iPadagogy - The Art of Using iPad for Teaching and Learning

If you give an iPad to a child, he/she might be able to switch it on and learn how to identify which app that can give "MOO" sound and they will eventually learn that that animal is called a COW.

If you give an iPad to a teenager, he/she might be able to switch it on and search for their favorite music, download movies and find social network apps such as FB, and play music using garageband app.

If you give an iPad to an adult, he/she might be able to switch it on and search for the latest news on fashion, travel, war, happenings around their hometown, recipes etc.

How many of us know how to use the iPad for Teaching and Learning?

Some might disagree with me when I say that iPad can be used in Teaching.  Well, everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion.

I stand to differ.  iPad is a cool tool that can be used in teaching.

Sharing with you the slides on iPadagogy which I presented at the Learning Innovation Talks (LIT) Round 2 at Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

iPad has lots of potentials in the education world.  We just need to discover them.

Ipadagogy from Norhayati Maskat

August 29th iPad Fest

I attended the August 29th iPad Fest organized by CLCSUET (Centre for Language and Compulsory Subject and University Entrance Test) together with Canadian Pre-U programme at the Collaborative Studio 1, Level 5, Wisma Subang Jaya, Taylor's College.

Before this, I was the organizer but since I left Taylor's College to join Taylor's University, iPad Fest became programme-based.

The presenters are YPPB (Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputra) scholars.

Here are the apps they shared:
1. Paperport Notes
2. Readibility
3. iBooks
4. iTunesU
5. Molecules for Biology
6. Slideshark
7. Showme
8. Screenchomp
9. Vlog (Video logs)
10. Simpleminds
11. Popplet
12. Totes m Notes
13. Prezi
14. Dropbox
15. Doodle Buddy

The YPPB scholars were exposed on what type of learners they are and how they can study best. So, the apps they chose suits their learning style. 

Take for example, a visual learner will be using Simpleminds and Popplet (both are mind mapping apps).

While Auditory learner will go for Show me and Screenchomp.

Technology aids learning.  It's a powerful tool when you know how to utilise it properly.

Students iPad Fest on July 23rd 2012

Ever heard of a technology festival?

Well, there's one called the "iPad Fest" at Taylor's College, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

Who's repsonsible for the iPad Fests?

The Learning Technology Unit.

How long has this iPad Fests been going on?

Since October 2011 with the first iPad Fest called "Oct iPad Fest".

What's in the iPad Fests?

Well, sharing and learning.  Those who stumbled upon an app and know how to use it, to share with others who do not know about it.

How was it conducted?

It was conducted in several manner:

a. Carousel Session a.k.a Speed Dating

b. Seminar with 5 stations

How many iPad Fests so far?

Oct 2011

Nov 2011

Feb 2012

March 2012

April 2012

All of the above iPad Fests were by lecturers for lecturers

May 2012

June 2012

All of the above iPad Fests were by Admin for all staff

July 2012

The above iPad Fest was by students for students

The next iPad Fest in August will also see student presenters sharing more apps with other students.

How successful are the iPad Fests in helping the staff and students in embracing the iPad Technology?

For Academics - they have started a scaled down sharing session at their own programmes.

For Admin - they have started coming to iPad Fests to learn of more apps to be used by them in their work.

For Students - they want more iPad Fests so that they can share and learn from each other (the true spirit of Net-Geners)

What are the apps shared by the students in the July iPad Fest?

1.     iSolutions

2.     iTunes U

3.     iMathematics

4.     Flipboard

5.     Khan Academiy

6.     Graphic calculator

7.     Evernote

8.     Video calculus

9.     Wolfram Algebra

10.   Wolfram Calculus

11.   Calculator

12.   Element

13.   You Tube and Wikipanion

Watch this video from the most recent iPad Fest in July.

Click here to watch the video on July 23rd Students iPad Fest

How do you use the tablet for Learning?

I met my nephew on one weekend and he just got a Samsung Galaxy Tab from his parents. His dad (my brother-in-law) bought my nephew the Samsung Galaxy Tab because he sees the device as a great tool for learning.
P/S: My brother-in-law is an educator too.
To make a long story short, I asked my nephew, "How do you use your tablet for learning?"
He frowned and said, "What do you mean?"
I repeated my question, "How do you use your tablet for learning? Do you take it to class? Do you write notes using the tablet? Do you send email to your lecturer via the tablet? You know...."  my voice trailed away.
It took him a couple of seconds to answer my million ringgit question.


Freeze Screen!
My nephew was not the first one who took a while to answer my question.  I had asked several students from my institution the same question and they all took more than a minute to gave me their answers.


Unfreeze Screen!
So, my nephew said, "Actually I don't do all those things. I just downloaded this e-book," at this point he showed me the ebook on chemistry he downloaded and continued, "and I read the notes and that's about it.".
I took the tablet and tapped lightly on it and WAL-LAH! the task bar popped up.  I showed him the tools such as pen, highlighter and eraser found on the task bar and how to use it on the ebook.  Then I also showed him how he could email this to his personnal email and print it out.
"Ahh....!!!! " he said and took his tablet and started annotating on it.
You might be wondering at this moment how the heck do I know all these?
Well, I am the iPad Fest coordinator at Taylor's College and that's another story.


Freeze Screen!
I would like to share with you a video I created with the help of Cambridge A Levels students at Taylor's College January 2012 intake on how they use their iPads for Learning.  My thanks to Mr Irwan Kurniawan Samsudin for "lending" me his students for the video.
Hope my nephew's watching this! :)

Blended Learning - An Overview

How does one define "Blended Learning" or BL for short?

It could be defined as when a student uses two or more ways to learn and it involves the use of technology.

How does one define "Technology" then?

Technology could be defined as items, instruments or devices which when a student uses it, enhances their understanding of a lesson.

Before the invent of iPads, were there other technologies?

If you define "technology" as the above, then yes. Once a upon a time, blackboard and chalk used to be the technology of that era. Then there's the whiteboard and marker pens.  Now, the Smartboards with internet connection.  The latest is tablets such as iPads and Samsung Galaxy Tabs, to name a few brands familiar to most of us.  So, what's the next "Technology"? You tell me!.

It's not the technology that matters.  It's HOW an educator uses it to make the class more engaging where learning and understanding and making meaning of the lesson takes place. It's HOW the device or items assist students into able to make meaning and connection of his prior knowledge with the new knowledge he is learning in class.  It's not the brand that counts. It's just HOW we, educators make use of it to enhance our students' learning and understanding at the end of each semester.  

Here's a presentation on an overview of Blended Learning at Taylor's College from my point of view.

Blended Learning : An Overview on Prezi

Here comes the iPads!!!

Technology has evolved once again with the re-introduction of tablets.  This time around, it's the sleek iPads by Apple.


Sharing with you on an iPad pilot project at Taylor's College Subang Jaya from September 2011 until 31st Dec 2011.

Taylor's College iPad pilot project on Prezi