Students using mini tablets: Preliminary results of three case studiesBirgit Loch Swinburne University of TechnologyLinda Galligan, Carola Hobohm and Christine McDonald University of Southern Queensland

Fellowship project

Staff component: 2009

Approx 5,500 students taught in S1 2009

All faculties, plus library

Student component: 2010

Student tablets

2010 (VC’s strategic funds, Fellowship)Multi-Touch net books

Eee PC T91 specs

Operating System Microsoft Windows 7Display 8.9” touch screen Gloss LED-Backlit WSVGA (1024×600) Resistive Touch

Panel

Intel CPU & Chipset Intel Atom processor Z520 – 1.33GHzMemory 1 GB DDR (upgradeable up to 2 GB)Wireless Bluetooth WLAN 802.11b/g/n (draft 2.4GHz n) and Bluetooth2.1 + EDRHybrid Storage 52 GB Hybrid Storage (16GB SSD, 16GB SD Card, 20GB Eee online)

Camera 0.3 Megapixel Built-inAudio Stereo Speakers, HD Audio CODEC, Digital Array Mic

Card Reader 2-in-1 MMC/SD(SDHC)Input / Output 1 Ext Monitor VGA Connector, 2x USB 2.0, LAN RJ-45, Audio Jack

(Headset/Mic-in)

Battery Li-Polymer Battery, 5-hours Dimensions 22.6cm x 16.5cm x 2.8cmWeight 0.96 kgColours Black / WhiteAdditional 3 year warranty, larger stylus, hard case, headset, thumb drive,

cleaning kit, mini mouse

Study

• Two face to face classes in S1:• STA2300 (n 12) and MAT1008 (n 12)

• One external class in S2 (n = 20)• Students volunteered• Students signed an agreement • Technical support

• Workshop on how to use the student tablet (face to face)

• An online discussion group set up for MAT class (S1 & 2)

• Just in time support• Regular Journals (structured and

unstructured)• End of semester survey

S1 studies: MAT and STATS• MAT students in the TELL lab• One 2 hour tutorial per week• Students sent in journals• Participant researchers sent in

observations

Nursing tutorials

Statistics tutorials

S2: Maths externally

• One external course

• MAT1100 – Foundation Maths (n = 20)

• Students sent in journals at set times

Advantages - Netbook

Being light & portablePhysical size of unitBattery life Internet ConnectivitySave paper

“It has been very helpful as i have just had a baby so when sitting on the couch feeding i can put the tablet on my lap as well and do my work.  I have also started to put the tablet in the nappy bag so it goes everywhere with me and therefore i can do some form of work on it at all times.” 

“The touch screen games are AWESOME, i really like to chill out and amuse myself with them. =)”

Advantages – Tablet capabilities

Being able to annotate slides in the lecture

Note taking in journalRecording what they are doing

(potential)Use PDF annotatorSave paper (digital writing)Didn’t need to bring books alongBling & entertainment factor

Disadvantages

Resistive screenScreen sizeSmall stylusSpeedKeyboard size &

functionalityHands on

supportFor external

students – need a longer lead-in time

“Also find that the keyboard is very small for my big fingers!”

“I also find my writting is very hard to understand on the tablet. I normally have neat handwritting but I can not get the tablet to convey this.”

Future

Recording for learning (students)Memory capabilities (electronic

texts)Classroom Collaboration software (on

campus)External collaborative interactionLarger and faster netbooks or similar

pen enabled technologies“I love this little laptop and I don’t want to have to give it back ”

The End

Questions or Comments (time permitting)