University study finds students with Apple's iPad perform better
Students using the Apple's iPad for their studies have been found to score higher than their paper-based peers and enjoy higher efficiency, according to a new study.
Abilene Christian University has been conducting extensive studies on the effects of mobile devices on student learning for more than three years. Prior to the launch of the iPad, the university undertook an initiative to hand out iPhones and iPod touches to incoming freshmen.
The university's iPad-specific research results are "uniformly positive," as noted by TUAW after a preview of the data. One study found that "students who annotated text on their iPads scored 25% higher on questions regarding information transfer than their paper-based peers."
Researchers who tracked ACU's first all-digital class noted that the iPad promotes "learning moments" and helps students to be more efficient with their time. Graduate students in an online program responded with a 95 percent satisfaction rate to online iPad-based coursework.
Apple has seen quick educational adoption of its touchscreen tablet device. Earlier this year, Georgia legislators revealed that they were considering plans to get rid of conventional textbooks in middle school classrooms and implement iPads.
"Last week we met with Apple Computers," State Senator Tommie Williams said in February, "and they have a really promising program where they come in and their [sic] recommending to middle schools ? for $500 per child per year, they will furnish every child with an iPad, wi-fi the system, provide all the books on the system, all the upgrades, all the teacher training ? and the results they?re getting from these kids is phenomenal."
Schools from around the country, including New York, Illinois, Virginia and California, have begun pilot programs to bring the iPad into the classroom. Programs implementing the iPad range from middle schools and high schools all the way up to medical schools. The Chicago public school system has seen gains as much as 50 to 60 percent in reading math and science in classrooms with the iPad.
Last year, Apple introduced volume educational discounts for applications on the App Store in hopes of increasing iOS device adoption among educational institutions.
Apple recently reported that total downloads of its iTunes U initiative, which offers print, audio and video downloads of school courses and lectures, have topped 600 million.
According to UBS Investment Research analyst Maynard Um, the iPad has become a popular choice for students and faculty. His retail channel checks also indicated that non-iPad tablet sales have continued to lag.
Apple has expressed interest in new technology that would help users tailor the company's devices to accommodate unique disabilities and special needs. During the unveiling of the iPad 2 earlier this year, the company highlighted in a video the fact that the iPad has been used to assist children with autism and help students interact with content in a new and unique way.
Abilene Christian University has been conducting extensive studies on the effects of mobile devices on student learning for more than three years. Prior to the launch of the iPad, the university undertook an initiative to hand out iPhones and iPod touches to incoming freshmen.
The university's iPad-specific research results are "uniformly positive," as noted by TUAW after a preview of the data. One study found that "students who annotated text on their iPads scored 25% higher on questions regarding information transfer than their paper-based peers."
Researchers who tracked ACU's first all-digital class noted that the iPad promotes "learning moments" and helps students to be more efficient with their time. Graduate students in an online program responded with a 95 percent satisfaction rate to online iPad-based coursework.
Apple has seen quick educational adoption of its touchscreen tablet device. Earlier this year, Georgia legislators revealed that they were considering plans to get rid of conventional textbooks in middle school classrooms and implement iPads.
"Last week we met with Apple Computers," State Senator Tommie Williams said in February, "and they have a really promising program where they come in and their [sic] recommending to middle schools ? for $500 per child per year, they will furnish every child with an iPad, wi-fi the system, provide all the books on the system, all the upgrades, all the teacher training ? and the results they?re getting from these kids is phenomenal."
Schools from around the country, including New York, Illinois, Virginia and California, have begun pilot programs to bring the iPad into the classroom. Programs implementing the iPad range from middle schools and high schools all the way up to medical schools. The Chicago public school system has seen gains as much as 50 to 60 percent in reading math and science in classrooms with the iPad.
Last year, Apple introduced volume educational discounts for applications on the App Store in hopes of increasing iOS device adoption among educational institutions.
Apple recently reported that total downloads of its iTunes U initiative, which offers print, audio and video downloads of school courses and lectures, have topped 600 million.
According to UBS Investment Research analyst Maynard Um, the iPad has become a popular choice for students and faculty. His retail channel checks also indicated that non-iPad tablet sales have continued to lag.
Apple has expressed interest in new technology that would help users tailor the company's devices to accommodate unique disabilities and special needs. During the unveiling of the iPad 2 earlier this year, the company highlighted in a video the fact that the iPad has been used to assist children with autism and help students interact with content in a new and unique way.
Comments
Students using the Apple's iPad for their studies have been found to score higher than their paper-based peers and enjoy higher efficiency, according to a new study ...
Correlation is not causation.
Correlation is not causation.
Exactly.
More like rich students have more resources and time for their studies than poor students struggling to pay tuition.
Exactly.
More like rich students have more resources and time for their studies than poor students struggling to pay tuition.
thank you for saving me from writing that out.
Correlation is not causation.
Exactly, no mention of sample sizes I can see, or any socio economic factors which could also influence the result? For instance, do only high IQ students have the iPads? The sound bite is not enough to suggest the iPad as the cause, as you point out.
The only problem Apple might have is a good one, and that is, will Apple/Foxconn and various component vendors be able to keep up with iPad demand. If Apple were to really lock down the educational sector and actually change schools from textbooks to digital learning with iPads, it would be a really, really huge win for Apple. It would go back to the days when Apple was a leader of placing computers in the school system. The sky would be the limit. Maybe Apple should just start building factories on its own. I'm probably just getting carried away, but if students, teachers and school management really think iPads are worthwhile for learning, maybe Apple has a chance to make a breakthrough like never before. I sure hope it's true that students are able to study better with iPads than plain textbooks. That would be a great advance for overall education. I sure hope Apple doesn't blow this chance in some unexpected way.
Maybe Apple should just start building factories on its own.
Back when Apple ran it's own factories, the Macintosh II cost $4,000 and the Macintosh IIfx STARTING PRICE was $10,000.
- Students using no computer.
- Students using iPad.
- Students using Linux.
- Students using Windows.
- Students using Mac.
Probably using Mac is much better than using the iPad for obvious reasons.
Exactly.
More like rich students have more resources and time for their studies than poor students struggling to pay tuition.
+1
Of course, I'd like to see the iPad plays an active role on education, rather than only playing games.
Back when Apple ran it's own factories, the Macintosh II cost $4,000 and the Macintosh IIfx STARTING PRICE was $10,000.
And the NeXTStation was $10k - $15k in a fully automated factory in the States.
Please stop comparing price points back when the first IBM PC 286 started at nearly $4k even with IBM's massive resources.
We need good teachers not tech toys in the classroom.
Correlation is not causation.
Yeah, probably.
Exactly.
More like rich students have more resources and time for their studies than poor students struggling to pay tuition.
Eh, did you even read what it says above?
"Prior to the launch of the iPad, the university undertook an initiative to hand out iPhones and iPod touches to incoming freshmen."
That said, one doesnt necessarily have to be rich to have an iPad - just smart (which means you will perform better anyway). There are plenty who could afford one (over another computer) but they don't see the potential. Because they're dumb.
Correlation is not causation.
AMEN
kids with ipads in school probably come from a better socioeconomic background, may have had better public schooling, may not need to work as the parents can support college education to a greater extent.
Speaking as a student with an ipad, I can tell you, just buy your college kid a iphone or ipodtouch and a macbook air..they will be better off that way.
Eh, did you even read what it says above?
"Prior to the launch of the iPad, the university undertook an initiative to hand out iPhones and iPod touches to incoming freshmen."
That said, one doesnt necessarily have to be rich to have an iPad - just smart (which means you will perform better anyway). There are plenty who could afford one (over another computer) but they don't see the potential. Because they're dumb.
why does one assume that smarts is reflected in buying an ipad? since when did following the sheeple to the Apple store become a sign of intelligence?
Correlation is not causation.
People who brush their teeth before going to bed are more successful, therefore brushing your teeth every evening is the key to success... it's obvious!
Even if it didn't increase my test scores... the size and weight reduction would make me happy.
Slide to unlock my books? Yes please!
why does one assume that smarts is reflected in buying an ipad? since when did following the sheeple to the Apple store become a sign of intelligence?
Since referring to people who buy Apple products as "sheeple" became a sign of the opposite.