Does iPad technology bolster art teaching and learning?

Despite the availability of iPads in a large number of school districts, as well as the popularity of teaching with iPads in art classrooms, evidenced by presentations that featured iPad teaching methods at National Art Education Association annual conventions during recent years, little research has been conducted to explore the practicability and effectiveness of the utilization of mobile tablet technology such as iPads in actual art teaching scenarios for kindergarten to middle school students. I hereby present an exploratory study about how the mobile tablet technology including iPads and artistic applications (mainly Sketchbook pro) can assist in a specific art education teaching and learning practice. Results of this study suggested that through using iPads, students achieved the expected comprehension and performance of artistic skills and knowledge, gained more interest in artistic learning, aroused creative abilities, and generated innovative forms of artistic practices.