This is a shot of the technology use at my table at NATVAC 2011, the national meeting of Canadian Provosts and Vice President Academics, in Ottawa. In addition to the 2 MacBook Air there are 3 iPads as well as 5 iphones being used at my table. We were allowed to self select where we sit so this concentration is not planned. There are several other tables with all 5 members who are using iPads or other technologies. I took the time to scan the room and out of the 65 attendees there are only two people using PCs and most people are using iPads, MacBook Airs or MacBook Pros. Similarly the smart phone of choice is the iPhone and most people are using the iPhone 4.
More than 3/4 of the VP Academics in attendance are actually using technology in this session. Yes, the iPads or MacBooks are on the tables are being used as the sessions run. A quarter or less people are using paper to take notes during this session and many of those taking notes on paper are also using iPhones to check email or whatever else they need to do.
Why is this significant? This is my first meeting but I have talked to a few other longer term attendees and they confirmed that this is a very recent phenomenon. With more iPads in use than any other device one can only speculate that the iPad was the device that has changed the way that the VP Academics work. Many of these people are no longer just passively listening they are either engaged in taking notes or are engaged in some aspect of work. This is very good to see. If the iPad or similar technologies are good enough to use in workshops/meetings at this level then it isn’t a stretch to promote this type of technology use in the classroom.
Other explanations could be:
* VP Academics are more likely to follow the herd.
* VP Academics are easier persuaded by advertising.
* VP Academics have too much money to spend.
I am not claiming that any of these alternative reasons are true, but the observation itself does not necessarily lead to the conclusion drawn in the blog.