Teaching and Learning with a Tablet PC

Spring 2009 Tablet Tea Week #1

2009-03-25T10:56:00.001-07:00

Thank you everyone for a successful first week of Tablet Tea. Gail, Teri, and I hope you all found it productive and look forward to learning and sharing during future teas this semester.

The purpose of this post is to sum up what we discussed this first week as well as to archive any resources that you might want to access.

This first week we focused on OneNote. This is a program that comes with our Microsoft Office package. It’s a great place to organize information for your classes, your meetings, and, if you want, your entire life.

Teri recorded a new video that covers the OneNote information from this week. The first thing she mentions is a program called PenAttention. If you want to see more information check out this past blog post. Other topics in the video include organizing notebooks, organizing toolbars, editing pages, formatting pages, inserting objects, and inserting Outlook tasks.

Here’s Teri’s video:

Here is the handout that the video is based on: OneNote handout

Also you may recall Gail mentioning a process for linking your tablet OneNote with your desktop OneNote. If anyone is interested in reading more information on that you can start by reading her blog post on the subject and watching her video.

If anybody has any questions, comments, or suggestions for Gail, Teri, or myself please don’t hesitate to email or call us. We will do out best to get you the information that you need. Also peruse the other posts in this blog. You might find some helpful tips, or it might help generate more questions that you can ask us at the next tea.

We hope to see everyone back for Week 2 of Tablet Tea.

Sharing OneNote Notebooks with your laptop and desktop

2009-01-13T14:13:00.000-08:00

You can create a shared notebook on your desktop that you can access on your laptop. The idea here would be if you do work at home and at work you can share it between both your computers. When you create a shared notebook on your desktop it will create a hyperlink that you send yourself in an email. Go to your laptop open the email and click on the link...then the shared notebook is created on the laptop. So when the computers are open and near eachother they will sync up...pretty cool - here is a video.

Capturing a live class with the Tablet, Camtasia, and OneNote

2009-01-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited! Any classroom that has a projector that can hook up to my tablet is now a recording studio!!! I'm teaching Math 0311 in AC 205 - before class I quickly used the laptop hook-up to connect my tablet to the projector. I opened OneNote, Started Camtasia, began recording, and at the end of class - wahlah - the entire class was recorded. When I got back to my office. I edited the video (just a touch) and then rendered it to a flv, placed it on the streaming server, and posted the link for my students to see. You can see the creation below...I'm just using the mic on the computer so you here some tapping when I write but it is sort of reminiscent of when we would write on those things...what were they called...oh yeah CHALKBOARDS!

Wow! I used Gail's Jing item on my Orientation!

2009-01-09T08:48:00.000-08:00

I utilized Camtasia and PowerPoint plus Gail's ideas to make this my BEST EVER Orientation!
Hope you guys overlook the grammar but the content is AWESOME!

The Live Key - My tablet, Camtasia, and OneNote

2009-01-04T18:40:00.000-08:00

You don't get better thinking from a student then when they are taking a test. Even if they miss the problem - they probably thought hard about it and really made their best attempt. So after the test it is very beneficial to go over the exam with the students...but who has the time??? There is more material to cover and barely enough time for that. My solution - make a video of myself working the key. I always provide a copy of the key to my exams to the students - now I use my tablet, OneNote, and Camtasia to record myself working through the key so the students can see a step by step demonstration of each problem. After I have made the video I select "publish as pdf" under the file option in oneNote and wahlah the students have both a hard copy and a video copy of the key. I gave my college algebra students an extra credit opportunity where they had to watch the video and then email me 3 questions that they missed and describe what the did wrong - this was very beneficial...the students loved being able to hear and see me working the problems.
Here is an example of what I did.

Jazz Up with Jing

2009-01-04T17:20:00.001-08:00

Presented by Gail Brooks

What is Jing?

Jing is a free program provided by TechSmith (creators of Camtasia and SnagIt). This program allows you to easily communicate exactly what you have on your computer screen with either an annotated screen shot or a short video of your screen.

Here are some Jing examples my students and I have created...

Where do I get it?

Download at: www.jingproject.com

How do I create a Jing?

Look for the sun at the top of your computer click on the first little circle the cross hairs (+) this is called the “capture ball”.

1. Click the capture ball

2. Select an area to capture (do this by holding down the left click and creating a rectangular area to capture) then release the left click

3. This box should appear at the bottom of your rectangle:

4. If you want to capture just a screen shot click on the image button. If you want to make a video click on the video button. The videos are limited to 5 minutes and you will need a microphone to have audio.

5. If you create an image you can annotate it with the buttons on the left of the screen

How do I share my Jing??? – Lots of ways look at the screen shot above…

1. Clicking on the first, second, or fourth button above will paste code to your clip board (your computers editing brain) and you will be able to paste that where you want…

a. The first button (good for video) will automatically send up your creation to your account on the screencast.com website and a url that you can email, post in blackboard, or on a blog, webpage, facebook note is posted to your computer’s clipboard.

b. The second button (also good for video) will give you embedding html code so the picture or video will show up automatically in your post…if you are in blackboard you will need to click on the <> symbol and paste in the code.

c. The fourth button will just do a copy of the image – I was able to post this directly in an email from school…apparently you might be able to copy it into some instant messaging programs as well – but I could not do it in facebook or pronto…it will paste into any office program this way

2. The save button will let you save it to your computer

3. Cancel will delete the file

Retrieving Videos from screencast.com

If you selected the first or second button after creation then your video is stored at your account www.screencast.com. You can login to this website and get the code to share your videos there.

Creation tips:

1. The temptation is to capture your entire screen – but that is the size that the end user will see (probably pretty big both visually and in terms of file size). Two options to help with this.

a. Float and resize your to a smaller size window by clicking on the button in the top right hand of your screen

then draw your Jing box around the floated window

b. Resize your computer screen to

2. There are lots of great tutorials at www.jingproject.com at the top right of the page there is a blog, FAQ, and techsupport with lots of great ideas.

3. Additional Video Tutorials I have made:

Installation problems:

Jing should download without a problem - might need to install .netFramework from Microsoft (I had to follow the link during the Jing attempt to install to the Microsoft website to get the program to install on my home computer)

Quadratic Formula with a Musical Flair

2008-10-29T05:35:00.000-07:00

Changing the Pen Cursor

2008-10-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you are a 6'1" male with brown hair and green eyes. But seriously...

If you're like me, you think the small dot used as your pen's cursor is ridiculous. I wanted a way of using the cursor to point things out to my students. I did some searching this morning, and I think I may have found something that will work.

Click here to find the free download. You can read about what it can do there as well, but I will try to summarize here so that my post is longer and therefore more impressive.

It's called PenAttention. There are three options for your pen cursor (it also can be set to work on your mouse cursor as well). It will highlight the pen cursor with a circle where you choose the radius, color, and opacity. It can also attach a small pencil to the cursor or attach a white pointer to the cursor. I've downloaded it, and it seems to work fine. It did display an error when it was done installing followed by a "Press any key..." message. I hit enter and the program seemed to be installed just fine.

Let me know if you have any questions or need help.

Learn More about Jing - with these cool videos

2008-10-04T01:47:00.000-07:00

The jing blog is great. There are lots of neat post that will help you learn more about Jing. Below are some training videos I found that are quick and easy and will make you a better "jinger". I like the one about the hotkey.

Questions on an Alma-ism!

2008-10-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

Without the story it may sound lame...but I was working on my example problems to post onto my on-line course to utilize my laptop and of course, I must have done an illegal (yep!) procedure and lost my work. Well, I know part of the learning curve is the errors so I redid it and decided (OPPS!) to save my work as I went along. I was really into my material, using my many colored tips to circle, graph and bullet the info.

Upon completion the next task was to print as a pdf on my desktop. I felt I did it well and when I checked the web site I noticed it was only the first page. So I did it again feeling the print option had current page marked and again the same.

I reviewed my listing of the material and noticed, One-Note had made individual savings of the file even though I instructed it to save in replacement of the other. I'm sorry to say I don't have a solution to this and wondered if any of you real users have had this occur.
Alma

Setting Up the Math Dept Printer

2008-10-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post the steps required to set up the printer in the Math Department on your laptop. The first thing you need to do is be sure you are connected to MCC's network. Basically if you can open up your web browser while you're sitting in your office, then you're connected. Next open up the Start menu in the bottom left corner of your screen and click on Control Panel which can be found on the right side of the menu third from the bottom. Now find Printers and double-click.

At the top of the next window click "Add a printer".

On the next window you want the second choice.

It will start to compile a list, but you can just hit Stop, and then click "The printer that I want isn't listed".

On the next window, choose "Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname", then click Next.

On the next window make sure your entries match mine below, then click Next.

At this point your computer should find the printer. It will then give you a screen that will allow you to make this printer your default printer or not by using a checkbox. Once you agree to these settings, it will ask if you want to print a test page.

That's it. Close all the windows, and the printer should be active. Let me know if you run into problems, and I'll do my best to help you out.

Creating a lecture using Powerpoint and OneNote

2008-09-30T09:27:00.001-07:00

If you are used to lecturing from pre-made documents or PowerPoints, then OneNote is an easy way to get an electronic copy of those notes and what you have written on them during the lecture. I have all of my lecture notes in Word documents. If I insert them into OneNote using the "insert" and "file as printouts" command, I get the whole document loaded into OneNote. One problem I've found with this is if I need extra space for writing on my document - I can't get it. One solution is to create a PowerPoint of your notes and then insert "file as printouts" in OneNote. Each slide comes in individually and then you are able to add space as needed to work out the problem or explain more on each slide. Once you have finished the lecture click file and publish as pdf - then you will have the original PowerPoint along with the annotations you made during the lecture.

One thing I have not figured out is if there is a way to quickly get the equation editor into PowerPoint. You can find it under insert, objection and the microsoft equation 3.0 - but I wish I could do that with just one click. Any way here is a video of what I have just described oneNote and power point

I'm in LOVE with my TABLET!!

2008-09-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

I cannot thank Gail enough for having the wisdom and foresight to put together the request for all our wonderful new technology. I'm an avid fan of all of it and to have it just placed on my desk as a "gift" was incredible. We owe you BIGTIME!!!!

I'm learning every night---at least I'm trying!!!

I am using this to teach my Dual Credit class--plug it in to a projector and I essentially have a smart room---can write and project!!!

I'm also using it to create video lectures when their schedule does not coincide with mine :)

I am quite excited about ONE NOTE and have begun to organize my life there!!!! I have dragged the PEN COLOR palette to the left side so that all the colors AND highlighters (very cool!) show all the time. I've gotten pretty quick at changing colors and jazzing up my trig problems--Alma--you will love that :)

THANKS AGAIN GAIL!!!

Yea for Colleagues!

2008-09-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

This week has been the best for the "Alma Learning Curve" . I discovered how to get my PC one-note to change directions by using the swivel key and how to try Jing. Too Good!

Tablet Tea Day 1

2008-09-25T07:52:00.001-07:00

Kudos and thanks to Matt for the snacks! I interpreted Peter's remark about the drink choices as an indication that he would be bringing drinks next Tuesday :-)

The following items are what I think we learned - please comment and include anything I missed.

Watch out what your pen thinks you are writing Hooten can become Hooter very easily.
The tablets do not like to sit on your lap and be written on...they prefer a hard surface.
Go ahead and go through all of the security stuff for you tablet - watch out when you are installing new programs security warnings come up that you will need to approve.
The end of your pen is an eraser
If you hold the tip of your pen down on the screen until a little circle appears - this will bring up the right click menu where you can copy, paste, delete, etc.

Office One Note

Here is a little video demonstrating some of the things I have learned and also have questions about - if you have figured out how to get the scroll bar to come up consistently in the full page view please comment!! I forgot to demonstrate how you can insert a file and then write on it. This would be great if you had your notes made ahead of time or as Alma suggested wanted a graph grid or picture to write on. Just click on insert and then file as printouts - your file will need to have space for writing or you could cut and paste from the file and put those problems in and then add space as you go using the button on the toolbar with the up and down arrows.

Big Red Arrow

I learned about this from the teaching college mathematics blog. You will need to follow the instructions to download the big red cursor file here this is the Bill Meyers website. You need to download and extract the file and put it somewhere you can remember on your computer. I was not able to download the file to c:\windows\cursors directly as the video on the website suggests. I just downloaded it to my desktop clicked on it and then extracted it to the c:\windows\cursors folder. Then you will need to change your cursor by clicking on start, control panel, mouse, pointers, select the pointer you want to change, click browse and find the red cursor you want. This is pretty much as he describes in the video.

Microsoft Add-In for a PDF file

You will want to download and install this program so you can make pdf documents form OneNote, Word, Excel...just click on the link and follow the instructions - you may get a security warning just click "allow". The website is here.