Teaching and learning with tablets: A case study of twenty-first-century skills and new learning

The case study presented in this chapter focuses on the twenty-first-century skills of creativity, critical thinking, collaborations and communications (Partnerships for the 21st century, 2008; Trilling and Fadel, 2009). They are encountered in contexts that require learners to recognise that their futures involve them being effective citizens with a good character. The examples of new learning documented here illustrate the ways in which the teachers designed learning experiences to encourage the acquisition and use of twenty-first-century skills. They achieved this in collaborative contexts characterised by whole class, small group and individual activities and shared outcomes and strategies with both peers and teachers. The findings from the case study revealed the enthusiasm of the teachers for the use of new technologies in their classroom, and the support of the principals who provided the essential positive leadership that encouraged changes to practice.