Adventures in MET Land

Last night during our TELE meeting I was asked why use a tablet. Our instructor has also wondered why use a Tablet when students can simply use paper. My desire for students to use tablets comes from my own personal use with a tablet. I have found the use of a tablet has enhanced my learning experience within the MET program. All of my module readings and research readings are all stored within my tablet. I make digital ink notes on my readings, highlight, and find it much easier to organize (with the use of MS Onenote). Currently I teach students who bring their laptops to class. When asked if they prefer typing their notes vs hand writing they indicate they would rather type. This is interesting as Kim and Turner (2009) noted that three fourths of students served in their study would rather hand write the notes. Moreover, within my CI courses students are expected to perform mathematical calculations. Very seldom do the students use the word documents built in equation editor to do so. The students do not even bother writing the examples on paper as most of them know they will lose them. Oviatt, Arthur, and Cohen (2006) noted that many students in their study did not like using equation editors vs hand writing or digital inking on a tablet. They felt that the cognitive load on students was to much. Students spent to much energy trying to figure out how to use the equation editor; thus, spent less time learning the concept. Their students found the use of digital ink on tablets as the most natural method of performing mathematical work when compared to the use of pencil and paper.

As our TELE will require students to use laptops, than the natural question is why not a tablet. Assignments will be handed in online, they will be required to create worked screencasts of mathematical work to post on blogs, they can share onenote notebooks, and they can keep all of their resources in one place rather than wondering if the material is located within their notebook or their computer.

Hmm, but I wonder if I am bias.

Cheers,

D

References:

Oviatt, S., Arthur, A., & Cohen, J. (2006). Quiet interfaces that help students think. Proceedings of the 19th annual ACM sumposium on user interface software and technology, (pp. 191 – 200). Montreux.

Kim, K., & Turner, S. A. (2009). Requirements for electronic note taking systems: A field study of note taking in university classrooms. Education info technology , 255-283.