1.
A Contribution to Collaborative
Learning Using iPads for
School Children
Benedikt Kienleitner, Martin Ebner
4th European Immersive Education Summit

2.
http://www.facebook.com/
martin.ebner
http://www.martinebner.at
https://twitter.com/#!/
mebner
http://
elearningblog.
tugraz.at

3.
Research goal
.. is to use digital devices to connect the
learners to strongly assist communication
between peers. The fundamental idea is
to develop a prototype-application where
learners can actively engage into
collaborative work.

4.
Theoretical Background
• Collaborative Learning
• Educational Games
• Mobile Devices in Classroom

5.
Idea
Overcome to major issues:
• Missing feedback for teachers (Overview about pupil’s
performance)
• Lack of collaboration (Mobile devices tend to act as
stand-alone devices)

6.
Cloud / Webplatform act as central
database
Learner
iPad
Learner
iPad
Learner
iPad
Learner
iPad
Teacher
Define questions/answers
Main Architecture I
Download
exercises
Play the game

7.
Main Architecture II

8.
User Interface - Start Screen

9.
User Interface - Login Form

10.
User Interface - Start Game Screen

11.
User Interface - Join Game Screen

12.
User Interface - Main Screen

13.
User Interface - Main Screen

14.
First Field Study
Setting:
• Two primary schools / second classes with 15/18
pupils
• Two trials (groups of two and groups of four)
• Participatory observation

15.
Observed aspects
• Children understood quickly the concept, were
motivated
• Game was easy to use, enjoyable
• Steady communication between learners happened
• Children cooperated very well
• Connection failures, connection process difficult,
password problems, drag & drop problems of letters

16.
Results of Interviews
Question Mean
1. Did you like to play togehter? 1
2. Was the app easy to use? 1-2
3. Did you learn new words? 1
4. Was the difficulty of the game (words) ok? 1-3
5. Would you like to play again? 1

17.
Children’s performance
groups of two
groups of four

18.
Summary
• App fostered communication and collaboration
• Given the right setting, children support each other
and work together
• The presentation as a game is more enjoyable
• There are few technical difficulties that need to be
addressed.

19.
http://schule.tugraz.at

20.
Slides available at: http://elearningblog.tugraz.at
SOCIAL LEARNING
Computer and Information Services
Graz University of Technology
Graz University of Technology
Martin Ebner
martin.ebner@tugraz.at
http://elearning.tugraz.at
mebner