Abstract:

NHL University in Leeuwarden (The Netherlands) signed an agreement with the Piter Jelles secondary school Leeuwarder Lyceum in order to monitor the implementation and use of the iPad in its classes. The Piter Jelles secondary school acts as a living lab. According to Mitchel, a living lab represents a user-centric research methodology for sensing, prototyping, validating and refining complex solutions in multiple and evolving real life contexts. This particular living lab aims for innovative education and organization on design, implementation, use, and effects.

Three minors from NHL University cooperate in the project:
• the minor Social Media focusses on measuring the effects of the iPad
• the minor TheNextWeb develops iPad apps and tests prototypes
• the minor Digital Didactics focusses on using the iPad in classrooms

Three NHL lectorates initiate research by NHL students and their lecturers: the lectorate Social Media and reputation management, the lectorate Serious Gaming and the lectorate Digital Didactics. Measuring the effects of the iPad unites the research projects.

All partners benefit from this living lab. NHL Students and teachers develop an innovative and inquisitive attitude. NHL student teachers are intensely prepered for their future field of work. Piter Jelles secondary school continuously adjusts its efforts on education in the 21st century. NHL University is an archetype of an organization that develops itself, developing new knowledge and distributing it to the field of work.

The first research was an intensive qualitative study on the implementation on the iPad in Education. Venkatesh et al. introduced the UTAUT-model in 2003, in order to explain the acceptance and usage of new IT-solutions in organizations. The UTAUT-model combines eight previously prominent models such as the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis, 1989) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (Azjen 1989). The UTAUT-model focusses on Performance expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Facilitating conditions, Anxiety, Self-efficacy and Attitude towards Behaviour.

The iPad is used by 150 pupils at the Leeuwarder Lyceum. Its 25 teachers could test the iPad borrowing one of the schools iPads for a couple of the days. Results show that the pupils and their teachers are enthusiast about the Performance expectancy, but the teachers are uncertain about how to use the iPad in their classes. Pupils don’t need extra classes on using the iPad and don’t feel anxious about it. Pupils and teachers look for Apps that can replace Microsoft Office. Teachers are afraid that students will be easily distracted by games. Teachers indicate they need more time to study the impact of the iPad on their classes.

Some of the future projects that will be initiated:
• In December 2012 we will Perform the Pupil21 and Teacher21 monitor, in which we investigate the use of social media, using the Uses and Gratifications theory by West and Turner 2010.
• In spring of 2013 we will start an App workshop, aimed at designing new Apps, and aimed at raising support for the iPad.
• We prepare research on a topic, in which one group uses iPad Apps and another group of pupils does not.

The Living Lab proves to be a rich environment, in which research can be done on education in the 21st century, using a powerful and promising tool as Apples iPad.

Keywords:

Living lab, user acceptance, iPad, Social Media Interaction patterns, adoption of information technology.