iPad study released by Oklahoma State University

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

View copy of iPad research Executive Summary
View copy of iPad research Memorandum

Oklahoma State University has formally released its internal findings on an iPad pilot conducted during the Fall 2010 semester, showing that the device had a positive impact in an academic environment.

“We put this powerful and creative tool in the hands of faculty and students and the end result reached beyond enhancing the academic experience of our students,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “The report outlines a possible decrease to student and administrative expenses, increased productivity, and how the iPad crosses between academic and personal barriers.”

Bill Handy, visiting assistant professor in the School of Media and Strategic Communications, and Tracy Suter, Ph.D. associate professor of marketing in the Spears School of Business, led the initiative. Each class integrated the iPad differently but both focused on specific measurable outcomes including: expense impact, how the device was used, viability as an E-Reader and overall enhancement to a student’s academic experience.

“Consensus is the integration of the iPad can enhance a student’s academic experience and have a positive impact for faculty as well,” said Handy. “We used the iPad in every aspect of our course. The most important consideration is the device must be truly integrated. Simply distributing the device without evaluation of how the course might be modified for its use limits the impact.”

Among the enhancements noticed by both professors was an increase to the pace of the course, reaching traditional benchmarks sometimes weeks in advance.

“The increased pace is likely attributed to the mobile functionality of the device which allowed students to work in any environment, the change to the classroom environment, and the ability of all students to have complete access to the same technology, creating an equal and level playing field,” said Suter.

Both professors recommend the university should consider the full deployment of iPads for all students. Deans and department heads were given instructions to evaluate how best to use this and any technology device to enhance their student’s involvement.

Executive Summary

Oklahoma State University/Apple iPad Pilot Program

During the Fall 2010 semester, five sections of two courses across two colleges and two campuses participated in the Apple iPad Pilot Program. Professor Bill Handy, School of Media and Strategic Communications, and Professor Tracy Suter, Ph.D., Spears School of Business led the project. In addition, Professor Bobbi Kay Hooper, Ph.D., School of Media and Strategic Communications, included the pilot in a larger pedagogical study. Below is an overview of the key outcomes.

Did the iPad increase or decrease expenses? While difficult to fully quantify, there is evidence to suggest a decrease in student expenses with maximum integration. Electronic versions of student textbooks were less expensive than traditional textbooks. If a student were to purchase e-books, the possible savings could cover the iPad hardware costs in two semesters. The university could also benefit from decreased paper and printing costs while the use of “cloud” computing could reduce future network storage needs.

How was the iPad used among students and faculty? iPad use had professional and personal benefits. Focusing on professional benefits, students were able to use the iPad in ways that outflanked a traditional computer, be it laptop or desktop. The iPad also was used as a substitute for paper and pen. Faculty were able to explore and recommend course-specific apps (i.e., software) to enhance the learning environment. Given the size and scope of Apple’s App Store, there were thousands of educational software possibilities plus having a built-in Web browser made the Internet more readily available.

Was the integration of an E-Reader an enhancement or detraction to the academic experience? The responses were mixed. On the one hand, students liked using the iPad to house their textbooks and suggested it promoted more reading. On the other hand, reactions from the beginning-of-the-semester expectations of planned use to the end-of-the-semester actual use saw e-book reading exhibiting the greatest change, a substantial decrease. Students thought they would use the iPad as an e-reader but did not do so as much as initially planned.

Was the integration of the iPad an enhancement to the academic experience? Self-report responses by pilot students indicated that 75 percent agreed or strongly agree with the statement, “I think the iPad enhanced the learning experience of this course.” Upon more detailed review, that number jumps to 92.8 percent among students who owned a Mac and falls to 70.4 percent among students who owned a PC. Survey results also showed only 3 percent of students in one course would opt out of the iPad course for an identical course which didn’t include the iPad. From a faculty perspective, the greatest benefit was having uniform hardware and software available across the class. Said differently, faculty knew all students had access to the same learning tools. This was critical when planning assignments and class activities.

In sum, the iPad pilot was a very valuable program for OSU to undertake. The instructional mission of the university is important and continuing to investigate means to enhance the instructional mission positively serves many university constituents. Because of the overall improvements to the academic experience of both faculty and students it is our recommendation the university should consider the full deployment of iPads for all students.