This week, our Educational Technology Committee will make a recommendation on what route to take regarding the classroom model pilot we’ve been running here the last two months. For those that may not have caught my previous posts about this, our pilot model is a teacher Tablet PC, wireless network/Internet connection, and a wireless, ceiling mounted projector with screen. In preparation for the meeting, we’ve been collecting the responses from a survey of our pilot teachers, reflections the superviors at our school, and the report of an independent researcher we had come in to observe and interview the teachers. Hopefully, I can give a more complete picture of what the results a bit later on, but I just wanted to share some of the early feedback from the teachers. I will tell you that all of it, 100% has been positive. Here’s a sampling:
“It is simply amazing – access to information, always having everything WITH you, students having hands-on engagement.”
“The level of student interest and comprehension has never been higher when I am using the tablet.”
“This has changed education, and special education specifically, in my opinion. It easily brings out the best in a teacher.”
“When I haven’t used my tablet, I feel like I’m not teaching correctly anymore.”
“In teaching a special ed class, the level of participation & interest that this tablet has generated is AMAZING.”
“My students and I both use the tablet function every day. We keep classroom notes on it, we annotate documents, we read documents together and implement closer reading strategies. Next quarter I plan on using the tablet to grade and respond to student work. I think the tablet function is invaluable.”
“The versatility is excellent–I have annoated college essays for students wanting extra help, without having to set up dates and times that students usually miss. There are many time-saving and student-helping results from the inking aspect of the tablet.”
“I believe that the students are volunteering to answer questions far more frequently because they don’t have to walk up to the board with the eyes of every other student in the class at their back.”
“The writing tablet function of the PCTablet has opened up many doors for curricular as well as personal uses. Taking notes on student presentations, having students define terms right in the tablet, and a personal calendar that translates my writing into word document print are just some of the great features offered by the Tablet.”
Now I know there are other solutions out there, and I’ve been getting into some “debates” with people about interactive white boards and tablets. (I think tablets win, hands down.) But I have to tell you that even though I personally would never be without a tablet PC, I never dreamed the response from my staff would be this positive. And it has the whole school buzzing about what the future might hold.
Ironically, I saw my first ever Tablet PC commercial over the weekend, for Gateway’s new model. Now I really wonder if Michael Dell will read our pilot report when we send it to him in January…
Will,
I’ll start by saying this sounds exciting and we have a simliar project going in my new district that I’ll be finding out more in the next few weeks.
But let me play devil’s advocate and ask a few hard questions.
1. How has this improved achievement or is it too early to tell?
2. Is it just the “new car smell” factor that’s at work or will this excitement continue in the future?
3. Other than automating some things, what has changed about teaching and learning?
I realize these are fairly poignant questions and don’t necessarily expect you to answer. I’m with you in terms of the excitement but I’ve been asked these questions before and often struggle for concrete answers, yet I think the questions are valid.
I don’t know that in the comparison of technology tools (interactive whiteboards v. Tablet PC’s) that there needs to be a declared winner. I think that it can hinge a fair bit on the culture and needs of your school and even an individual classroom. I’m glad you used the word ”debates” loosely as I know my thinking has been challenged and clarified by your posts. My school has a big investment in IWB technology and I know for my staff the IWB is a lot less threatening than the program you are running. There’s no better or worse choice – just the one that fits your needs. Something that it a drawback in one of your teacher’s eyes:-
“I believe that the students are volunteering to answer questions far more frequently because they don’t have to walk up to the board with the eyes of every other student in the class at their back.”
-: may be a plus in one of my teacher’s classroom where the kids are clambering to get up to the front of the room to show their peers what to do and what they can do. For example, the two junior primary classroom teachers here at my school rave about the collaboration, the sharirg, the discussion that occurs with these five and six year olds when they run a educational CD-ROM like Franklin the Turtle. They take turns using the pen to manipulate the various activities – it is a very concrete tool to use. So, that classroom culture suits an IWB.
Now I have no practical experience in the culture of a New Jersey high school classroom, but it is clear that your staff through their comments find that your Tablet PC program is your ideal fit. So in all situations, the hands down winner is the solution that fits the culture, needs and quite often the budget of your school.
I’m a high school teacher. Just got a tablet this week. Just saw a screencast about a tablet. I’m interested in learning more about the tablet in education.
We are in the process of deploying 40 tablets to our high school staff. Our math teachers are using the tablet with a wireless projector and loving it! The rest of the staff will be getting tablets over the next week.
I thought your screencast on the tablets was great! http://static.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/gems/techcentral/tabletawards.wmv was great! I am trying to figure out how to do this with a Microsoft product.