Minding the Gap

“Mind the Gap” is the automatically voiced instructions for London’s tube riders to avoid tripping over the gap between the platform and the subway car. Essentially, it’s a warning to be extra careful in the transition spaces of the public transportation system. As technology moves from specialized rooms in the 60’s, the cubicle in the 70’s, the den in the 80’s, the living room in the 90’s, and here we are today with real computing power and interface tools that do real work anywhere.

What used to be segue moments in my teaching day: waiting for the next class to settle in, moments in a class where some students are completed a set of questions and others still working, waiting for a meeting to start, these moments are now made productive with the iPad. Using SplashTop to control the computer that is connected to the projector, I can pass the iPad to a student to type of freehand in a solution to a problem. On the other side of the coin, when students who have trouble with a solution they circle the area that they find difficult, and it helps to focus the class and help “clarify the difficulty”. Identifying and being sure of the area of difficulty is a great first step to build a conceptual path to a solution. While not the main workhorse of the class (at this point!), the iPad does provide an excellent tool to pass around and add to the level of communication in a class.

In the sports world, the iPad has several apps that I have taken advantage of. Collecting and recording basketball stats has been a boon for letting the team know exactly how they are doing. The feedback is supplied during and after the game – this is used to make both offensive and defensive adjustments depending on shot percentages from certain locations, fouls, and turnover stats. The portability of the iPad is key for all this as it enables the stat collecting to happen from the bench, as opposed to the scorer’s table. This allows for feedback for the coach and player to happen in real time, and not just at the end of quarters or play stoppages.

There is more to follow, but as of now I no longer mind the gaps in the teaching or coaching moments, as these are now converted to productive times!

DB