ICelebrate Teaching and Learning: Sharing the iPad Experience

Cathy Cavanaugh,Jace Hargis,Stephen Munns,Tayeb Kamali

doi:10.14434/jotlt.v1n2.2163

Cathy Cavanaugh, Jace Hargis + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14434/jotlt.v1n2.2163

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Abstract

In April 2012, the federal higher education system of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) embarked on the path to national adoption of the Apple iPad as the educational computing platform. The core objective of the adoption was improved learning and degree completion among students in academic programs in support of national development goals. From the National Higher Education development document, the goals are to- "Achieve individualized student learning consistent with “Post PC Era” trends;- Introduce of challenge-based learning or other progressive classroom pedagogy;- Increased student participation and motivation;- Enhance opportunities for cross-institutional collaboration between faculty members;- Increase faculty collaboration through cross-institutional repositories of learning objects; and- Facilitate the migration to e-books." The UAE has three institutions encompassing 20 campuses serving 50,000 students in its federal higher education: UAE University provides a research-intensive experience; Zayed University, a liberal arts, comprehensive environment; and HCT, professional programs. The HCT iPad program was envisioned by HCT’s Chancellor, His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research, and was led by the Vice Chancellor Dr Tayeb Kamali. This program builds on his history of entrepreneurship and e-learning initiatives, such as integrated wireless campus infrastructures, online learning and knowledge-management programmes, Dr Kamali has successfully built a cutting-edge institution that provides UAE youth with technological skills and the ability to innovate, while driving job creation in the region.

Highlights

In April 2012, the federal higher education system of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) embarked on the path to national adoption of the Apple iPad as the educational computing platform
We represented Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK) using the five-level continuum for technology integration initially developed during the Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow (ACOT) study (Sandholtz, Ringstaff, & Dwyer, 1997): entry, adoption, adaptation, infusion and transformation
The data from iCelebrate suggests that faculty responded positively, with 56 presenters, 51 from Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), including 33 from the host College, 4 from ZU and 1 from UAEU

Summary

Introduction

In April 2012, the federal higher education system of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) embarked on the path to national adoption of the Apple iPad as the educational computing platform. The adoption and planning stage comprised the nine-week period before the summer break in the education calendar when the staff, curriculum, and campuses geared up for the program’s launch upon the start of the 2012-2013 year scheduled for 9 September This 9-week period focused on preparing to meet the pedagogical goals of the UAE’s iPad program: engaged, student-centered, progressive teaching. For the new pedagogy to be appropriate and active in UAE courses, faculty need to Adopt and Adapt the technology as a teaching and learning tool in their practice These changes depend on a sustained faculty development and access to devices, appropriate apps, and evaluation rubrics.

Creative thinking

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Discussion and Conclusions