Collaborative Writing through iPad Sharing

Abstract

In this paper, we present the findings from a study on the collaborative use of tablets (iPads) in a third-grade primary classroom in Norway where pupils worked on creating fairy tales. The pupils had been using iPads since the first grade. The pupils worked in groups of five, sharing an iPad. We observed and recorded the whole trajectory of the story development, which lasted a week, using video as well as field notes. In the present paper, we raise the issue of what role the tablet has in collaborative writing activities. We analyse our data from a Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) perspective. Our findings indicate that the iPad was used as a kind of ‘relay baton’ in writing activities and that the mobility of the device contributed to the development of the story. However, it is the teacher’s design of the classroom activity that is key to the role the iPad plays in collaborative writing activities.