Tablets in BU381

Introduction

BU381 is a three-hour, hands-on Finance course typically held in the computer lab.   Before tablets, the course included solving financial problems on paper and  chalkboards  and then reinforced with Excel. 

This year will be quite different because we used the Enhanced Learning Experience Via Advanced Tablet-PC Environment (ELEVATE). It is much more integrated with hand-written notes, screen clippings of Excel and websites, and  enhanced  critical thinking.

Implementation

• A total of  7 students volunteered to participate in the pre-survey during the first week. The result shows that 100% of participants had not had any learning experience using a Tablet-PC. However, student feedback indicated that many of them were excited to learn how to use a Tablet-PC.
• Students use OneNote 2007 to take notes, integrate screen-clippings, and can even add audio or video clips within their notes.  Because students have access to OneNote on the college server, they can now access their notes from any campus computer that has OneNote.  Students were given OneNote for their personal computers.
• With digital notes, it is easy to upload the notes to Desire 2 Learn for students. For example, finance problems can be printed to OneNote and students can work from the typed problem. In general, the Tablet PC allows the instructor to have more direct interaction with students during a presentation. The instructor can write answers quickly and easily with "digital ink" directly in an application such as Microsoft Excel.
• "Using the Tablet PCs  have fundamentally changed the way I teach  I look at ways to incorporate note-taking, Excel functions, charting and analysis.  Instead of looking at graphs in the book that relate to problems, we just draw them  in with our notes.  We use color to high-light problems and OneNote templates that help us organize lecture notes”

Challenges

• Learning new technology is not always fun because it often takes effort and time.
• Limitations in the hardware and software (i.e. screen size).
• Need more man power (I.T. help).

 

The Enhanced Learning Experience via Advanced Tablet-PC Environment (ELEVATE) program was made possible by a generous award by HP. Thank you HP!

CLASSES WITH TABLETS
Tablet Home
Intro Computer Software
Business Finance
Chemistry

OPEN-HOUSE CELEBRATION
Photos of Open-house

MORE INFORMATION
The Woods Newspaper Article on the Tablet PCs
Tablet Video
Photos of Tablet Delivery
Our Grant Proposal (PDF)