iPad-eology in Higher Education

Abstract

This interactive symposium will examine the iPad as a pedagogical tool and will explore its potential to transform higher education. 'Padagogy', and 'Podagogy' are swiftly becoming mainstream terms. Whilst this symposium will focus primarily on the role of the iPad in the classroom it will also make reference to other personal computing and mobile devices available to learners.

The symposium will be conducted face to face and via webinar, with input from remote presenters and involvement from (selected) remote participants. ASCILITE delegates and outside participants will be able to comment via a twitter stream, which will be displayed at the venue, and will be able to collaborate more extensively via an ASCILITE wiki.

The symposium will be run as a panel session. Each of the representatives from the three institutions will provide an initial five-minute overview of their experiences in using iPads as teaching & learning devices, exploring the pedagogical opportunities, challenges and risks that iPads and mobile devices present. Immediately following each presentation there will be opportunity for the audience to ask questions and/or make comment. At the end of the panel presentations, delegates, virtual participants and the panel members will have further opportunity to engage in broad ranging exchanges about the value and uses of mobile learning devices and where their future might lead. This dialogue will be transcribed live onto a collaborative site which will remain available for ongoing deliberation at the end of the session. The symposium will be podcast for future online dialogue through the ASCILITE 2011 website.