IDEA Studio Project will Examine the Use of Pen-Enabled Tablets in Literacy Teaching and Assessment January 3, 2013

Preservice teachers learn how to use an Android tablet with N-trig stylus.

As part of its ongoing work to explore the use of new technologies, this spring the Learning Technology Center’s (LTC) IDEA Studio plans to distribute its fleet of pen-enabled Android tablets to a cohort of preservice teachers and their instructors who will explore new ways to use these devices to support the teaching and assessment of young children’s literacy. N-trig, the company that makes the DuoSense Active Pen that will be used with the tablets, is providing critical support to the project by donating 30 of the pens.

The IDEA Studio has developed a system that will facilitate a new way to conduct student writing conferences. Leveraging the N-trig pen technology and handwriting recognition software, the system will allow educators to digitally record their handwritten notes during writing conferences with students. They will be able to record comprehensive, detailed information that will more easily provide specific insight into each student’s progress.

Dr. Karen French, IDEA Studio Coordinator, explains the impact of this innovation. “In the past, if teachers wanted to maintain digital records about a child’s literacy learning, they had to either type handwritten notes after a writing conference, or use a tablet application that only allowed them to checkbox a few categories, rather than detail the child’s actual progress. The tablet and pen combination create a very natural way for teachers to teach and students to learn. N-trig’s active pen mimics the natural writing process while minimizing physical barriers between child and teacher. An active pen that allows handwriting is a game changer.”

The project is expected to result in a rich set of data that can be used to supplement standardized assessments and more closely monitor the learning process, allowing teachers to more effectively respond to the individual needs of students. The LTC’s Director, Dr. Paul E. Resta, believes this is an important effort that will not only help university faculty enhance existing methods for promoting children’s literacy, but could also lead to the development of tools that will help all teachers. Says Dr. Resta, “The project, and our partnership with N-trig that helps make it possible, is another great example of how the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin is a leader in exploring cutting-edge technologies to benefit education.”

—Laurie Caldwell, LTC Communications Coordinator

Related Sites:

• N-trig’s DuoSense® Pen Selected by the Learning Technology Center (LTC) at UT Austin College of Education
• www.n-trig.com
• IDEA Studio