EDUC+8841


 * Welcome to Group 1's Learning Community Wiki **

EDUC – 8841 - Diffusion and Integration of Educational Technology


 * __** Name **__ || __** Skype ID **__ || __** Twitter **__ || __** Project **__ ||
 * Dr. Toledo || drctedd || cheritoledo ||  ||
 * April Carpenter || ACR_Carpenter || AprilCarpenter3 || iPads ||

__ EDUC 8841 - Learning Communities Wiki pages  __ LC1 - April and Tim - http://educ8841summer2012.wikispaces.com LC2 - Becky, Jennifer, and William - http://educ7101dit.wikispaces.com/ LC3 - Sanjay, Michelle, and Barbara - []

April Carpenter's Home Page August 18, 2012 Well, here it is. I have completed the Voice Thread over the PowerPoint converted to .PDF. Using VT was really easy and made the recording simple. I have enjoyed the process of developing this presentation. Let me know what you think. I am doing a final review on my narrative transcript and will post it on the Walden discussion board.

iPad Presentation _ Carpenter_A EDUC 8841 http://voicethread.com/share/3308543/

April

Submitted June 24, 2012 **Defense of Innovation for Multimedia Presentation** Diffusion is the activity by which a new innovation is communicated through designated channels over time, among the members of a social system (Rogers, 2003). This method of communication is associated with delivering the message of change to members of the environment that will be processing through an upcoming change. The innovation that I will defend is the implementation and management of iPads in education. The perceived attributes of this innovation are greater than the other two because the other 2 innovations did not lend to priority at this time (Rogers, 2003). Bring Your Own Device was an initiative that eventually was detoured in the district. Digital Textbooks have not been implemented in the school. The study that gives support to my innovation is Personal Devices in Public Settings: Lessons Learned From an iPod Touch / iPad Project (Crichton, Pegler, and White, 2012). I chose iPads implementation because a fourth grade team at the school where I am employed was awarded a grant for implementing iPads in the classroom.

The iPad technology lends itself to providing various differentiated strategies for students. Teachers are able to create lessons that give students the opportunity to be creative, innovative, and collaborative. Students have access to various tools that will further their inquisitiveness in research and information fluency, enabling them to communicate at much higher levels than previously obtained. This technology aids students in being critical thinkers and problem solvers. Students are able to search for answers to inquiries that they have enabling them to become better decision makers. The type of diffusion research this study represents is the Education Diffusion Research Tradition. Teachers may give students assignments to complete on the iPad and download student textbooks to the iPad. Teachers may complete professional development courses through iTunes University. District and State training sessions can be loaded to iTunes University for accessibility by the staff, facilitating ease of accessibility at any time.

Four main elements define the diffusion of innovations theory. They are interspersed in the definition - innovation, communication channels, time and the social system (Rogers, 2003). The selected innovation is the iPad. The focus of the study is management and implementation of the iPad in the educational setting. Communication channels must be established to ensure teachers are aware of the innovation that will be implemented. They must be given the opportunity to ask questions about the devices. Professional development must be offered and scheduled frequently. Teachers must be give time to learn how to use the devices. Early adopters may be utilized as coaches. The late adopters may train with the various members within the social system as they are targeted for persuasion. Consideration must be given for the specific generation of teachers and those that are at different career levels in the social system. Implementing iPads in the educational setting must be a well thought out process with numerous leaders’ inputs to ensure all resources and personnel are covered. The social system will go through modifications to the normal setting, if the innovation is accepted. Failure to follow the theory of the diffusion may produce barriers that may impede the diffusion. A shortage of the technological resources and infrastructure for the schools, lack of teacher training, and a micro-management culture will also be a impediment to the innovation’s implementation.

**References** Crichton, S., Pegler, K., & White, D. (2012). Personal Devices in Public Settings: Lessons Learned From an iPod Touch / iPad Project. The Electronic Journal of e-Learning, 10(1), 23–31. Retrieved from []

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). New York, NY: Free Press.