This research sheds the light on the effect of using iPad in teaching writing skills of English language to primary stage students in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The researcher thinks that using IPads could have a positive effect on developing English languages writing skills if it is used in a good and systemized way. Therefore, two groups of elementary students are going to be taught writing English language letters. The students will be divided in two groups. Each group will be consisted of 20 students. The first group will be taught writing the letters (a, b, c, d) by using iPads within one month. The researcher will ask their teacher to us iPad only. On other hand, the second group will be taught the same letters using the traditional way of teaching these letters. The researcher will ask the same teacher to ask the students of the second group to use a pencil or a pen and a notebook in writing these letters.
Introduction:
Despite of all problems that could technology could bring to life in general and to classroom in particular, no one can deny the essential role that technology plays in our life these days, and no one can deny that it becomes difficult to imagine life without this magic tool. It also becomes uncommon if you do not have any device such as iPads.
Since Apple launched the iPad in 2010, it spread like wildfire in all over US and the world. After that some schools started using iPad in classroom. Apple CEO Tim Cook said that they've shipped over 1 million iPads into the education space. As a result, educators differ on using iPad in the educational environment. Some of them argue that there are no advantages of using iPad in teaching. For example, Larry Cuban, a professor emeritus of education at Stanford University, has urged caution, suggesting that, 'There is very little evidence that kids learn more, faster or better by using these machines … iPads are marvelous tools to engage kids, but then the novelty wears off and you get into hard-core issues of teaching and learning' (Hu, 2011).
On the other hand, some educators support the idea of using iPad in teaching because of its benefits. School leaders involved in an iPad study at Roslyn Heights school in New York argue that 'the iPad is not just a cool new toy but rather a powerful and versatile tool with a multitude of applications, including thousands with educational uses' (Hu, 2011).
Saudi primary students are part of this world and are inevitably affected by what is going on in the world. Although some students use iPads in a negative way, they could also be a useful device and can be used in a positive way. Moreover, iPad could play an important role in teaching writing skills to primary schools especially writing the alphabets. But what is the th real influence of using iPads on the development of English language writing skills in?
Literature review:
Many studies have surveyed the various effects of using technology in the classroom on the developing English language writing skills. Many researchers tried to find out how using iPads could have an effect on English language acquisition. Hutchison and Beschorner (2012) said that 'using the iPads for literacy instruction not only supported student learning , but students were also highly engaged and able to demonstrate unique and creative ways of responding to text using a technology tool that offers some unique affordances to users'(Hutchison, Beschorner and Schmidt-Crawford, 2012, p. 23).
Reyes (2014) demonstrated that 'the use of iPad Apps in building mastery of literacy skills of students in second and third grade has a positive effect. Under certain conditions, iPad Apps are useful in literacy instruction'.
Similarly, Clark and Luckin (2013) (as recited in )reported that studies have 'overwhelmingly' reported that 'tablet devices have a positive impact on students' engagement with learning'.
Hargis, Cavanaugh, Kamali and Soto (2014) said that students who used iPads gained empowerment as they became researchers and more independent learners.
In another study, Khalid, Jurisic, Kristensen, and ''rngreen, (2014) argue that 'the iPad can create a personal learning environment, breaking the boundaries between formal and informal learning spaces. This makes young students calm and focused while they are engaged in learning activities, as well as have the potential to improve the quality of lessons by enabling students to become informed about lesson content in advance.'
Mango (2015) in his study on two foreign languages found out that "(T)he results indicated that students not only enjoyed using the iPads but also believed that the iPads helped them learn. Students also believed that the devices facilitated their participation and collaboration in class."
Falloon (2013) (as cited in Reyes, 2014) pointed out that the scholarly studies that are available concentrate on qualitative accounts that address factors such as student engagement and motivation, cost-effectiveness, increased administrative efficiency supported by 'paperless' systems, advantages of mobile technology that delivers 'anytime, anywhere' learning.
Swan, Hooft, Kratcoski and Schenker (2007) investigated the impact of the use of technology on students learning. The results showed increased student motivation and participation in comparison with students who attended regular classrooms. They also found out that teaching and learning in the classes were more 'student-centered, collaborative, project-oriented, constructivist, and flexible'.
Significance of Research:
The significance of the study stems from the spread of technology and social communication skills all over the world. Moreover, the role iPads play in Saudi primary stage students' life in the acquisition of writing skills of English as a second language.
Research Questions:
' Does using iPads have any effect on the developing of English language writing skills as a foreign language?
' What kind of effect do iPads have on the students in improving primary stage students' writing skills?
' What are the best ways of using iPads in teaching writing to primary students?
Research methodology
The researcher is going to ask two teachers to teach writing letters to two groups of primary students. Each group will be consisted of twenty students. Ten of them will be first graders and the rest of them will be second graders. The second group will also be twenty and it will be similar to the first group in having ten students form the first grade and ten students in second grade. The first group will be taught using iPads in writing the letters (a, b, c, d) and practice writing these letters many times. Each student will be given an iPad to make sure he will practice and write the letters that he will be asked to write. Students will be asked to practice writing these letters at home many times.
On the other hand, the second group will be taught the same letters using traditional ways in writing and practicing these letters at home using a pencil or a pen and a notebook. The two groups will be chosen from the same school to guarantee that both groups of student have the same level of teaching and similar environment. This would show the real effect of the use of iPads on the students' ability on writing in general and in writing these letters in particular inside the classroom.
Ethical Consideration
The Researcher will take into consideration the consensus of the students' parents in the participation of these lessons. She will tell them that the names of the participants will be completely anonymous and that this is done in sake for research purposes only .The researcher will also ask for permission from the school administration in conducting these lessons inside the school.
Limitations of the Study
For the use of this research, the first group of students is going to be taught by using iPads in writing these letters while asking the second group to do the same thing using a pencil and a notebook. The objective of this is to see the real effect of the use of the iPads on the student.
Expected Results
Although iPads could distract students' attention and could have negative influence on students in learning English language writing skills inside the classroom, the researcher expects that using iPads could have positive effect if it is used in a positive way by the students. It could have a positive effect on developing writing skills of English language as a foreign language.
Conclusion:
I think although the influence of the iPads in our life, it is not easy for decision makers, instructors, and parents to understand rapid change in media and their effect on learning in general. But, I think change has to be made before we lose the control and then change becomes a must. Using iPads could bring good benefits and we have to be positive and try to find the positive points in this.
References:
' Beschorner, B., & Hutchison, A. (2013). iPads as a literacy teaching tool in early childhood. International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology, 1(1), 16-24. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.dominican.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true &db=eric&AN=ED543276&site=eds-live
' Clark, W. & Luckin, R. (2013). What the research says: iPads in the classroom. London Knowledge Lab Report. Retrieved from http://digitallearningteam.org/
' Falloon, G. (2013). Young students using iPads: App design and content influences on their learning pathways. Computers & Education, 68, 505-521. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.dominican.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true &db=psyh&AN=2013-34096-047&site=eds-live
' Hargis, J., Cavanaugh, C., Kamali, T. & Soto, M. (2014). A federal higher education iPad mobile learning initiative: Triangulation of data to determine early effectiveness. Journal of Innovative Higher Education, 39 (1) 45' 57.
' Hu, Winnie (2012). 'Math that Moves: Schools Embrace the iPad'. The New York Times. 4 Jan 2011. Available online: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/education/05tablets.html Last accessed: 18 Jan 2013.
' Khalid, M. S., Jurisic, O., Kristensen, H. S., &''rngreen, R. (2014). Exploring the Use of iPads in Danish Schools. In R. ''rngreen& K. T. Levinsen (Eds.), Proceedings of the 13th European Conference on e'Learning ECEL'2014 (pp. 264'272). Copenhagen: Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited. Retrieved from http://tinyurl.com/ECEL2014
' Mango, O. (2015). iPad Us and Student Engagement in the classroom. Journal of Education and Technology. Available online: http://www.tojet.net/articles/v14i1/1417.pdf
' Reyes, Deena M., "The Effects of iPad Apps on Student Achievement in Literacy for Children in 2nd and 3rd Grade" (2014). Master's Theses and Capstone Projects. Paper 131.
' Swan, K., Hooft, M., V., Kratcoski, A. & Schenker, J. (2007). Ubiquitous computing and changing possibilities: Representations, conceptualizations and uses of knowledge. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 36 (4) 481-515.
Appendix:
Worksheet
Copy the following letters using your iPad:
a b c d
Copy the following letters using your notebook:
a b c d