Tablet PC Blogs

Last week I gave a presentation at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Conference in Washington D.C. Since I had to show a website as part of the presentation, I had hoped to use the writing features of the Tablet to razzle and dazzle the participants by writing and highlighting parts of the website. After some brief research on the other Tablet sites, I found IE Ink on the echo1 website, but the website was unavailable. So, unfortunately, I was not able to use the Tablet to write on IE; however, I did get some questions like "What is that thing you are tapping on?" [:)]

Does anyone know of any site to get IE Ink or any other similar program? I'd like to use the Tablet when I have to demonstrate Blackboard at the staff meetings in late August, so it would be nice to have the writing on IE features.

Any help is appreciated!

Advocating technology in the classroom is always a balancing act. On one hand, teachers are focused on the daily classroom responsibilities of managing instruction and maintaining the relationships with students. This takes tremendous time and energy, and the integration of technology is not always a priority, much less learning about "upcoming" and "unfamiliar" technologies such as the Tablet PC's. At the same time, as technology and the demand for instant information becomes more embedded in our culture, the expectations of being a successful educator will require a level of technology competency, which is why schools are now including full time technology  specialists in each school to support this learning process.

Like all adults, teachers tend to learn best when they understand how something enhances their ability to do the job. The more concrete, the better. When a student can articulate why something is helpful, well, that's the best kind of evidence....

Frick, a high school student, states in his blog:

However, now that I have a tablet I have found that I use the computer much more.  The weight is about 3lbs. and unlike my notebook, I can actually use it in class.  So it pretty much goes with me everywhere throughout my day.  Having it with me in class has created all kinds of new opportunities.  I can take lecture notes with it, draw diagrams and pictures as necessary and many other things that couldn't be done with a notebook.  In class teachers do not appreciate the click, click, click of the keyboard and thus notebooks may not be opened during lectures.  With my tablet I can just write, draw and even record my lectures.

It's a good read: http://www.tabletpcblogs.com/blogs/frick/archive/2005/06/20/715.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage 

Good job Frick! You are educating the educators...

I’m a School Based Technology Specialist in a middle school. Basically, my job is to help teachers and students use technology effectively. A terrific job!

Last week, I received a HP/Compaq TC4200 Tablet PC. Since I’m also enrolled in a graduate program, I was eager to start using the Tablet as a student.

I felt like a student, or more like a “kid” with a new toy, since bringing the Tablet to a class drew a lot of curiosity from others- most eager, some doubtful.

“So is this Tablet PC really beneficial in education or is this just another toy?” OK, they can be a tough crowd since they are all future administrators who are being trained to manage a school with a sense of fiscal restraint and with everything always focused on student achievement. Such hesitation is good since the impact of the amount of money invested in technology is always being researched.

I am convinced that the Tablet PC will be the future in schools, but what will it take for the Tablet to be “useful?” This focus is the purpose of my blog. As I use the Tablet in my role as a specialist and student, I hope to gather observations and resources focused toward the following areas:

From the Teacher’s Point of View

• Identify best practices in integrating the Tablet PC to deliver instruction and manage other duties associated with teaching.

From the Student’s Point of View

• Identify how the Tablet PC enhances learning and other facets of life associated with being a student. It would be helpful if our students had Tablet PC’s, but I can count myself in this category since I’m also a student..