Tablets keep students focused 

At the first glance, it might seem they are playing with their iPad Pro tablets in class while the teacher is lecturing, but actually these elementary school students at the Chulalongkorn University Demonstration Elementary School are enjoying learning about sound frequency in a science class. 
The example classroom at the demonstration school has adopted iPad Pro as tools for teaching and learning in a year-long experiment. 
Tinnakorn Bourpul, principal of Chulalongkorn University Demonstration Elementary School, said the school is always open to new and innovation technologies to enhance learning and improve teaching. With the support parents of the students and Apple Thailand, the school has adopted the iPad Pro in learning and teaching activities for a year. 
About 40 teachers have already been trained in the technology and can develop interactive books and otherwise create new ways of learning and teaching. 
“We will share our stories with other schools, show them our passion and also help them to utilise technologies to enhance teaching and learning as well,” said Tinnakorn.
Pan-ngarm Chairaksak, vice principal for academic management, vocational courses and technology at Chulalongkorn University Demonstration Elementary School, said the school aims to train 110 teachers to create online courses and work with e-learning courseware over the next four years. 
“Teachers need to be capable of using new technologies to enhance their teaching and improve students’ learning,” said Pan-ngarm. “Teachers have to be instructional designers to design learning process management effectively.” 
Now, iPad Pro is used in 25 per cent of the school’s teaching and learning activities – mainly for project-based learning activities.
The 120 devices are shared between two classes of 40 students to use as a learning tool, while 40 pioneer teachers also have one each as a teaching tool, said Pan-ngarm. The teachers use iPad Pro in conjunction with other learning media.
The elementary demonstration school has seven rooms in each of six levels (Phathom 1 to 6), with each room hosting 35 to 37 students.
Teachers develop e-books while students use their iPad Pro as learning tool to access electronic courseware.
“We do not aim to turn over all learning to electronic platforms; we will use electronics as tools to enhance learning and teaching,” said Pan-ngarm. She added that after the devices were implemented for learning in class, there were improvements that included students who were more happy to be learning, and students enjoying their classes, including the more difficult math and science classes. 
“We see our students more happy and more active in learning inside class and outside the class. They dare to learn difficult subjects. Their score results have improved, especially in the science class, since teachers have the ability to design and tailor their teaching format and model to personalise it to students,” said Pan-ngarm. Teachers can tailor the content to the needs of high achievers, average students or weak students “to keep all of them moving forward together without leaving anyone behind,” she said.
Natchana Maneephruek, a vocational and technology teacher at Chulalongkorn University Demonstration Elementary School said that teachers turn to a variety of applications to enhance their students’ learning experience, including Keynote, iMovie, iTunes U, Swift Playgrounds and Kahoot. “With devices and new technologies, we can design and develop an interesting classroom and get students to enjoy and see the fun in learning. In the digital disruption era, teachers need to be more proactive and keep their eyes on innovation,” said Natchana.