Teaching with Technology

Exploring Tablet PCs by, Lyndon Godsall, Linda Crescimano, and Risa Blair

Description

A Tablet PC is similar to a laptop with more functions. It has a stylus pen that can be used along with specialized software that allows you to write on the screen. The Tablet PC is structured so that it has only one hinge instead of the two on a laptop. This allows the screen to swivel and be used flat like a piece of paper on a clipboard. The stylus pen acts as a mouse does on a traditional laptop computer. The Tablet PC is also lighter weight and has a longer battery life than a traditional laptop. However, it is more expensive and the screen can sometimes be harder to see since the screen has to be thick enough to handle the pressure from writing.

Findings

The Godsall, et. al article describes common Tablet PC programs and applications as well as findings from a Tablet Trial. One program used in the younger grades allows students to practice handwriting by tracing letters. Once the tracings are complete, a picture of the word appears. Windows Journal is a program that makes all traditional Microsoft applications ink-enabled so teachers can write and highlight directly on documents. Another useful program that includes handwriting recognition is One Note. Teachers can use this to organize, and reuse notes on their Tablet PC?s.

There were several interesting findings from the Tablet Trial. A tablet users group was formed for Tablet PC teachers to share useful tips and tricks.  A director of technology reported less computer repairs for the Tablet users. One middle school teacher who teaches multiple classes liked the Tablet?s ability to edit and alter her notes and then return them to the original material without erasing and rewriting. Another teacher requires his students to post their assignments on a blackboard where he uses the ink enabled applications to correct their work and return it electronically.

Reflection

I would really like to have a Tablet PC to enhance my teaching. I would like to be a small group K-2 reading teacher in the near future. I believe that a Tablet PC can allow me to have interactive mini lessons in a small group. Sitting at a kidney shaped table, I could use the Tablet like a Smartboard. The smarttech.com resource shared in session 6 has several activities that could be used to teach skills and provide interaction. I would also like to have 6 more tablets for the students. This way they can practice the same skills modeled in a whole group. Also with a tablet they could draw and write. I like to have students respond to what they have read. Wake County uses a shape-go-map to help with retelling a story. Each shape reminds students to retell a certain part of the story. For example, the triangle reminds students to tell the three things at the beginning of the story; character, setting and problem. Students could draw a triangle on their tablet and write the three things beside each point in the triangle. Doing this on a tablet would be much more engaging than using a piece of paper and a pencil.