Tablet PCs take SMWC on new course
HP Grant put to work in three classes this semester
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: News
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Adviser, The Woods
When Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College received computers as part of an HP Technology Grant, no one could say exactly how the computers would enhance courses at SMWC.
With a weeks of using the Tablet PCs in the classroom, faculty have a better idea of the effect the technology will have.
"It fundamentally changed the way I teach," said Jennie Mitchell, professor of business who's taught at SMWC since 1989. She's using the Tablet PCs in a business finance course. "I didn't know how important they were going to be."
SMWC announced in June that it was one of 39 two- and four-year colleges and universities to receive a grant, with an award package of HP products and faculty cash award valued at more than $77,000.
Bellampalli Ramachandran, assistant professor of chemistry, served as SMWC's principal investigator for the HP Technology for Teaching grant proposal. Mitchell and Dottie King, associate professor of mathematics, served as co-investigators for the proposal.
Two other classes besides Mitchell's finance class are using the Tablet PCs: a chemistry course taught by Ramachandran and an intro to computer software course taught by Daesang Kim, assistant professor of business and instructional design specialist.
All three SMWC professors say the Tablet PCs makes the learning environment more interactive.
"Because they are BlueTooth they can collaborate with a classmate," Mitchell said.
For Kim, using the Tablet PCs allowed him to move his students from a computer lab to a more relaxed class room. In the lab, the teacher would be at the front of the classroom at one computer station looking out on the rows of computers where students sat. Now the students can sit where they can see each other and work together on projects and concepts while Kim projects his notes and slides for them to see.
"They can write on the screen so they can make a journal and save the file and email it to themselves," he said.
Ramachandran wants to use the Tablet PCs in two sections of general chemistry and organic chemsistry. "The main idea is promoting collaborative learning atmosphere… and teaching atmosphere," he said. "The instructor and students can interact, and students can interact. The instructor can individually see what is going on in each Tablet PC so we can better help the students."
Mitchell uses a lot of problems for her students to solve in her finance class. Using OneNote on the Tablet PCs allows the students to clip pieces of any kind of program into their notes.
"They can capture pieces of a portfolio in their notes," Mitchell said. "It does calculations. When working on ratios, I say 'let's calculate the current ratios,' and through a few quick key strokes they can do it."
Students can also use audio and video with their notes.
The inclusive notes are helping, Mitchell said. "They would do things in Excel, but it wasn't in their notes," she said. "They might not make the connection of how we solved something. It really has changed the way I teach."
Ashley Wegner, a senior business administration major taking Mitchell's finance class this semester, said most business courses she's taken prepared her how to run a business. But the addition of the Tablet PCs helps her learn how to make a business better.
"By learning these tablets, you are teaching yourself about technology and how to think outside the box by using the technology to show yourself ways to add value," Wegner said.
For now, the downside is the Tablet PCs don't have the capability for students to log in with their own log in and password. So, they have to make sure they get the same tablet every time so they can access their notes. The issue with that is timing. The Tablet PCs are in use, limiting the time the IT Department can have to get the logins ready.
Mitchell said other faculty will be able to use them for more courses. She advises to start out small.
"It does complicate it because you are learning new software and a new computer system with all the book work," Wegner said. "But once we get the hang of it, it will help. When we come to a time where we all have a job and we have these to use, it can definitely make things a lot quicker. You can also convert your handwriting to type. So then you could send it to someone else. You don't spend as much time typing."
The project -- Enhanced Learning Environment Via Advanced Tablet-PC Environment (ELEVATE) is in full swing. Students are being trained to assist faculty in implementing the Tablet-PCs. "We want it to be as easy as possible for faculty to use it."
An open house will be held in November to demonstrate the Tablet PCs.
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