Using Smartpens to Create Interactive Tutorials & Promote

Student-Centered Learning

Deb Carney, University of DenverKathy Keairns, University of Denver

2012 eLearning Consortium of Colorado

Images used in this presentation from: http://www.livescribe.com/en-us/smartpen/echo/photo.html

Agenda

• Get to know our audience• What’s a Smartpen?• Ways Smartpens are used in Higher Education• Let’s Make a Pencast! • Smartpen Pilot in an Online Calculus Course• Advanced Pencasting Techniques• Challenges & Limitations• What’s Next?

What’s a SmartPen?

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kW20LMvORw&feature=related

Ways to use in Education

• Note taking/record meetings• Tutorials/Pencasts• Support for students with Learning Disabilities• Homework Help• Student Homework• Online courses

Examples

• Front Range Community College (Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, Economics, Math)

• General Psychology Community College of Aurora

• Support for Students with Learning Disabilities

• University of Denver Mathematics Department

Let’s Make A Pencast

• Livescribe Desktop• Simple Example Pencast

• Accessories– Notebooks (different sizes, lined vs. grid)– Ink cartridges (different widths & colors)– Headphone/microphone to improve recording.

Livescribe Desktop

Smartpen Pilot in Online Calculus Course

• Winter 2010 & Summer 2010 online Calculus courses

• Office of Teaching and Learning funding to purchase a classroom set of 20 Echo Smartpens

• Each student was loaned a Smartpen for the duration my Summer 2011 online calculus course

Smartpen Pilot in Online Calculus Course

• 5 week online Calculus I course• 10 students at the end of week 1• Grading: – 70% f2f exams– 20% online HW & quizzes– 10% Smartpen assignments

Smartpen Assignments

• “Daily” (4 per week, due MTWR, accepted until Sunday)

• One question. Student provided solution via Smartpen with audio

• Submitted through Blackboard’s Assignment Manager

• Graded using a Tablet PC & PDF writing capability

Facilitating Communication

– Example 1: Assignments in Online Calculus– Example 2: Student’s Solution– Example 3: Instructor Feedback

• Students were encouraged to use their Smartpens for communicating with me online.

Outcomes

• Very easy for the students to set up and use. Created a Camtasia video covering very basic features of the pen. 1 student had minor trouble getting started with the pen.

• 95% or higher average on Smartpen assignments correlated with and A or B in the class.

• No D’s and F’s for the course!• Manageable for instructor and student

Results

• Most students used the Smartpen for communication with me over email.

• "When I asked questions, they were answered promptly and understandably! Knowledgeable, gets back to your emails in time, technology works well (though I was intimidated of the Smartpens at first when setting up!)"

• One student did all of her homework problems in her notebook.

Math Department Embraces Smartpens

• Peer grading in an upper division mathematics course (Using Self and Peer Assessment Tool in Blackboard)

• Instructors using Smartpens to create pencasts for f2f classes (Example)

• TEI Initiative: Each instructor will be given a Smartpen

• Classroom set of pens will be used again with two different online class offerings

Challenges & Limitations

• Pen scratching! (Minimized but not removed with the use of the headphone/microphone)

• Make sure your pen is on before writing in your notebook

• No fancy editing, no closed captioning • Managing a classroom set• It is more time consuming to grade a Pencast

than a printed piece of paper!

Advanced Pencasting Techniques

• Using the pause feature to “write before you speak”

• Adding text and figures during playback• Using watermarks to add printed figures and

text to your pencast (http://www.livescribek12.com/watermark/)

Is there an app for that?

• Pencast Player for iPad and iPhone (Free)

• Paper Tablet ($14.99)– Use smartpen as a

mouse to use as extension of screen

• Calculator• Books, music, reference,

productivity & more apps

What’s Next?

• More advanced pencasting techniques (instructor and student)

• Paper Tablet app for online office hours• Other types of pencast assignments for the

online course• Exam feedback for the online course• Peer grading• Spreading the word to other disciplines

Additional Resources

• LiveScribe Website– http://www.livescribe.com/en-us/– Training Marathon Day (4/24) and Online Trainings• http://www.livescribek12.com/training-webinars/

– Newsletter http://www.livescribek12.com/newsletter/

– Education Blog - http://www.livescribek12.com/• Demos and Tutorials– http://www.youtube.com/user/SmartScribeSA

Questions?

• Deb Carney, University of Denver– Mathematics Department– dcarney@du.edu

• Kathy Keairns, University of Denver– Office of Teaching and Learning– kkeairns@du.edu