iPads versus laptops: The effects of mobile device interfaces on students\u27 attitudes towards technology and learning

Although iPad and laptop interfaces look similar, users interact with them in significantly different ways. The differences in these interfaces may lead to attitudinal differences towards technology and learning. In an attitudinal survey taken by 39 UNI Malcolm Price Laboratory School (MPLS) students, possible attitudinal differences of students based upon the two interfaces were investigated. This preliminary ex-post facto study investigated whether there is any relationship between the type of mobile devices used in a ninth grade English class and the students’ attitudes towards technology and learning. The study also explored if a relationship between attitudes toward technology and learning existed based upon whether or not the students used mobile devices in class. The study found a statistically significant difference in attitude towards learning between ninth grade mobile device users and eighth grade students who did not have mobile devices. There was neither a statistically significant difference in attitude towards learning nor technology in regard to ninth grade students who used different types of mobile devices (iPads and laptops). As pertains to eighth grade students who did not use mobile devices and ninth grade students who used mobile devices, the study found there was no statistically significant difference in attitude towards technology. Nevertheless, there were a few survey items that showed statistically significant differences in attitude towards technology and learning among the groups. The researcher recommends a repeat of this study with a larger sample size as shown by the effect sizes. This is likely to show statically significant differences among the groups