Supplementing Classroom Instruction with Pencasts Vinnie Gupta Mechanical

What is a Smart Pen ? Livescribe Echo or Pulse Records what you hear and write You write on special dot-paper Audio and Notes are synchronized Information is stored in “Pencast” file Pencast is replayed using free Livescribe Desktop software

Echo Smartpen Package

Echo Smartpen

Dot Paper (Anoto AB Pattern)

Where can it be used ? Academic: Lecture Notes Business: Meeting Notes Creative: Sketches with audio commentary How-Tos...

Where did I use it? Winter quarter (20102) Mechanics II course Problem Solving Sessions Class Example (MyCourses) Homework Problem ( )

4-step Problem Solving Method (PDFS) Parse: identify knowns & unknowns Draw: draw a suitable diagram Formulate: write relevant equations Solve: solve the equation set

Problem Statement If the length of one side of a triangle is 22”, and the angles at its two ends are 25  and 40 , find the other two side lengths.

Demonstration Create notes and audio Upload to a PC Replay as a Pencast file

Concluding Remarks Used it in the 2 nd half of Winter quarter Uploaded each class example file to MyCourses ed a HW problem solution to an individual student upon request Do not have data to comment on its usefulness

Concluding Remarks (contd.) Tactile feel is natural – unlike writing or drawing on a tablet PC Pen is Low cost ~ $200 Portable ~ regular pen without pocket clip Large Storage ~ 400 hours audio Uploading or replaying is easy Can speed up or down the replay

Comments / Questions ? Supplement instruction ? Replace instruction ? Assist a student ?

What is smart about pen? Dot pattern identifies specific location on a page in a notebook Write or draw or both Link audio to notes Annotate a recording later Built-in apps (calculator, piano …)