Brophy Alum and ABC15 web news reporter Chris Kline '03 prepared a news report on Brophy's Tablet PC program. Watch the video here:
mms://brophyprep.wmod.llnwd.net/a901/o10/video/ABC15 Tablet Story Sep 27 1.asf
Brophy's tablet computer program was featured on Channel 5 News, with interviews of both students and Principal Bob Ryan. Click below to view the video.
http://mfile.akamai.com/25580/wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2007/0903/14035874.200k.asx
This is about 8 minutes long, but well worth it if you are interested in seeing some real-life examples of how OneNote can be used in an organization for note taking and information management.
The massive Sony battery recall also affects some of the batteries in freshmen Tecra M4 tablet PCs. Toshiba has issued a recall for only certain affected serial numbers as the recall is not model wide. Toshiba has created a downloadable application that will test to see if your tablet battery is on the list. If your battery is on the recall list it will prompt you to fill out an information form so they can send you a replacement battery. Over the holidays please download this file, run the application and follow the instructions to see if your battery is affected. If your battery is affected please fill out and submit the form electronically to request your replacement.
Freshmen, take note:
Most of the problems with the tablets can be avoided with proper care and maintenance. Problems that I see most often are:
Dented CD/DVD drives. This happens because of the way they are being stored in your backpacks. If you reinforce the drive with some padding and or cardboard then that will go a long way to protect it. I have been able to fix these when they are damaged but why risk it?
-Broken Power Supplies. This generally occurs at the point the thin power cable comes out of the inverter box. It is caused by improper storage of the cable by tightly winding the cable around the inverter box. The proper way to store these is to coil up the cable and use the attached Velcro to secure it. I usually leave the thin cable on mine coiled up all the time unless I need a really long cable. Otherwise, I only uncoil the thicker cable that plugs into the wall. Not all damage to the power cables is caused by this issue. Product defects are covered by warranty but the issue denoted above is considered misuse and is not covered under the warranty. Power supplies are $80 to replace
-Lost stylus. Brophy sells tethers (leashes) for the stylus ($12 each) that will secure yours to the tablet pc so that you don’t lose it. Most boys lose their stylus after they break off the pocket clip, because the pocket clip is also the mechanism that locks the stylus into its stow position on the tablet. Lost or broken styluses cost $30 to replace.
-Case damage. Case damage is usually caused by dropping your backpack rather than setting it down gently. There have also been instances where students have dropped their tablet into its compartment in the backpack while the backpack is sitting on the floor, cracking the case in the process. This damage is considered misuse and will be charged against the value of the SystemGuard Warranty to repair it. Repairs usually take 2-3 weeks to complete and are typically charged at $100 (against the SystemGuard Warranty) for each of three case parts that can potentially break.
These machines must last four years. It has only been about 12 weeks since you received them brand new. Please take care of them!!!!!
I’ll see you in room K13 when you don’t!
Please review the attached PDF file for instructions on how to use the Intel PROSet wireless software to connect to Brophy's wireless network as well as other private networks (such as at your home). These instructions were created for the Tablet PC students, but will work equally well for any laptop with the PROSet software.
We recommend you use the Intel PROSet Wireless software to manage your wireless connection. It is required to authenticate to Brophy's wireless system (Windows Wireless networking will NOT work on Brophy's system).
You will need to confirm that your laptop uses an Intel wireless device. If you are unsure if your laptop uses an Intel wireless device please bring your laptop/tablet to the Technology department in K13.
If your computer does use an Intel wireless device you can download the Intel PROSet Wireless software for FREE using this link:
http://support.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/CS-010623.htm
You will need the software for the Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection.
I came across Penn State’s Center for One-to-One Computing in Education today. This site has some great videos from last year's conference, including this super video featuring interviews with their main presenters (it's a large file). This video deals with the subject of one-to-one computing in general and is not Tablet PC specific. Tablet PCs offer students EVEN MORE benefits than standard laptops!
Some of the main points the various videos touch on are: a vision of 1:1 computing in schools, student engagement in the classroom, project based learning, and knowledge CONSTRUCTION rather than mere CONSUMPTION in classrooms.
We get this question frequently.
Yes you can, provided the software that manages your wireless card supports the Cisco LEAP authentication protocol. The following link will take you to a web site maintained by Cisco that lists all the notebook models that are compatible with the LEAP protocol.
http://www.cisco.com/web/partners/pr46/pr147/partners_pgm_partners_0900aecd800a7907.html
Cisco also recommends looking for the following logo on products to ensure they are compatible with all the Cisco EAP authentications:
For those who already own laptops that are not compatible with the LEAP protocol, you can purchase a Cisco Aironet 802.11a/b/g CardBus Wireless LAN Client Adapter which supports Windows 2000 and Windows XP. More information on this product is available at:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps4555/products_data_sheet09186a00801ebc29.html
Darren Strange, the Office 2007 Product Manager in the UK, has produced a great video demonstrating some of the great new features that are coming in the new version of OneNote later this year.
The new video created by Toshiba featuring Brophy students and faculty is now available on our web site. Entitled "Best Practices for Tablet PC Pilot Programs in Education," the video showcases the pilot process behind Brophy's rollout of Tablet PCs to next year's freshmen class.
The video requires Flash Player 8. If necessary, you can upgrade your Flash Player for free here: http://tinyurl.com/d77fe
Here are some details of the Tablet PC program for parents and students, based on questions and inquiries I have received recently.
- The incoming class of 2010 will need to purchase a Toshiba Tablet PC through the school. Information on this program was sent home with your acceptance letters. The incoming freshmen will experience something unique in Brophy history, as the entire freshmen curriculum is being revamped to integrate the use of the Tablet PC into classroom activities.
- Current students at Brophy can purchase a Toshiba Tablet PC through the school for use in their classes. These students will experience great benefits by using a Tablet PC for their classes, but it should be known that their classroom curriculum will not yet be modified to integrate the Tablet PC. That will come in the years ahead.
Brophy is performing a gradual rollout of the Tablet PCs to ensure the highest quality experience for the students in this program.
The cover story of the March issue of Brophy's Principal's Newsletter focuses on the upcoming Tablet PC program for the incoming freshmen class. You can find it here.
This is a "technology encyclopedia" article I had to write for the graduate program I am taking, but I thought I would duplicate it here because it offers a great description of how tablet PCs can be used in the classroom. You can find the original article here. Enjoy!
A TABLET PC merges a multimedia laptop with the added functionality of pen-based markup of documents and digitally handwritten notes.
The current generation of tablet PCs offer today's students tremendous advantages over standard pen and paper note taking. The size of a large spiral notebook, convertible tablet PCs can operate like a standard laptop, but the screen is able to spin around and fold down onto the keyboard, like a writing tablet. In tablet mode, students can use a stylus to write or draw on the display screen.
With a tablet PC, everything a student needs during a school day is available in the most user-friendly laptop available. Its intuitive methods of input allow students a more natural interaction with the computer. Using a program called Windows Journal, which comes free with the tablet PC operating system, tablet users can use the electronic stylus to take notes, write papers, or markup digital documents. Saved onto the hard drive, all of these course notes are contained in one digital source for easy access.
The tablet PC can also record audio files, such as a class lecture, to review later either on the tablet or on a portable media player. The current storage capacity of most Apple iPods would allow a student to carry an entire semester's worth of course lectures in their pocket. On the tablet, the Microsoft OneNote program can synchronize the recorded audio with course notes, allowing users to jump to any point in the recording by clicking the corresponding point in the notes.
The tablet PC takes traditional handwritten course notes to a new level with the ability to erase and add space, add multimedia elements to the notes, including audio and video files, add links to web resources, and the ability to digitally search all the handwritten notes for specific terms. Digital note pages can stretch on forever, and extra space can even be inserted at any place within the notes, making adding updates or extra information easy.
The digital ink technology also allows students to "snip" information from any source on the screen and insert it into their notes. This is a great way to capture a relevant image, chart, graph or diagram from a web page or digital data from the instructor and insert it into the notes to aid in the comprehension of the subject.
With built-in wireless connectivity, students can download class notes, documents or slide shows from the Internet onto the tablet and then mark them up, just as one would on paper. The ability to take a teachers prepared lecture notes or slides and then add their own observations is a tremendous study aid for students.
Research by Kiewra (1985) reports that students who had instructor-provided notes prior to a lecture did better on fact-based tests than students who only reviewed their own notes. Having all their class notes and resources in one easily searchable place also makes reviewing for tests much easier and more organized for students.
Using the tablet PC, classes can be organized into folders, with all digital notes and resources for each class stored in its own folder. Digital notes are flexible, and can be reorganized, highlighted and searched at a later date. By having all their notes with them, students are able to bring up any fact or detail with a simple search in class or while studying. Notes can also be shared easily with classmates or study groups by simply emailing the files or saving them to a network shared folder.
The power and mobility of a multimedia laptop combined with the flexibility and creativity of a paper notebook, the tablet PC is the convergence of traditional and cutting edge technologies. With the ability to engage students in their learning, tablet PCs are a useful product both inside and outside the classroom, providing a multimedia tool to enhance the learning experience.
Brophy is embarking on a Tablet PC program for the incoming freshmen class of 2010. Watch this introductory video featuring some behind the scenes work by teachers and administrators last summer to get the pilot program and its teachers ready for the current school year.
More videos are on the way in the future!
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