Barbour, M. K., & Siko, J. P. (2012, March). Professional development for mobile technology integration. A presentation at the annual meeting of the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning, Grand Rapids, MI.

1. Professional Development for
Mobile Technology Integration
Michael K. Barbour
Jason P. Siko
Wayne State University

2. Abstract
This MACUL grant is focused on a
professional development project designed
to support teachers using iPads in the
classroom. The PD was teacher-centric and
on-going, and emphasized specific apps
teachers recommended. This presentation
will explore that PD model and how
teachers used their iPads as a personal and
classroom tool.

3. Project
• Five science teachers provided with iPads
• Monthly professional development sessions
– topics decided on by the teachers themselves
– focused on pedagogical issues and app show & tell
• Occurred December 2010 to March 2011

4. Professional Development
• Examined ways in which teachers could use a
single iPad in the classroom
• Focused solely on free apps
• Balanced between apps that could be used
with students and apps for teacher personal &
professional development

5. Research
• Interviews with each of the teachers
• Observation of single iPad integration with
one teacher

6. Findings
• All felt iPad could have powerful uses in the classroom,
but all felt extremely limited by the fact that they only
had one iPad per teacher (as opposed to one device
per student)
• Teachers used the device more as a personal and
professional development tool, than as a resource
during their teaching that they could use with their
students
• Saw iPad as a luxury school simply couldn’t afford (can
purchase two netbooks for the cost of one iPad)

7. Observation
• Teacher collected devices from a number of his colleagues &
encouraged the students to bring along their own devices
– Gave them a list of free apps to download beforehand
• Began by having students complete a pre-test using the multiple-
choice question function in Mobl21 (a mobile learning management
system)
• Provided some direct instruction by displaying a 99¢ app on the
iPad using the classroom document camera
• Followed by the students exploring the topic using two different
apps on their own devices
• Finished the class by having the students complete the same
multiple-choice quiz as a post-test

8. Michael K. Barbour
mkbarbour@gmail.com
Jason P. Siko
sikojp@gmail.com
Wayne State University