The Malta Union of Teachers today published the results of a survey carried out in May in relation to the One Tablet per Child pilot project held in schools during the current scholastic year. The total number of respondents was 422, 49 of which were directly involved in the pilot projects. The rest were asked about the expectations and their opinions on the way forward.

Among the results, the Union stated that respondents replied that before tablets are introduced in schools, there should be for example training for educators (93.88% of those involved in pilot project; 92.23% who were not involved), infrastructure in place (93.88% involved; 87.13% not involved), technical support in place (95.92% involved; 83.65% not involved), policies for educators (85.71% involved; 80.97% not involved) and guidelines for parents about responsibilities (87.76% involved; 89.91% not involved). Apart from this, 71.43% of those involved in the pilot project and 75.34% of those not involved stated that the use of tablets must be at the discretion of teachers, while 95.92% of those involved and 88.2% of those not involved stated that software installed on tablets should include a management system to view what the student is watching on the tablet.

Of note, the biggest disagreement between those who took part in the pilot project and those who did not was on whether they agreed if students should take tablets home (87.76% and 45.05% respectively) and on whether tablets should be left at school in lockers (14.29% and 57.64% respectively). This shows the educators’ concern on who will ultimately be responsible for the devices especially in cases of breakages or other incidents. In conclusion, 30.61% of respondents who were involved in the project stated that they looked forward to start using tablets in class, while 46.94% agreed but with the improvements they suggested.

Speaking during a press conference at the Union’s Institute in Valletta, the MUT Senior Vice President Marco Bonnici stated that on the whole the survey was a positive exercise which should shed some light on what the implications of the One Tablet per Child will be once the project is rolled out in all schools. To date many questions still need to be answered, including who will ultimately be responsible of the tablet, who will be the supplier and which operating system will be adopted, whether there will be a holistic system which integrates the tablets to the current technology used in classrooms – such as the interactive whiteboard – and so on. The answers to such questions will impinge on both the new classroom experience that includes tablets and on ways educators will be expected to prepare lessons with such new technology.

“Also – and this is very important – the Union hopes that the maintenance of tablets will not be a repeat of the laptops’ unfortunate fiasco, with outdated tablets falling into pieces in a few years’ time. If it happens again, in this case it would mean a catastrophe for the whole system especially if textbooks and books are replaced with apps and soft copies to be accessed exclusively from tablets”.

The full survey document is being made public and can be downloaded from the MUT website at www.mut.org.mt.

Campaign Launched on Use of Technology in Class

Meanwhile, the MUT is launching a campaign on the theme of “Teknoloġija Xierqa u f’Waqtha”. This shall be carried out through electronic communication with the use of the Union’s website, social networks and email. In order to reach this aim, an audiovisual production has been created that includes the main message, which is that technology as a tool should be used thoughtfully to enhance the educational experience and that educators should have the possibility to choose the technology they feel is best for their circumstances.

During the launch, MUT President Kevin Bonello stated that “what we’re saying here is that technology – like all tools – should be at the service of education, and not the other way round”.