Media in Rural Schools. A Case of a Rural High School trying to use iPads in Class Abstract

• Main Author: Gilbert Kalonde
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: National Rural Education Association 2018-11-01
• Series: The Rural Educator
• Subjects: Technology; Integration; Standards; Media
• Online Access: https://www.jhseonline.com/index.php/ruraled/article/view/218

The purpose of this case study was to explore how teachers and students use iPads in class, the obstacles and barriers to teacher and student iPad use, and the relationship between types and frequency of use, in one high school in Southern Oregon. The study consisted of classroom observations and follow-up interviews with nine teachers with iPad carts over a three week period. Qualitative data was emphasized, with some quantitative data to support it. Overall, iPad use was low, even though access to iPads was high. When iPads were used, teachers used iPads mostly for communication and delivering instruction, and students used iPads mostly for reading, writing, and research. Observational data and interview data results on the types of use were consistent, indicating that teachers are well aware of how they use iPads in their classrooms.