Tablet PCs: Expensive Gizzmos or valuable tools

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_t
taba12d.htm
2
E-Grant project

• Aims
• To identify and evaluate if/how tablet pcs 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

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.

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)

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.

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

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

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)
• Cant keep it!

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

13
Would they like to continue?
14
Conclusion?

• Universal approval of benefits for marking.
• Enabling technology
• Working in a way thats best for you.
• Real benefits.
• Caveat
• Very small sample