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Round Table: Tablets for CS101

The primary goal of Round Table is to create a positive learning experience for students, who come to college with varying degrees of exposure to computer science. The technology design allows the instructors to easily roam the classroom during their lectures, obtain immediate feedback on how well the students understand the material via Tablet submission of in-class problems, and select which submitted solution to discuss based on its likelihood of increasing the understanding of the class members.

The Round Table project was funded by the 2007 Higher Education HP Technology for Teaching Grant Initiative.

Use
The Tablets are being used in Computer Science 101 (CS101) to enable more interaction and participation in class. The technology enables students to write their answers, via a stylus, directly on the computer screen (e.g., making notes, drawing arrows and special symbols), and submit them to the instructor. The instructor can instantaneously "collect" the students' answers to the in-class problem and anonymously display any student's response to the class. Class contributions are not limited to the confident or outgoing students.

In Summer 2008, a pre-college intensive introduction to computer science will be added to the Upward Bound curriculum, with the Tablets as a means to increase student engagement and participation. This course is likely to be the high schoolers' first exposure to computer science as a discipline.

Collaborators
Adriana Palacio, Computer Science
Stephen Majercik, Computer Science
Bridget Mullen, Upward Bound
Tina Finneran, Education and Research Consulting
Nancy Grant, Education and Research Consulting

Contribution
In Bowdoin's Introduction to Computer Science course, the knowledge and skill level of the students varies widely. One of the essential challenges for the instructor is to keep the advanced students interested without demoralizing others. Because the advanced students are the ones willing to show their work and ask questions, often the speed of the class goes at the speed of the faster students. This may discourage other students, and result in withdrawals. The Tablet technology enables all students to work on in-class problems and contribute to the class.

A second learning issue relates to the cumulative nature of CS101. If students miss fundamental concepts, they will quickly fall behind and be unable to grasp subsequent material. The technology helps instructors obtain early feedback on the students' understanding.

Technologies
Hewlett Packard Tablet PCs
Classroom Presenter
Cisco Wireless Routers

Contact
Tina Finneran, Education and Research Consulting