Tablet PCs for mathematics education Birgit Loch Department of Mathematics and Computing University of Southern Queensland Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences Swinburne University of Technology

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 USQ and Swinburne

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010Overview USQ Context Pen-based technologies Screencasting OR example Current (and future) screencasting projects USQ Tablet PC trial

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 USQ Context USQ - regional, multi-campus, 26,000 students Large distance student population - 75% of students studying off campus in over 70 countries (WEB, EXT, ONC) Large percentage of students mature age, work full- time, study part-time, live remotely, low socio- economic background. Incarcerated student.

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Pen-based technologies for what purpose? Capture lectures/tutorials Student support Electronic marking Enhancement of study material Electronic communication Enable students to communicate

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Capturing lectures/tutorials: Calculus

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Operations Research

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Recording lectures Web/iPod/iPhone video files

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Statistics: Christine McDonald

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 New Camtasia software for lecture recording Beta trial in 2008 Faculty trial in S Roll out across USQ in S For ALL computers that can connect to the USQ server USQ first Australian University to adopt Relay Portable recorder

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Hardware alternatives Pen-enabled screens (LTPF Project) Reduces need for tablet PCs in class

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Student support via screencasts Operations Research

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Enhancement of study material Screencasts to address stuck places Short snippets for course material Create a bank of resources Linda Galligan

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Screencast embedded in Nursing mathematics course material

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Screencast embedded in OR course material

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 The Improving Mathematics Education in School (TIMES) Project AMSI (Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute)

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 The Improving Mathematics Education in School (TIMES) Project AMSI (Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute)

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Current screencasting projects AMSI: Secondary/tertiary maths teachers USQ: 1 st year engineering students James Cook Uni: 1 st year sciences students Open University: MSOR mini-project, Master level maths students University of Limerick: Maths support? Swinburne University: Maths support!

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Electronic marking Word DOC files PPT files XLS files PDF files

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Electronic marking Word DOC files PPT files XLS files PDF files

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Electronic marking Word DOC files PPT files XLS files PDF files

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Recording of assignment feedback The Learning Centre. Linda Galligan

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Other hardware options for marking? Ebook readers Faculty of Business trial

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Electronic communication Ink chat tutorials MSN Messenger (Windows Live Messenger)

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Example: OR

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Example: Algebra and Calculus

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Tablet PC Project Staff component: 2009 Approx 5,500 students taught in S All faculties, plus library Student component: 2009/ Digital note pens 30 mini tablet PCs

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Issues encountered at USQ Lecturers not confident and not using stylus Readiness for change? Convincing management that tablets are worthwhile Funding to purchase ICT support for tablet PCs – inclusion in SOE Audio input for lecture recording

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Feedback from interviews Tablets have led to more engagement with technology in general made lectures more dynamic are more than just a communication tool have led to a change in teaching approaches

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Tablet PCs in other disciplines Faculties of Sciences Engineering and Surveying Business Arts Education

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Enabling students to communicate Digital note pens

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Example: Operations Research Trevor Langlands/ Birgit Loch

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Tablet PCs for students S (VC’s strategic funds, Fellowship) Multi-Touch net books

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Tablet PCs for students S (VC’s strategic funds, Fellowship) Multi-Touch net books

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Other input devices

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Other input devices

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Other input devices

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 University of Queensland ACTS lab 100 student tablet screens $2.5M

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 University of Queensland ACTS lab

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Where to from here? MASH Centre, December 2009

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 MASH Centre Website, June 2010 Where to from here?

Loughborough University, 8 June, 2010 Where to from here? MASH Centre Website, June 2010