Y-ers in the workforce (like myself) would say that our world is 3:1. I rely daily on (in order of use): a smartphone, a tablet, and a laptop. I wish we could provide that for our students, but we can’t right now. 1:1 will have to suffice.

So, after all the reading, conversations, and thinking I've personally put into this question, I've come to the following conclusion: the device is not what makes the difference between effective and ineffective learning experiences. Any arguments people make about some devices being for creation and other being for consumption are just misguided in my opinion. The gateway between those two is instructional design. Our students were creating and engaged in high quality learning long before they had iPads. The fact that they now have an iPad has opened new avenues for efficiency and creativity in a world of quality learning experiences.

Just my two cents…I’d love to hear yours.

Comments

[Russgoerend]

The reason people like you and I are 3:1 is precisely because this argument is not misguided: Any arguments people make about some devices being for creation and other being for consumption are just misguided in my opinion. But because schools are restricted by funding and forced to choose one device, that choice is an extremely important one.

If you chose iPads because you see the workforce moving in that direction, own that that reason. Debate that point. The discussion itself is not moot. As cyclical as the discussion seems to be online, I love it because it forces people to revise and rethink their arguments.

Russ

[B_Wagoner]

Hey Russ :) I'm 3:1 for all kinds of different reasons, but probably first and foremost because of mobility. I use my phone more than any other device because it's super mobile. Honestly, my laptop is mainly used for consumption in a typical day, but of course, I'm writing this post with it now ;) I leave it open on my desk and watch Twitter and FB feeds scroll by--the larger screen size makes that easier. I mean, I currently have 9 windows in one browser and 2 windows in another browser open, as well as 3 apps. I do much on my work on my iPad that's sitting next to my laptop.

I did imply that I think the workforce is moving in the direction of tablets--and it's completely fair to call me on that. And now I have to say that I threw that in there because I was countering a point made to me ad nauseum. Probably a little Don Quixote of me, I suppose. I really don't care what tools students will use in the workforce. That has nothing to do with our goals here. We're just trying to provide as many tools for learning and work to our students and teachers as we can. We did choose to pick a device--probably for all kinds of reasons related more to adults (parents and staff) than anything.

Thanks for always making me think :)

[Bkuhn]

Great job on articulating your rationale. I've been one of those people who says tablets are better suited to consumption than creation. I've used an ipad personally for over a year - just switched to an ipad 2. I use a laptop and a smartphone. I never described myself as being 3:1, I'll use that now, thanks.

What I like about the smartphone and tablet is the instant on, simple to use apps. I rarely use my laptop at night any more, the phone is my first grab, the tablet second, depending on what I'm doing. I find I need the phone to tweet snippets from what I'm reading on the tablet 'cause the multitasking capabilities just aren't very good yet. The laptop is far better suited to serious work with multiple apps simultaneously. Even in conferences, workshops... I like to split screen my laptop with tweetdeck on one side, Onenote on the other. I take notes in Onenote, copy/paste snippets into tweetdeck. I've tried to flip back/forth on the ipad - way to frustrating. To work with video, presentation creation, etc., laptop - too slow / inefficient to do on the tablet. Serious writing, including blog writing, the laptop. To read/comment on blogs, tablet or phone. Email - any of them. Twitter scan/reply, any of them. Facebook, same.

But... for student learning, my way of working shouldn't drive how they work. You may be on to something with your approach. I just wish the price of tablets would get into the $200 range to make it more affordable for schools to buy. With limited funds we're forced into decisions to buy pre-owned desktops which work great but have no mobility or ability to run tablet type apps.

Thanks for sharing, in a transparent way, your thinking.

[Jmartinhiner]

Great post - its always good to keep the focus on the learning and not the tool :-) .

My answer to this question has shifted quite a bit in just the past few months, but with the pace of tech, that isn't surprising. My main gripes with tablets were the limitations with collecting digital data (for sci/math) - solved now with apps/equip from Vernier and Pasco, multitasking issues (I still like Android tablets for that - just wish they were a little more 'user-friendly' for a school environment), and the lack of support for programming (but that can be solved with some computer labs). Given the progress that has been made in the past year, I really think a tablet is the learning support tool that will become the device of choice in the near future.

This will continue to be a big question for districts - thanks for sharing your reflections.

[Account Deleted]

Really your post is really great and I appreciate it. It is difficult for the good and bad times to sort, but I think you nailed. You write very well which is amazing. I am really impressed with your post.

[Robb_beane]

I agree, it really comes down to what the district is comfortable with. My personal opinion was sealed the moment I watched a MS student using his iPad to video the District Wrestling Tournament in Oelwein this past winter. Athletic example aside, it was the idea of taking the iPad anywhere and engaging. That's just not as easy with a laptop, or even a laptop and a flip camera. If you add the iPad case with the keyboard I think you surpass the plus of a laptop.

Like I said that is a personal opinion. Despite not being in a district, I am very excited to attend the 1to1 conference this spring to see what everyone is doing with their chosen devices.

Thanks for the insightful thoughts on WSR's decision.

[Tudor_Davies]

Tablets are good but not ideal for all requirements, for instance working at a desk or on a bed. That is unless you have a roll out keyboard. Never the less I'd suggest a laptop over a tablet, they are just more practical.

About me: I'm a blogger for www.hirelaptop.net

[Grabe31]

I teach at Newton High School in Newton Iowa; we will be going 1:1 with ipads in the '13-'14 school year and we have a similar list of goals. (not nearly as well stated as yours) I am wondering in what ways did you assess the ipad's effectiveness towards these goals. Have you/did you (your district) attempt to measure how students and teachers were using their devices? If so, how did you measure these things? Any insight you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. @grabe31 or [email protected]