The Omnipresent Android Device and Political Science Teaching Methods

Abstract

The political science classroom, in 2016, has Android devices in the hands of almost all students who attend classes. The computing strengths of these smartphones and tablets have authentic potential for instructional innovation. Realizing the classroom gain that might occur confronts substantial difficulties, however. Classroom devices include a mixture of various versions of Android. Everything from Android 4.0 to Android 6.0 provides the OS for student smartphones and tablets. The differences in the performance capabilities of these various versions of Android is great. Confusion exists about what Android is because these differences in performance ability are meaningful.Implementing ideas for classroom support for Android instruction may face difficulties. ICT implementation has seen famous cases where best ideas for technology have failed to gain popular support. Possibly, anti-competitive allegations about Google have a negative influence on implementation of Android for the classroom. Implementing Android ideas may not be effortless, but the incentives for accomplishing these ideas are substantial.Android is useful in word processing, learning statistical concepts, and accomplishing statistical analysis. The perceived need for better ICT in all these educational objectives is great. The friendly, ever-present Android device could accomplish much in improved instructional techniques in these areas. Reasonably, improve student performance could be anticipated were more use made of Android to attain these educational objectives. Beyond this, Android's ability to support Chromecast and Miracast is the best instructional projection system that now exists. Anything that appears on a smartphone or tablet screen can be seen on the classroom television presentation system. Everything from Netflix to a demonstration of a statistical app can readily be presented to the classroom.The usefulness of encouraging more use of Android in developing student computer literacy has been presented as significant. The increasing sophistication of each version of Android recommends this OS as a valuable learning tool in developing ICT strengths. Positive developments in data presentation, editing, security, and knowledge presentation all convince of Android's potential in improving student computer abilities. Plans for the next version of Android include emphasis on virtual reality. The possibilities for virtual reality in the classroom are many including helping students learn about political institutions and the political process.