(my impression is that most tablets are a little undersized when compared to
the typical laptop) and I love it. I've upgraded to Vista with no problem at
all (in fact, I'm dual-booting with Ubuntu and am eager to see what
7.10does re: pen input, because Vista supports it - not extensively -
but
integrated into the OS).
I use it with OneNote, which is a great program in many contexts. but I also
use it to draw and, as a photography teacher, I find it MUCH more intuitive
to work directly on the screen with a pen rather than off to the side with a
mouse. Same is true for Painter or any number of graphic programs.
I have also used it to mark up Word documents, which again, feels more
natural with the screen on my lap and annotating with a blue, red, black pen
and colored highlighter.
I wish more programs did more with the pen, and expect that they will -
eventually.
As far as teaching goes, there are any number of ways that I use it, but
mostly it's because it feels like a pad in my hand and I can use it that way
- with the power of my browser, and other software within it. I can walk
around my classroom, illustrate things to individual kids, and it's not
nearly as awkward as a laptop.
All that said, software such as browser do not integrate it very well, and
using the input pad which pops up is not very elegant or natural.
Bottom line though, is that I don't really need to justify how I use it in
my instruction so much as that it is simply a much more effective tool for
me to use in my job.
(Not to mention - taking notes in a meeting is much less intrusive and
allows me to focus on the people rather than the screen in front of me.)
(And not to mention that the kids all think it's the "coolest laptop,
ever.")
I'm not sure why this form factor is taking so long to make its way into
more popular use . . . .
--
In peace,
Norman Maynard
Principal
Thornton Friends Upper School
Silver Spring, MD
"I think age is a very high price to pay for maturity." - Tom Stoppard
On 10/18/07, Sepke, Jessica W. <jwsepke@saint-marys.edu > wrote:The actual
value of tablets over regular laptops is the ability to capture handwritten
text and diagrams in addition to typed text.
For example, in teaching AP Computer Science, I can copy the text of a
program into OneNote, where we take notes every day, then annotate it with
"ink" to indicate different code techniques, or errors types, or to hand
trace variables to solve a problem. On a chalkboard or white board, there
is not enough room to do this and when class is over the material is
gone. By storing it electronically, I can send a student notes when she is
absent or pull up yesterday's notes at the beginning of class to do a quick
review. You could do some similar things with a SMART board, but with the
tablet, you can use the same tools whether you are in the classroom or
not. It has made it much easier for me to help a student remotely, such as
when a student has an extended illness or cannot come for help at the time
she needs it.
If you've ever tried to type geometry or create a diagram of a cell on a
standard laptop, you can easily understand how helpful at tablet can be to
students and teachers in these fields.
In our end of year survey for faculty last year, 75% of our teachers stated
that they now feel that the tablet is an essential teaching tool and 85%
believe that tablets have added value to their classrooms.
We have had no more technical difficulties with our tablets than we did with
laptops or desktops.
If you haven't had an opportunity, I would suggest that you visit a school
that has been using them for a year or more. It takes time for people to
integrate them in the way that is most effective for them, but once they do,
they usually say they wouldn't want to go back to a non-tablet environment.
Jessica Sepke
Director of Technology and Information Systems
Saint Mary's School
Raleigh, North Carolina
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators [mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU]
On Behalf Of Greg Kearney
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 11:47 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Tablet PC schools comparing notes
Can I ask a question here? What is the perceived educational advantage
of tablet computers over regular laptop computers? I have worked in
the technology field for a long time and have seen in daily working
use a grand total of 3 tablet computers and in all of those cases they
were eventually replaced with laptops upon failure of the device.
Forgive me for saying it but this tablet computers in schools sounds
more like a way to market the school than a sound technological
decision. But perhaps I'm not seeing some aspect to it that others are.
Greg
On Oct 18, 2007, at 9:34 AM, Richter, Lavina A. wrote:
> We have about 25 tablets deployed to teachers. I'm very interested in
> your research. Thanks, Vi
>
> ______________________________
>
> ______
> > Vi Richter
> > Academic Technology Coordinator
> > Information Technology Services
> > Phillips Exeter Academy
> > 20 Main Street
> > Exeter, NH 03833
> > 603-777-3788
> > vrichter@exeter.edu
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: A forum for independent school educators
> > [mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Demetri Orlando
> > Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 10:09 AM
> > To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> > Subject: Tablet PC schools comparing notes
> >
> > Dear Colleagues,
> >
> > As we begin to look at our next purchasing cycle for Tablet PCs, I'd
> > love to compare notes. If you are using tablet PCs at your school,
> > would
> > you please respond? I'd like to have an informal user group, ask you a
> > few questions off-list, and add to the list of Tablet-using schools:
> > http://schoolcomputing.wikia.com/wiki/Tablet_Computers
> >
> > Thanks very much,
> >
> > Demetri Orlando
> > Battle Ground Academy
> > Franklin, TN
> > demetrio@battlegroundacademy.org
> > skype: popdmo
>
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