Campus Technology News

Tablet PC Study

The preliminary results from the campus Tablet PC study have been a success at UW-La Crosse. Students from across the campus have provided a wealth of information that is being analyzed. Interestingly, students found many unique and innovative ways to use the Tablet, particularly for note taking, utilizing Desire2Learn, and presenting PowerPoint presentations in class. By far, the ability to connect to the network through wireless access points around campus provided true mobility for e-mail messages or connecting to the Internet. The final report will be available to the campus in the fall.

Michael Durnin practices his PowerPoint presentation using the Tablet PC and connecting with a video projector.

Currently faculty members have or will be utilizing the Tablets from a variety of departments. They include:

• Cecilia Manrique, Political Science/Public Administration
• Scott Cooper, Biology
• Mike Haupert, Economics
• Michael Durnin, ESS
• Emmanuel Felix, ESS
• Emily Johnson, General Education/Psychology
• Roger Grant, Art
• Bob Hoar, Math
• Rick Mikat, HPERTE
• Betsy Morgan, Psychology
• Tim Gerber, Biology

Over the summer, and continuing into the fall, each faculty member will be asked to conduct on-line assessments and be part of one-on-one focus sessions to determine how they are utilizing their Tablets, but more important to suggest ways to use them to specifically enhance student learning. This process will continue through the school year as Jim Jorstad, Director of Educational Technologies, received a UW-System Grant to conduct a study comparing Tablet PC’s at UW-La Crosse with PDA’s and laptops at UW-Eau Claire. The grant will analyze how either technology affects the learning of students. Specific learning objects (LO’s) will be developed or selected to use with these “learning appliances.”

Michael uses a feature in Office 2003, enabling him to "telestrate" movements in PowerPoint on his Tablet.

Michael Durnin recently used his Tablet for a state presentation at the NIKE Wisconsin Football Coaches Association 28th Annual Football Clinic. To an audience of 1000 attendees, Mike developed an interactive PowerPoint for his keynote, entitled, “Defensive Front Adjustments to Multiple Offensive Sets.” Through a series of consultations with Jim Jorstad, Mike customized his Tablet PC presentation to allow him to animate special plays, “telestrate” with digital ink right on his PowerPoint slides, and also allowed him to ask multiple choice hyperlink questions that revealed the answer during his program. The audience was extremely impressed, and provided the framework form Michael to develop other uses of the Tablet in his classes.

He now uses the Tablet regularly for developing new PowerPoint presentations for his class, to manage his Desire2Learn classes, and it provides wireless mobility for e-mail and the Internet.

More faculty projects are planned for the fall and spring semesters. If you would like to learn more about the Tablet PC, please feel free to contact Jim Jorstad, in Educational Technologies/ITS.