Birgit Loch Mathematics/FEIS Engineering and Science Education Research Group (ESER) Teaching with Tablets

Overview What is tablet technology Tablets in face to face classes Lecture recording Marking Synchronous online teaching Immediate feedback via tablets The FEIS/ESER tablet project Going wireless MathsCasts Teaching with Tablets 2

How did I get involved in educational technologies? Teaching with Tablets 3

What is tablet technology? Teaching with Tablets 4

Why write on the computer? Keep record of all writing in class Can refer back Can make available to students Can record development as video – e.g. via Lectopia Students focus on one screen Develop slides with students Teaching with Tablets 5

Tablets in library classes: Kaye England/ Ranald Simpson, USQ Teaching with Tablets 6

Tablets in German language teaching: Gabriela Pohl, USQ Teaching with Tablets 7

Tablets in maths teaching Teaching with Tablets 8

Tablets in maths lecturing Teaching with Tablets 9

Tablets in finance lecturing: Peter Phillips, USQ Teaching with Tablets 10

Student feedback “Perfect lecture set up. Perfect course for that matter, I’ve really enjoyed this subject, each maths subject should have this setup” (UQ student, 2004) “It brings the whole lecture virtually anywhere along with you. Loved it. Great approach.” (Swinburne student, 2010) “I found the slides to be vital in my learning” (Swinburne student, 2010) Teaching with Tablets 11

Lecture recording Do students still turn up? Case study OR, on campus students Yes! But why? >It takes as long to watch a video as it does to attend a live lecture >Ability to ask questions and receive immediate answer >Easier to learn in company >Reinforces study schedule >Screencasts are boring Teaching with Tablets 12

Marking: Mathematics, with Trevor Langlands, USQ Teaching with Tablets 13

Marking: Biodiversity & Conservation, Andy Le Brocque, USQ Teaching with Tablets 14

Synchronous online teaching: Mathematics Teaching with Tablets 15

Clickers for Immediate feedback Teaching with Tablets 16

The problem with clickers A) B) C) D) Teaching with Tablets 17

Immediate feedback Advanced Concepts Teaching Space (UQ, with Diane Donovan) 100 pen-enabled screens, SynchronEyes software Test revision sessions Teaching with Tablets 18

The sessions Students were given (incorrect) solutions to potential test questions, and asked to mark. Students were asked to solve potential test questions Student work was then selected, displayed and discussed Interaction took time Teaching with Tablets 19

Selecting student work Teaching with Tablets 20

Student feedback Themes from comments: ‘engaging’ ‘involved’ ‘interactive’ ‘fun’ ‘useful’ ‘cool’ Teaching with Tablets 21

2011: Did you learn more in the ACTS lab session than you would have in a normal classroom? (n=87) Teaching with Tablets 22

Is there a cheaper version? Tablet PCs for students Graphics tablets connected to lab computers ATC 425/426 MeTL software (Monash Uni) Netsupport School Teaching with Tablets 23

Exam preparation sessions in ATC 425/426 Teaching with Tablets 24

The FEIS/ESER tablet project 50+ slate tablets (15 of those for students in MASH Centre) 6 pen screens 15 graphics tablets Other bits and pieces Part time project assistant In S1 2012: >31 lecturers/tutors involved in FEIS >1 in FICT, 1 in FBE Teaching with Tablets 25

“Pen screens” This technology may already be available in a lecture theatre near you! Would you recognize a pen screen? Teaching with Tablets 26

Lecturer feedback (from USQ) led to more engagement with technology in general made lectures more dynamic led to a change in teaching approaches “Students are now more involved in contributing” “In terms of how the use has invigorated my teaching. […] For the first time in years I have felt excited about my teaching and that is reflected in how I interact with students. So then they get excited” Teaching with Tablets 27

Roaming about In a large lecture theatre, what if you were no longer physically separated from your students? what if you gave the stylus to your students? Teaching with Tablets 28

Going wireless Various solutions Teaching with Tablets 29

30 Teaching with Tablets An Example: Make t the subject

Short focused recordings “There’s an app for this” Teaching with Tablets 31 ScreenChomp Mathscasts.org

Short snippets in OR Teaching with Tablets 32

What are MathsCasts? International, Swinburne-led collaboration Short screen videos of mathematical explanation Created with Camtasia Studio on a tablet PC Created by tutors in the Maths support centres Do not require expert technical knowledge or A/V staff to produce Teaching with Tablets 33

What are MathsCasts? (cont.) Funding at Limerick and Swinburne About 300 produced so far Available for free to anyone via iTunes U, Swinburne Commons and from Direct link Teaching with Tablets 34

Student feedback “Yes, I watched them all. They are fantastic, much better than a typed response.” “Every time I get stuck on something, I’ll go back to a MathsCast, and it makes it a bit easier to go through questions out of a book”. This student also said that not only does he find maths easier to grasp, but he has even started enjoying it. Teaching with Tablets 35

On BlackBoard Teaching with Tablets 36

External recognition Teaching with Tablets 37 New Media Consortium Horizon Report 2012 Higher Ed Edition “… identify and describe emerging technologies likely to have an impact on learning, teaching and creative inquiry in higher education.“

Over to you, Dr Camtasia! Teaching with Tablets 38