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Tablet PCs: Expensive Gizzmos or valuable tools? - Staff experiences.

Tablet PCs: Expensive Gizzmos or valuable tools? - Staff experiences. Chris Beaumont Deputy Director, Write Now CETL Images from http://www.tatung.co.uk/mob_features_ttaba12d.htm E-Grant project Aims

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Tablet PCs: Expensive Gizzmos or valuable tools? - Staff experiences.

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  1. Tablet PCs: Expensive Gizzmos or valuable tools? - Staff experiences. Chris Beaumont Deputy Director, Write Now CETL Images from http://www.tatung.co.uk/mob_features_ttaba12d.htm http://www.writenow.ac.uk

  2. E-Grant project Aims • To identify and evaluate if/how tablet pc’s can be integrated into learning and teaching particularly integrating with e-learning using the VLE. • To evaluate any new opportunities afforded by these devices. Method • Small-scale qualitative approach (interviews) • 6 members of staff (Business, Computing, Geography and Sport) • Prerequisite: Some use of e-learning, but mixed experience from novice to expert. • Academic year 2006/7 • Initial training (20-30 mins) • Wireless Router provided if requied 2

  3. Tablet PC Features Portability / Mobility • Light and small : 1.4Kg (3.08lbs) / A4 size • Long life battery (6 hrs) • WiFi incorporated (802.11a/b/g) • Slate type (detachable k/b) or Laptop-type • External DVD/CD drive. 3

  4. Tablet PC Features Unique Applications • Designed for stylus with handwritten input • Windows Tablet Edition provides input • Sticky notes • MS Journal • Character recognition • Handwritten Ink annotation in MS applications (Word/PPT) • Right click with pen (hold down) 4

  5. What applications were used? • Sticky notes • 75% never used • MS Journal • 75% frequently/ sometimes used • Character recognition • 40% never / 60% sometimes / 20% frequently • Handwritten Ink annotation in MS applications (Word/PPT) • Most frequent use. 5

  6. What uses so far? • Marking • Changed electronic marking from lots of comments at end of work to in-script comments. Students see exactly what comment relates to. • ‘closing the electronic marking loop’ – avoids printout and the ‘disaster’ of on-screen conventional marking. • Meetings • No or reduced paper needed. • Annotate papers / Highlighting • MS Journal for notes • Presentations/ teaching • Replace Laptop • Relaxing • Online shopping • Games 6

  7. Use in marking • Collect assignments from LearnWise to Pen Drive/ Load to Tablet/ Mark (handwritten annotation) / Return via Email • Mark away from desk – less distractions • No significant difference in speed of marking cf pen and paper. (on-screen marking with typed track changes is much slower than handwritten on paper) • Automatic archiving, • ‘Closing the loop’ • No printing: saves paper. • Able to erase comments. • Easy use of colour • Quicker to return Image from Microsoft.com 7

  8. Where were they used? • Home (most used wireless internet) • University Flat • University • Conferences (UK, European mainland) • Train • Airports Lack of Wireless LAN at Hope was a frustration and reduced potential 8

  9. Ease of Use “Surprised how easy it was” Character recognition could be better “My eight-year old daughter picked it up easily” 9

  10. Reported Benefits “I could mark not sat at my desk… in my preferred way … with my feet up” • Mobility • Lightness makes it more convenient to use than laptop. More likely to use. • Mobility – can work where you want. • Can adapt to your style of working – more pleasurable. • Can save paper (meetings etc) • Handwritten input • Helps avoid storage of marked work. • Personalised comments. 10

  11. Issues • Infrastructure • Lack of WLAN at University • Usability/ Functionality • Character recognition found to be “load of rubbish” by one user. • Setup problems (WiFi encryption install instructions) WiFi at home and beyond. • Robustness of the keyboard / angle of view. • Right click mouse inconvenient. • Stylus Tether. • Compatibility • Open Office compatibility / need for Word Viewer (4-5 initially 1/50 later) • Can’t keep it! 11

  12. Other findings • Generate lots of interest from other staff. • Complements other tools. • Some use the tablet in very focussed way. • Changing the way we work- Futures? • Expressed views that this is the start, would like to explore changes to teaching, working, apps change from paper based journal. Research field notes. • Would like to use it for ad-hoc notes / reflections (respondent did not see teaching as separate from rest of usage) • On-line browsing of asynchronous forum contributions around the campus 12

  13. Would they like to continue? 13

  14. Conclusion? • Universal approval of benefits for marking. • Enabling technology • Working in a way that’s best for you. • Real benefits. • Caveat • Very small sample 14

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