The Tablet PC in Teaching & Learning

An Excellent Microsoft Commercial for the Tablet PC

Patrick — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 01:01:00 GMT

I'm always on the lookout for anything to help me explain why Tablet PC's are more valuable than "traditional" laptops for students. It's good to see Microsoft start making commercials to demonstrate the Tablet's strengths.

Tablet PC Commercial

Thanks to the Student Tablet PC for the link.

Ink on Internet Explorer?

Patrick — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 15:36:00 GMT

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!

Untapped Market for the Tablet PC: Special Education

Patrick — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 14:51:00 GMT

The more I experiment with the Education Pack and other available educational utilities, the more I appreciate the tablet's potential as an organizational and learning tool for students. The Ink Flashcard and Equation Writer are just a start, but more can be done to take advantage of the Tablet's screen interface as a learning tool, especially for students in special education who can benefit from the physical motions of interacting and manipulating text and objects on the screen.

What would really cool? To see more educational software that requires the student to write on the screen and "drag and drop" objects and answers. These features are what make the Smartboards and Interwrite Pads so popular in the classrooms. I use to make drag and drop questions with Coursebuilder for Dreamweaver (http://www.e-ledesma.com/games.htm) a few years ago when I taught students with functional life skills deficits. The kids benefited from the repetition and enjoyed being able to move objects on the screen. It would nice to see similar programs come out for the Tablet.

Actually, when looking at many of the tools for assistive technology, the Tablet is a natural platform for development. So, hopefully, we'll start seeing the Tablet become an important part of this area in education.

Sometimes Students Say It Best

Patrick — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 22:59:00 GMT

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...

How to Look Interested or What Are You Doing Behind that Laptop Screen?

Patrick — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 02:17:00 GMT

How to Look Interested or What are you doing behind that Laptop Screen?

Have you ever taught a lesson or gave a presentation with some participants in the room using computers or laptops? Have you ever wondered what exactly the people behind the laptop or computer screen are doing? Are they listening/ taking notes or are they checking their email or going shopping on Ebay? Or maybe doing both?

A lot of teachers and administrators bring laptops to classes or meetings to take notes. Administrators often bring a laptop during a teacher observation.

Appearance and its perception can be everything in conveying a non verbal message or disposition. I’ve noticed that a simple design advantage offered by the Tablet is the ability for one to take notes on a computer without having the screen act as a “barrier” between the student and teacher or the evaluator and the one being evaluated.

I guess it’s my teaching side that expects students or participants to actually look at the teacher or presenter during a lesson or meeting. And from a teacher or presenter’s point of view, seeing the audience typing behind a screen without being able to what is displayed looks a little too detached.

So, score one for the Tablet’s design for fostering a more personable class or meeting.

An Introduction

Patrick — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 15:22:00 GMT

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..