The document summarizes findings from a pilot project integrating iPads into learning, teaching, and assessment at Leeds University Business School. Key findings included that effective iPad use requires support and training, and that it increased student engagement both in and outside of class. Moving forward, the school plans to provide all students in the MSc International Business program with iPads starting in September and support their use through training, app guides, and dedicated support sessions.

1. Leeds University Business School
Integrating iPads in our learning, teaching &
assessment strategies
Report from a pilot project at Leeds University Business School
iPad Project Meeting
31st July 2012
Nicolas Forsans
Centre for International Business
University of Leeds (CIBUL)

2. Key findings from the 2012 pilot
• Not ‘plug and play’ – there is a learning curve and support is key
• More for effective use of apps than for the actual use of the device
• Increased user engagement with the device
• Within formal lectures / seminars
• Outside
• iPad preferred to Android
• no contest whatsoever!
• 7’ tablets not suitable owing to the small screen
Leeds University Business School

3. Use in lectures…
•During lectures and seminars
– Downloading and reading material
– Note taking, including editing of pdf version of handouts
– Fact-checking
– Lookup facts, extend information and knowledge
– Use apps (web, calculator etc)
– VLE access
•User engagement
•Need for support in terms of
• app-specific training
• appropriate content
• suitable infrastructure

4. … and outside of it
•Prepare for seminars, extend classes
• Access VLE
•Associated reading • Web browsing
• Blog - read and post
– ‘Martini’ learning a key sell • Twitter
– Portability and quick access • Note taking
– Display – quite simply fantastic • Group work preparation
– Battery life – unbeaten! • Reading notes and texts
• Skype conversations
• Email access
• RSS feed monitoring
• Calculator etc
• TED talks and YouTube videos
• Dropbox
• ebooks
• Newspapers and infotainment

5. iOS vs. android
• More usage • Less usage
• More reliable • Less reliable - crashes and system hanging
• Better display – both bigger and sharper • Varied display qualities and sizes
• Apple centric - / + • More devices + / -
• Fragmentation -
• Lower cost (?)

6. Lessons we’ve learnt
• Users were pretty independent
• Devices were intuitive
• Need an ecosystem of apps and ways of accessing
information
• Need to support the use of key apps, which will require
training to get fastest and most effective engagement and
use
• No theft, no breakage
• It works well, but need for setting
• a purpose
• new workflows
• Infrastructure
• Going paperless might be an unrealistic objective, less
paper might be more achievable

7. Moving forward I
• Devices are only useful within an ecosystem where they have been given a purpose
• An attempt to integrate iPads into the curriculum
• through identification of learning, teaching and assessment activities that can be better facilitated through iPads
• supported by general, and app-specific training (hands-on and through iBooks) to facilitate new workflows
• All students on the MSc IB to be equipped with an iPad from September
• Book voucher replaced by an iPad voucher / BYOD
• Case of modules shared with other programmes
• Programme-level "policies"
• Programme & Module handbooks in digital form only
• Lecture handouts and material in digital form only - uploaded 24 hours before the session at the latest
• ebook version of textbook to be "bundled" with the device

8. Moving forward II
• Individual module-specific use
• For module leaders to decide
• Staff support available throughout the year
• Guides and iBooks
• iPad set up - PDF and iBook
• Apps for education guide - .docx
• iPad Project Getting Started - iBook
• Handout uploaded on the VLE in advance of the session
• Student support
• Dedicated sessions within 5213M Professional & Research Skills (NF) for productivity-enhancing apps
• Ad-hoc sessions (NF)
• PDF and iBooks covering specific apps

9. Support

10. What can you do with an iPad?
• Content consumption
• Material in digital form
• Internet access throughout • Collaboration and group work
• Video, audio, podcasts, journal and newspaper • Notes and web clips creation, storage and
articles
sharing with Evernote
• Social media
• RSS Feed monitoring
• Lecture handout and other material for consumption
and editing • Communication: Skype / social media
• Content creation
• PowerPoint presentations created on the device /
presented in seminars
• Assessment
• Video creation - built-in camera and video editing • Quizzes and MCQ tests
software • Journal / diary / reflective pieces
• Audio / podcast creation - Audioboo • Storytelling
• In-seminar research
• Mind maps making
• Blog contribution / reflective assessment pieces
• Content sourced, organised with Evernote then
shared through social media