Pulse Pen for Assistive
Technology
Adrienne Foster, Ph.D.
Director, DSP&S
Spring 2010 Tech Fair
Session Abstract
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The Pulse Pen, the latest development, in penbased computers, provides promising potential for
students in a variety of contexts and presents an
innovative approach to designing and delivering
instructional media. Providing a unique
combination of audio, visual, and kinesthetic
learning modalities, the Pulse Pen also presents
several challenges in terms of accessibility.
Participants of the session will learn the principles
of using the Pulse Pen in a classroom setting,
utilizing techniques for effective note-taking and
studying, and converting Pulse Pen content to
other formats.
Using the Pulse Smartpen as a Note-taking
Accommodation: Overview
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Reasons for note-taking
accommodations
Principles for use in class settings
Techniques for effective note-taking
Reasons for Note-taking
Accommodations
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Students with multiple disabilities
qualify for note-taking
Motivations for using notes vary –
absence to LD
Accessibility concerns of electronic
notes
Studying is ultimate common
benefit
Strategies
Note-taker to Note Reader Ratio
 Single student model
 One to one model
 Group distribution
Storage and Data Management
 Security, charging, archiving, media
conversion
 Staff, student workers, independent
students
Principles for Use in
Classroom Settings
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Legal clearance
Define context: note-taking vs. test
taking
Avoiding audio distractions
(cheating them)
Maintaining good perspective: can
you hear me now?
Techniques for Effective
Note-taking
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Advance preparation
Knowledge of note-taking
techniques
Understanding of graphic layout
principles
Use of symbols, short hand, icons,
punctuation, etc.
Power of “doodles” in notes
In the end…
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Effective note-taking enhances the
power of the Pulse Pen
Audio recording serves as “memory
backup”
Online distribution adds powerful
communications option for teachers
and instructional designers
Now, the Pulse Smart Pen: Overview
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Basic Concepts of the Pulse
Smartpen
Livescribe-Dot Paper
Notebooks
Input & Output Capabilities
Basic Concepts
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Pen as Computer
Paper as interface
Livescribe Desktops
Digital Ink
Livescribe Videos
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Livescribe .com
http://www.livescribe.com/index.html
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Original You Tube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJNWIOhSyhA
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Sample Pencast:
http://www.livescribe.com/cgibin/WebObjects/LDApp.woa/wa/MLSOverviewPage?s
id=6cQ6TlldMgSw
Notebooks
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Lined and unlined notebooks,
journals, blanks
Single subject and mulit-subject
Printable notebooks
Color-coded, numerically organized
Data Paths
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Single student user
Single student accommodation
Multiple student accommodation
Instructional technology