Experiences from iPad use at Olari School and High School and in chemistry education

Abstract

In autumn 2011, a pilot project was launched at Olari School and High School the aim of which was to implement and utilize tablets in high school education and evaluation. Apple iPads were chosen as the used tablets. At first, few teachers and the principal were in charge of the pilot project and eventually the project expanded and in spring 2013 there were 90 tablets for student use and every teacher had one’s personal tablet.

The impact of tablets on learning and pedagogical solutions has been significant. The positive aspects of iPad use include their portability and use potential during for example excursions and school trips. They serve as good tools in project work due to the simplicity of information search and data saving. Also, photos of teaching and practical laboratory work, for example, can be saved using iPad.
Occasionally, the limitations to wireless network and other technical difficulties have discouraged the users. For teachers, the utilization of iPads has meant that plenty of extra time has been consumed on education and development of new practices. The cost of applications limits their accessibility on shared tablets. For now, there are so few Finnish-language applets for the teaching of different subjects that their benefits are not necessarily significant. However, the biggest challenge is the lack of time.

In chemistry teaching, iPads have been used in several ways. Different programs and applications have been used in projects, essays, and reporting on laboratory work. Electronic Fronter learning platform can be used with iPads, also microcomputer-based laboratory equipment by Pasco can be connected to iPad while, for example, measuring pH.