By Elaine Yaw, SMWC assistant professor of journalism

When Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) received computers as part of an HP Technology Grant, no one could say exactly how the computers would enhance courses at SMWC. But now, after only a few weeks using the Tablet PCs in the classroom, faculty members are certainly realizing the impact of the new technology.

“It fundamentally changed the way I teach,” said Jennie Mitchell, Ph.D., professor of business who’s taught at SMWC since 1989. She’s using the Tablet PCs in a business finance course. “I didn’t know how important they were going to be.”

SMWC announced in June that it was one of 39 two- and four-year colleges and universities to receive a grant, with an award package of HP products and faculty cash award valued at more than $77,000.

Bellampalli Ramachandran, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, served as SMWC’s principal investigator for the HP Technology for Teaching grant proposal. Mitchell and Dottie King, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics, served as co-investigators for the proposal, which was titled "Enhanced Learning Experience Via Advanced Tablet-PC Environment – ELEVATE – Using HP Tablet PCs in Instruction at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.”  (Visit the Elevate Website - http://elevate.smwc.edu)

Two other classes besides Mitchell’s finance class are using the Tablet PCs: a chemistry course taught by Ramachandran and an intro to computer software course taught by Daesang Kim, Ph.D., assistant professor of business and instructional design specialist.

All three SMWC professors say the Tablet PCs makes the learning environment more interactive.

“Because [the Tablet PCs have] BlueTooth, [students] can collaborate with a classmate,” Mitchell said.

For Kim, using the Tablet PCs allowed him to move his students from a computer lab to a more relaxed classroom. In the lab, the teacher would be at the front of the classroom at one computer station looking out on the rows of computers where students sat. Now the students can sit where they can see each other and work together on projects and concepts while Kim projects his notes and slides for them to see.

“They can write on the screen so they can make a journal and save the file and email it to themselves,” he said.

Ramachandran wants to use the Tablet PCs in two sections of general chemistry and organic chemistry. “The main idea is promoting collaborative learning atmosphere… and teaching atmosphere,” he said. “The instructor and students can interact, and students can interact. The instructor can individually see what is going on in each Tablet PC so we can better help the students.”

Mitchell uses a lot of problems for her students to solve in her finance class. Using OneNote on the Tablet PCs allows the students to clip pieces of any kind of program into their notes.

“They can capture pieces of a portfolio in their notes,” Mitchell said. “It does calculations. When working on ratios, I say ‘let’s calculate the current ratios,’ and through a few quick key strokes they can do it.”

Students can also use audio and video with their notes.

The inclusive notes are helping, Mitchell said. “They would do things in Excel, but it wasn’t in their notes,” she said. “They might not make the connection of how we solved something. It really has changed the way I teach.”

Ashley Wegner, a senior business administration major taking Mitchell’s finance class this semester, said most business courses she’s taken prepared her how to run a business. But the addition of the Tablet PCs helps her learn how to make a business better.

“By learning these tablets, you are teaching yourself about technology and how to think outside the box by using the technology to show yourself ways to add value,” Wegner said.

“It does complicate it because you are learning new software and a new computer system with all the book

work,” Wegner continued. “But once we get the hang of it, it will help. When we come to a time where we all have a job and we have these to use, it can definitely make things a lot quicker. You can also convert your handwriting to type. So then you could send it to someone else. You don’t spend as much time typing.

For now, the downside is the Tablet PCs are not set up for students to log in with their own username and password. So, they have to make sure they get the same tablet every time so they can access their notes. The issue with that is timing. The Tablet PCs are in use, limiting the time the IT Department can have to get the logins ready.

The College also has plans to install a suitable Classroom Management System (CMS) on the Tablet PCs. The CMS will facilitate student-student and student-teacher interaction and thus create a highly collaborative atmosphere for students.

Mitchell said other faculty will soon be able to use the Tablet PCs for more courses, and students are being trained to assist faculty in implementing the Tablet-PCs. “We want it to be as easy as possible for faculty to use it.”

There will be an open house on Nov. 24 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge of the College’s Mary and Andrew Rooney Library, to demonstrate how the Tablet PCs are being used at SMWC. Jim Vanides, program manager of worldwide education strategy for HP Global Social Investment, will address those in attendance via webcast from his office in Palo Alto, Calif. SMWC President David G. Behrs, Ph.D., will also be in attendance to express words of appreciation to HP for awarding this Technology Grant to the College.

For more information about SMWC’s HP Open House event, or SMWC’s use of Tablet PCs, contact Mitchell at jmitchel@smwc.edu or 812-535-5279 or Ramachandran at brama@smwc.edu or 812-535-5268.

Fore more inforamtion about how HP tablet PCs are being used at SMWC, visit the ELEVATE website - http://elevate.smwc.edu.