HP Initiative 2007: Enhancing Student Learning Using Spatial Technologies, Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning, and Group Work
R. Frey, A. Addison, T. Parsons, and K. Sawyer
(The Teaching Center, the University’s GIS Facilty, and the Departments of Education and History)
- Starting in fall 2007, HP wireless tablet PC technology was introduced into the humanities and social sciences. The focus is on strengthening students’ real-life skills through active-learning exercises and group work. Using tablet PCs in Introduction to the Learning Sciences enables students for the first time to have hands-on experience with computer-supported collaborative-learning (CSCL) software, which is essential for understanding CSCL environments. In spring 2008, implementation of tablet PCs into the freshman-focus course International Development will allow us to introduce students to the use of Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) software in the analysis and presentation of data. In addition, the mobile laptop sets will allow for the introduction of in-class GIS training into University courses that are using GIS applications.
HP Initiative 2005: The Use of Wireless Tablet PCs in Chemistry
R. Frey, W. Buhro, D. Holten, and W. Spees
(The Teaching Center and the Department of Chemistry)
- Starting in 2005, HP wireless tablet PC technology was introduced in two upper-level undergraduate chemistry courses: Physical Chemistry Laboratory and Solid State and Materials Chemistry. The focus is on increasing students’ understanding of practicing-chemists’ techniques and skills by introducing in-class, active-learning exercises for chemical modeling into our materials course and the electronic laboratory notebook into our physical-chemistry laboratory course. Students use the Tablet PCs to transfer, share and analyze data; to record observations, download figures, and write reports; to solve computational-modeling problems; and to render three-dimensional objects.
For more information about The Teaching Center’s scholarship projects, contact Gina Frey by email, or by phone at 935-7474.