My iPad: A New Learning Tool for Classrooms

The iPad is a well-known handheld interactive multimedia tool that has been quite popular lately among educators and students. Previous research investigating the iPad's role as a learning device indicated that the iPad encourages young children to feel engaged with learning and related activities, helps to bridge the communication gap between educators and students, supports educational literacy, collaborative work practices and helps the leaner connect with his or her peers. However, empirical and conceptual studies focused on the iPad are still in short supply at the moment. There is a growing need to examine the use of the iPad in educational arenas, such as classrooms and laboratories. Additionally, a thorough examination of the instructional and pedagogical advantages and disadvantages of using iPad for educational reasons is also required. Finally, longitudinal user studies with students (ipad users and potential ipad users) will bring a newer perspective to the body of research, which examines the use of iPad as a learning tool. With this aim in mind, an e-learning research project was launched at Salman Bin Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this research was to examine new forms of digital technology (namely the iPad) and ascertain if and how this device might act as a learning tool for Saudi students. This submission (a work in progress) will present the aims and objectives of this study, research methodology, research questions, and ultimately outline some research objectives based upon our recent extensive literature review on the use of iPad for educational reasons.