Abstract
The purpose of this study was to clarify what helps teachers feel comfortable using tablet PCs in the classroom. Teachers in B City have been obligated to use tablet PCs since the governor set up an environment in which every student in all schools has a tablet PC. However, teachers were upset about using these tablets without proper training. Therefore, the authors conducted teacher training for 15 teachers in charge of information education in each school. After 1 year, teachers in B City started using the tablet PCs. The authors analyzed the data collected from the teachers’ reflections and interviews with some of the teachers to clarify what helped the teachers feel comfortable using tablet PCs in their classroom.
The analysis found the following three factors associated with tablet PC use in the classroom: 1) teachers were placed in an environment where they could immediately use tablet PCs, and where it was possible to ask other teachers and co-workers questions when necessary; 2) they continued to utilize one tablet PC for each student in the classroom; and 3) difficulty in purchasing applications and unclear guidelines for information education hindered the use of tablet PCs in the classroom. Based on the above results, we have three suggestions for educational practice: 1) formulate guidelines for the informationalization of education; 2) establish a cooperative relationship between municipalities and schools; and 3) create a role giving one person responsibility for tablet PCs utilization.
