Advancing Learning: Let’s Get Creative

The use of Tablet PC

Technology and the

Internet to Enhance

Teaching & Learning

Carol CarruthersMay 27, 2010

• Seneca was one of 44 higher education institutions selected (370 applicants world wide)

• The $84 000 grant included 21 HP Compaq Notebook/Tablet PC’s with Microsoft® Vista operating system, accessories

Seneca HP site: http://open.senecac.on.ca/HPtabletproject/

2008 Higher Education HP Technology for Teaching Grant

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/grants/us/programs/tech_teaching/hied_global.html#top

This HP grant has afforded the institution an opportunity to “test drive” the technology and to better understand the potential impact on teaching practice, student success as well as the institutional requirements to support a tablet classroom - this latter aspect is not trivial.

Laurel Schollen, DeanFaculty of Applied Science and Engineering Technology (FASET)

• “DyKnow Vision software is an interactive teaching tool used to maximize class time, foster collaborative learning and promote effective studying”

Funding provided by FASET and Academic Computing Services (ACS)A 2010 Post Secondary DyKnow ® Collaborative Software Grant recipient

DyKnow® Software http://www.dyknow.com

A panel to gauge understanding

• Add a polling panel to immediately determine comprehension

Project Goals

To study the affect of enhanced use of

technology in math and science classes on:

• student engagement

• student learning (active participation)

• application of concepts

Learned practice will be used to inform

community outreach opportunities.

Attendance

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

SEM 1 WITH

TABLETS (n=62)

SEM 2 WITH

TABLETS (n=24)

SEM 1 WITHOUT TABLETS

(n=38)

SEM 2 WITHOUT TABLETS

(n=9)

% Attendance - MATH

Did the tablet PCs influence you to attend class more often and persist to the end of

the course?

• “…I really enjoyed using it…excited to use the computer.”

• “…it motivates me to come to class.”

• “…it was a newer and much more interesting way of approaching the course.”

• “…I like the interaction with the whole class. Also I love computers.”

Grades

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

A+,A,B,C D,F,W

Semester 2 Math Grades

WITH TABLETS(n=24)

WITHOUT TABLETS(n=9)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

A+,A,B,C D,F,W

Semester 1 Math Grades

WITH TABLETS(n=62)

WITHOUT TABLETS(n=38)

“The tablet PC helped me improve my performance in this course” (71%)

• “…I actually did my work and it was done right and organized which helped for studying.”

• “…revolutionize the idea of learning…

class a lot more interactive and close to each other.”

Pen options

• familiar use of pen function for formulation• digital inking in multiple colours enhance student interest

The tablet PC improved my note-taking skills (76%)

• “…students can share answers anonymously, we can correct each other’s work.”

• “Assignments and homework were easy on the tablet …your notes are available all the time…”

Panel control can be shared

• class moves at a self-directed pace• students can be a temporary teacher• increased in-class discussion • collaborative notes• modeling methodology• anonymous responses• students are actively engaged and participating in class

Having my work on the tablet PC displayed for the class (shared control) improved my

participation in class” (75%)

• “It influences you because you’re seeing not only your answers but others …it enables you to discuss different methods of solving problems.”

• “…the shy students were more comfortable participating through the tablet…in dyknow than standing up and speaking”.

Send Panels

• students anonymously submit panels during a session

• panels can be annotated immediately or returned at any time

• returned panels are accessed with class notes

• interaction continues beyond allocated class time

Instant feedback from students

• individual student results are privately sent to the teacher• the teacher adds another question or continues on depending on student response

Students can write private notes and chat online

Challenges

• “…they (the tablets) could be a very distracting because it (takes) your mind away off lectures…when lectures becomes boring I tend to go on websites which is the worst thing I can do …”

• slow connection to the internet

these issues continue to be addressed…

Workshop on the Impact of Pen Based Technology (WIPTE) Contest

http://www.wipte.org

• The students of the Applied Science and Technology (AST) Certificate Program won first prize ($3000) for their video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il-k65CFqpE

Special Thanks to Ewan Gibson

Audio Visual Services – Seneca Libraries

Dyknow® Contest 2010

http://www.dyknow.com/videocontest/

• The students of the AST Program won second prize (50 DyKnow licenses)

for their video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd7BsEF1x6g

Special Thanks to Ewan Gibson (AVS)

Special thanks to:The Applied Science and Technology Fundamentals (AST) Certificate students

Laurel Schollen – Dean FASETJames Humphreys– Chair SBSAC

Dawn Mercer – ORIHassan Assiri – Manager ACS

Gino Franceschetti – ACSEwan Gibson - AVS

SBSAC & FASET Faculty

Supported by a 2008 Higher Education HP Technology for Teaching Grant,a 2010 Post Secondary DyKnow ® Collaborative Software Grant,

and by Seneca FASET and ACS