Pass the iPad: Comparing collaboration on paper and screen

Abstract

Multiuser touch devices are increasingly used in educational settings, but primarily for individual work. Do they lack the flexibility and support for groupwork provided by paper? We compare a 'picture consequences' game, private work to construct a shared product, on paper and with iPads. We describe how the two media support shielding private work, showing the resulting group product and sharing group decisions about it. We found some cross-medium similarities and propose development of further group apps for tablet devices.