Tablet PC -
A Transformational TechnologyThe curriculum use of RM
Tablet PCs is currently being evaluated in 8 Birmingham schools.
Click
here to find out more about the RM Tablet PC
What is Tablet PC?
Tablet PC is a fully functioning PC running the Windows XP
Professional operating system - Tablet PC Edition. It will run all
existing applications, but on top of this has greatly enhanced
functionality.
Features of Tablet PC:
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It is a pen operated device. It has a
digitising screen and a special pen, so there is no need for a
mouse, and unlike earlier pen operated devices you don’t have to
keep your fingers off the screen. |
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It can be used in both landscape and portrait
modes – great for looking at Publisher pages |
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Tablet PCs are available in ‘slate’ (no keyboard
or mouse) and ‘clamshell’ (has a keyboard built-in) formats. The
clamshell devices are much more expensive. |
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They all have in-built wireless network
connectivity – currently 802.11b but this is being upgraded in
the latest devices to the 54 Mb system. |
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Handwriting recognition which does not
need training is built-in as well. |
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Voice input is also built-in at operating
system level, but this does need training and like all previous
systems it has some difficulty coping with my Black Country
accent. |
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The pen input makes graphics programmes like
Windows Paint much easier to use. |
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Digital Ink allows hand-written notes and
drawing to be entered directly into Office 2002 applications.
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Ink comments can also be added. Once acted upon
these can be deleted. In this way students no longer feel that
their work is being defaced by the teacher’s “red pen”.
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All applications can print to a new application
called the Journal Note Writer where hand-written
annotations can be added. |
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It has a Sticky Notes feature which can be used
to store hand written notes and sounds. These can be dragged and
dropped, or pasted into other applications. Good for marking
work?
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All Office XP Applications have “digital ink”
functionality built-in, so for example one can write on top
of PowerPoint presentations and then chose whether or not to
save these annotations. This gives Tablet PC much of the
functionality of an interactive whiteboard. |
 | Using Journal Notes Writer:
 | Use the graph paper template to draw
graphs which can easy be rubbed out and modified without the
need to start again. |
| Print a diagram to the background. Labels
can be added in handwriting. |
| SATs Papers. These can be downloaded in
PDF format, printed to the Journal and then completed in
‘digital ink’. They can also be marked in a different colour
‘digital ink’. |
| Correcting Text. Words can easily be
rubbed out and corrected in a different colour ‘digital ink’.
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| Handwritten notes can be taken during a
lesson and then converted to typed text for presentation in a
word processor at a later time. |
| Matching exercises. Link words or
diagrams in two columns by drawing arrows. |
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| As a substitute for an interactive
whiteboard. |
| Annotating teaching notes distributed
electronically. |
| Instant access to the Internet via built-in
wireless connectivity. |
| Highly portable learning devices which can
easily be transported home and extend learning out of school
hours. |
| To improve handwriting. The handwriting
recognition is excellent and for most children if the computer
does not recognise their handwriting, they improve it.
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| To improve concentration. The pupils tend
to focus in on to the tablet in an intense way. This mitigates
against sharing work with their peers but does help concentration.
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| To improve motivation.
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| Brainstorming/Mind Mapping.
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