tablet pcs for mathematics education birgit loch [email protected]

Tablet PCs for mathematics educationTablet PCs for mathematics education

Birgit Loch

[email protected]://www.sci.usq.edu.au/staff/lochb

http://www.swin.edu.au/engineering/staff/birgit

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 SwinburneUSQ and Swinburne


OverviewOverview

USQ Context Pen-based technologies Screencasting OR example Current (and future) screencasting projects USQ Tablet PC trial


USQ ContextUSQ 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.


Pen-based technologies for what purpose?Pen-based technologies for what purpose?

Capture lectures/tutorials Student support Electronic marking Enhancement of study material Electronic communication Enable students to communicate


Capturing lectures/tutorials: CalculusCapturing lectures/tutorials: Calculus


Operations ResearchOperations Research


Recording lecturesRecording lectures

Web/iPod/iPhone video files

http://tinyurl.com/austms


Statistics: Christine McDonaldStatistics: Christine McDonald


New Camtasia software for lecture New Camtasia software for lecture recordingrecording Beta trial in 2008 Faculty trial in S1

2009 Roll out across USQ

in S2 2009 For ALL computers

that can connect to the USQ server

USQ first Australian University to adopt Relay

Portable recorder


Hardware alternativesHardware alternatives

Pen-enabled screens (LTPF Project) Reduces

need fortablet PCsin class


Student support via screencastsStudent support via screencasts

Operations Research


Enhancement of study materialEnhancement of study material

Screencasts to address stuck places Short snippets for course material Create a bank of resources

Linda Galligan


Screencast embedded in Nursing mathematics Screencast embedded in Nursing mathematics course materialcourse material


Screencast embedded in OR course materialScreencast embedded in OR course material


The Improving Mathematics Education in The Improving Mathematics Education in School (TIMES) ProjectSchool (TIMES) Project

AMSI (Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute)


Current screencasting projectsCurrent screencasting projects

AMSI: Secondary/tertiary maths teachers USQ: 1st year engineering students James Cook Uni: 1st year sciences students Open University: MSOR mini-project,

Master level maths students

University of Limerick: Maths support? Swinburne University: Maths support!


Electronic markingElectronic marking

Word DOC files PPT files XLS files PDF files


Recording of assignment feedbackRecording of assignment feedback

The Learning Centre. Linda Galligan


Other hardware options for marking?Other hardware options for marking?

Ebook readers Faculty of

Business trial


Electronic communicationElectronic communication

Ink chat tutorials MSN Messenger

(Windows Live Messenger)


Example: ORExample: OR


Example: Algebra and CalculusExample: Algebra and Calculus


Tablet PC ProjectTablet PC Project

Staff component: 2009

Approx 5,500 students taught in S1 2009

All faculties, plus library

Student component: 2009/2010 20 Digital note pens 30 mini tablet PCs


Issues encountered at USQIssues 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


Feedback from interviewsFeedback 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


Tablet PCs in other disciplinesTablet PCs in other disciplines

Faculties of Sciences Engineering and Surveying Business

Arts Education


Enabling students to communicateEnabling students to communicate

Digital note pens


Example: Operations ResearchExample: Operations Research

Trevor Langlands/ Birgit Loch


Tablet PCs for studentsTablet PCs for students

S1 2010 (VC’s strategic funds, Fellowship) Multi-Touch net books


Other input devicesOther input devices


University of Queensland ACTS labUniversity of Queensland ACTS lab

100 student tablet screens $2.5M


University of Queensland ACTS labUniversity of Queensland ACTS lab


Where to from here?Where to from here?

MASH Centre, December 2009


MASH Centre Website, June 2010


tablet pcs for mathematics education birgit loch [email protected]

Documents

australian university

class loughborough university

maths support

mathematics educationbirgit

tablet pcs

usq serverusq

course materialcreate

usq contextusq regional