In
the world of higher education, some technologies have revolutionized the way we
teach and learn, others have not. Now, we have the tablet PC—the latest
invention that promises to reinvent the way degree programs are delivered. But,
will tablets actually become permanent fixtures in higher education?
Many
AACBE accredited institutions and business schools have or are currently conducting
research on the use of tablets. For instance, Louisiana State University’s
eMerging Technologies Project plans to explore the usefulness of tablets
throughout higher education. Early results of these studies show positive
impacts of tablet use on costs and environments. For example, according to an
integration experiment conducted by IMD Business School, the most attractive
benefits of using tablets were “the substantial cost-savings and environmental
benefits of lowering the school’s paper consumption.”[i] [1]Tablets
can be used to download textbooks, case studies, PowerPoint slides, lecture
notes, classroom hand outs, exam reviews, and other additional readings that are
often printed.
However,
the benefits of using tablets extend beyond budgets and environments. Emerging
studies show that the device provides a wealth of positive impacts for
students. For instance, in a study conducted by the University of Notre Dame,
students naturally embraced the use of tablets, but used them much more than
anticipated. Instead of merely using the devices for textbook reading, students
downloaded apps that they integrated into study habits, team projects, and
presentations. Students found dozens of ways that tablets could be used for
their coursework. [ii] Another finding is that charts, figures, and formulas
can become so interactive that they significantly increase the speed at which
students understand them. This is why tablet textbook publishers like Inkling
and CourseSmart are creating 3D diagrams that can be rotated with the flick of
a finger. [iii]
Thus
far, the studies have revealed two limitations of using tablets for education:
1) the difficulty associated with taking notes on the device and 2) the
preference for reading from paper. However, new apps and supplemental devices
are beginning to allow users to take, use, and share notes with their tablets.
This will help to eliminate the first drawback. Time, and not a lot of it, will
likely diminish the second limitation. Therefore, AACBE predicts that the
tablet will become a standard tool for higher education.
[1] [i] Burns, R. (2010, February 9). “The MBA and the iPad.” TopMBA.
[ii] Woyke, E. (2011, January 21).
“Pros and Cons of iPads in the Classroom.” Forbes.com.
[iii] MacMillan, D. (2011, June 9).
“Inkling Publishes Textbooks for iPads.” Bloomberg Businessweek
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