Using Tablet PCs in Higher Education – Manuel Frutos­-Perez

1. E­learning at UWE: An integrated approach to learning technologies support

http://www.uwe.ac.uk/elearning/

We are an academic unit based in the central IT Services of the university. The unit was created in 2003 just as the institution adopted a VLE (Blackboard). Our main remit is to identify, develop and disseminate good e­learning practice across the university. The unusual approach of locating an academic e­learning unit in IT Services has worked really well for us. IT Services staff perceive us as members of the service and are very receptive to our ideas and initiatives. On the other hand, academic staff from the faculties perceive us as academics and are very receptive to our advice.
2. Use of Tablet PCs at UWE: Redesigning the Research Methods Curriculum

http://hptft.uwe.ac.uk/

This project aims to redesign the research methods curriculum for the disciplines of mathematics, statistics and information technology (IT) by integrating online learning support into the classroom. In most online learning environments learning materials are generally provided in one context. Limited customisation is often possible, e.g. changing text colour, but there is little opportunity to change more conceptual elements of the learning context; choosing between graphic, metaphoric or textual modes of navigation, for example. Current research and development work at UWE has created an online e­learning resource, the Research Observatory (RO) that seeks to address this issue.
The RO does enable students to choose the context in which they study materials without requiring duplication of the materials themselves. This curriculum redesign project focuses upon enabling the students to use the online curriculum content in the RO in classroom sessions, and to take an active part in designing appropriate learning contexts for further development of the RO. The pen interface of the tablet computers is the ideal medium for these activities as the students can draw and sketch their ideas, and keep handwritten notes and diagrams in electronic form. The project is funded by Hewlett Packard as part of their Global Technology for Teaching grant scheme. We received our award in 2007.

Tablet PCs used for the project:

• HP Compaq 2710p
• Intel Core 2 Duo CPU @ 1.20 GHz 1 GB RAM 60 GB HDD Windows Vista OS Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset graphics
• Classroom management software: SynchronEyes