Tablet PCs Change Teacher Prep and Performance

I think that Tablet and other mobile PCs have had a profound affect on teacher preparation and performance. Mobile PCs free up novices and experienced instructors to learn and instruct with material and information from beyond previously limiting personnel, walls, school regulations, and lessons.

Relatively few educators recognize that this affect has occurred. Few studies have documented it. My New Era School Initiative (NESI) model serves as a practical thought experiment (a proof of concept model) to address teacher prep and performance issues.

Barnett Berry offers a thoughtful post about the need to change teacher preparation. He directs a teacher advocacy lobbying group. They in general appeal to raising teacher preparation and performance standards in order to increase learning in schools.

I share his interest in adjusting teacher prep as one way likely to increase K12 student learning rates. I’ve followed this site for several years, in part because of its base in North Carolina where I had a school project during school integration in the middle 1960s.

I understand Barnett’s effort to increase the presence of certain teachers in the political mix about schooling.

I’m not clear why he thinks this is necessary. Most people know that they can learn whatever they decide with electronic technology rather than depending on schooling.

Why does anyone think enough people (include whomever you think appropriate) do not already agree with the point about the need to adjust teacher prep? I don’t think of anyone in or out of the academy who disagrees with changing it.

The unresolved question remains, “What changes on which schedules, made by whom, and to whose advantage?”

The issue of limiting variations of learning through schooling has had political legs at least for a century.

Advocates in and out of the academy, politics, industry, religions, and government have raised similar points, studies, ideological manifestos, cohorts of participants, interest groups, schooling conditions, etc.

I wonder, what change in quality or quantity of what appeal and to whom would resolve an issue of changing teacher prep and performance? And what collateral damage would occur with change(s)?

What’s the best way to bring about changes: by appealing to guilt, self interest, historical reference, classism, revolution, intelligencia, … ?

And, how would we know sufficient change has occurred?

I wonder if anyone else shares these questions?

Barnett Berry post: Beyond the Hype: Asking Better Questions about Teacher Preparation

Accelerated K12 Mobile Learning: Press Release

New Era School Initiative (NESI) Also, click on the New Era School Initiative (NESI) entry in the “Label” column in the right hand column of the Tablet PC Education Blog.

WIPTE offers several publications reporting research that describes results of using Tablet and other mobile PCs as well as other Ink enabled devices to increase learning. Check the 2007 and 2008 conference links to order copies of proceedings.

Berque, D. Prey, J. and Reed, R. (Eds.). (2006). The impact of Tablet PCs and Pen-Based Technology on Education: Vignettes, Evaluations, and Future Directions. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.

Prey, J., Reed, R, and Rerque, D. (Eds.). (2007). The Impact of Tablet PCs and Pen-Based Technologies on Education: Beyond the Tipping Point. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.

Reed, R., Berque, D. and Prey, J. (Eds.) (2008). The Impact of Tablet PCs and Pen-Based Technology on Education: Evidence and Outcomes. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.

Also, check out Mantgem, M. et al. (Eds.). (2008). Tablet PCs in K-12 Education. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.