Project - X: An Initiative to Increase Student Engagement through Laptops

Year 2018, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 1 - 21, 15.01.2018

Tanju Deveci David Dalton Asli Hassan Saeed Talep Amer Samuel Cubero

Abstract

Today’s digital
natives enthuse educators to consider the impact of technology on learning and
plan proper instruction, involving the use of laptop along with other
technologies. However, implementing laptop use in classrooms without adequate
support from administration, IT and faculty can have limited benefits. This
article presents the results of a project conducted to identify the perceptions
of students and faculty about ways in which the laptop use affects the learning
environment at the Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi for two courses: Strategies for Team Based Engineering Problem Solving
and Communication. Sixty-four freshman students, six instructors and two IT
members were involved in the project. Quantitative and qualitative data were
collected from students and faculty using a student
survey, weekly electronic faculty-feedback logs, and electronic student
journals.
Data revealed that the use of laptops in the classrooms enhanced the feedback
process on team-assignments in particular. Instructors felt that integration of
laptops facilitated syllabus delivery and classroom management. Results also
indicated challenges related to technical issues such as battery-life and Wi-Fi
interference. It was further found that initial student and faculty training is
essential for the project to have greater success. Results are discussed and
recommendations are made for effective integration of the laptop in active
learning environments.

Keywords

Laptop, Active learning, Student engagement, Team learning

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