The project revealed that the 2010 AE iPad students performed extremely well, achieving in the top range of academic scores. Of the 2010 intake, 19% attained a Best 4 Average of 95% or above, compared with 9.9% of the 2004–09 group. They also achieved significantly higher Best 4 Average scores than the general February Main cohort:
AE iPad students: 86.6%
All February Main students: 84.5%
February Main (excluding AE iPad students): 84.26%
The three nationality groups represented in the August Extended program who participated in the trial – China, Vietnam and Indonesia –achieved higher Best 4 averages than February Main classmates from the same country:
Yet in measures of language competency, performance by nationality was mixed. AE iPad students from China and Vietnam achieved higher English for Academic Purposes (EAP) scores than their colleagues:
However AE iPad students from Indonesia achieved slightly lower scores in EAP:
In all cases, the AE iPad participants comfortably achieved the EAP hurdle requirement of 50% for acceptance to the University of Melbourne. Additionally, 24% of all AE iPad students were offered a scholarship in comparison with 4% of those who were not involved in the trial.
Overwhelmingly, participants in the trial greatly recommended iPad use to their fellow students and staff. The quality of their educational experiences was greatly enhanced by the technology, and it is encouraging to see these opinions reinforced by the final academic results.
