Student Self-Reported Usage of Wireless Tablet PCs in Classrooms

Wireless computing devices with novel input capabilities are becoming commonplace in college classrooms. To measure how one type of such devices, namely wireless Tablet PCs, is used in classrooms and whether they help improve teaching and learning, we conducted a pilot study involving four classes at various levels taught by three instructors in Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering, respectively. Our preliminary result showed that both the students and the instructors liked the wireless Tablet PCs in classrooms and both thought teaching and learning were improved in various ways. Our study also revealed that the presence of these devices was counter-productive and actually hindered efficient teaching and learning when students used the Tablet PCs in activities unrelated to the class or when technical problems arised, although our analysis indicated that some deficiencies could be addressed by careful planning and technology upgrades