Classroom Presenter:
Using Tablet PCs to promote classroom interaction
Richard Anderson
University of Washington anderson@cs.washington.edu

Draw a picture of yourself

Classroom Presenter

Student Attention vs. Time
Attention
10 20 30 40 50 60 Time

Student submissions in the classroom
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Model: Slide based lecture with embedded activities
Student submissions support a wide range of class activities and teaching styles
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Classroom Assessment
Review and reflection
Collective Brainstorming
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Problem solving
Explanation of misconceptions
Student generated examples

Minute question
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What was the most interesting point raised during the Microsoft and
Academia dialog?

Classroom assessment on assigned reading
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Who is the “other minister”?
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What is the name of the Minister of
Magic?

Problem Solving
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You have three coins:
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One coin with two heads, one coin with two tails, and one coin with a head and a tail
Suppose you choose a coin at random, flip it in the air and it lands heads.
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What is the probability that its other side is a head?

Handwriting Recognition:
Identify the following words

Recognition results

Splaying a node
B
C
A
E
D
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G
Rotate a node to the root of the tree two levels at a time
D
G G
A
A A
D
F F C E
E
E C B
G
F
D B F
C
B

A
ZIG-ZIG
Z
Y
X
C
B
D

ZIG-ZAG
Show the ZIG-ZAG transformation to bring X to the root
Z
A
X
Y
D
B C

Brainstorming
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What problems might arise if students are allowed to use Tablet PCs in the
Classroom?

Classroom Presenter
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Distributed, Tablet PC
Application
Initial development,
2001-2002 at MSR
Continuing development at UW
Collaboration with
Microsoft
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Built on ConferenceXP
Multicast networking
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Simple application
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Ink Overlay on images
Export PPT to image
Real time ink broadcast
UI Designed for use during presentation on tablet
Presentation features
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Instructor notes on slides
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Slide minimization

CLASSROOM PRESENTER www.cs.washington.edu/education/dl/presenter
Richard Anderson anderson@cs.washington.edu
ConferenceXP www.conferenceXP.net
Chris Moffatt confxp@microsoft.com

The Classroom Presenter
Project
Richard Anderson
University of Washington

Tablet PCs in the Classroom
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Instructor Presentation
Student Note Taking
Classroom Interaction
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Student engagement
Feedback to the instructor
Student contribution to discussion

Instructor Presentation

Student Applications

Classroom Interaction

Classroom Presenter

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
Distributed, Tablet PC
Application
Initial development,
2001-2002 at MSR
Continuing development at UW
Collaboration with
Microsoft

Built on ConferenceXP
Multicast networking




Simple application


Ink Overlay on images
Export PPT to image
Real time ink broadcast
UI Designed for use during presentation on tablet
Presentation features

Instructor notes on slides

Slide minimization

Classroom Pedagogy
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Active learning
Classroom assessment
Discussion around student artifacts
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Learner centric design

Classroom Networks
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Students communicating with instructor device
Public display for aggregate results
Low-bandwidth devices – e.g. clickers
Peer instruction

Peer Instruction

Classroom Networks with
Digital Ink
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Activities on lecture slides
Student submit slides to instructor
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Instructor reviews slides to gauge understanding
Slides selected to be shown on public display

What is special about Ink?
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Derivational activities as opposed to selection
Unanticipated solutions, misconceptions
Flexibility of domains
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Symbolic domains
Diagrams
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Annotation of existing content
Partial results, brainstorming, scratch work
Expression of individuality

What is special about Digital ink?
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Logistics
Capture and replay
Integration with lecture materials
Anonymous

Classroom Presenter Project
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Fall 2001, DISC Project, Microsoft Research
Spring 2002, UW PMP Class
Fall 2002, Presentation Application, UW
Summer 2003, Major software development
Fall 2003, Classroom Interaction Pilot, USD
2004, Studies of Ink in Presentation
Winter, Spring 2005, Classroom Interaction
Pilots, UW

Classroom Deployments
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University of
Washington courses
Computer Science
Undergraduate courses
Usually 15 to 20 tablet pcs
Wireless environment
Instructor supplied tablets
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Software Engineering
Digital Design
Data Structures
Tablet PC Project
Course
CS Education Seminar
Fourth grade math

Digital Design / Data structures

Fitt’s law / Geometry

Software Engineering
Elementary school math

Preliminary Results
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Positive Student Responses
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Digital Design Survey (1-5 scale)
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Impact on learning 4.4
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Value of seeing solutions displayed 4.3
Recommend to other instructors 4.1
High rate of student participation

Range of instructional use
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Student problem solving
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Interactive lecture

Classroom deployments
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Use of shared tablets
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2-3 tablets per students
Promote student discussion and group work

Impact on instruction
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Classroom experience is different
Less material is covered
Radical change in lecture preparation
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Learning goals first!
Developing pedagogy and resources for this style of teaching will take time
Mix technology supported instruction with conventional lecture

Use of student submissions and student behavior

Student examples for discussion

Partial results

Post lecture analysis

Tagging

Doodling

4 th Grade

4 th Grade

4 th Grade

CLASSROOM PRESENTER www.cs.washington.edu/education/dl/presenter
For more information, contact
Richard Anderson anderson@cs.washington.edu
Craig Prince cmprince@cs.washington.edu