What is a good tablet computer for presentations by a clumsy professor?
August 19, 2010 2:44 PM Subscribe
I am trying to move from plastic transparencies in my teaching to a tablet computer. The reason I would like a tablet computer is that (in some classes) I work through problems (including circling and scribbling) with student input. An added issue is that I have a slight tremor, so I would like forgiving software or a large screen. (The iPad has too small a screen and is designed for touch, not writing.) I can use any OS. Any advice?
Yes, most [large] university classrooms these days have document cameras. If not call your classroom technology services and see if they can give you one or assign you to a room that already has one.
It's easy, just write on paper and it projects full screen. If you have this notes written out, then you could just circle/highlight relevant parts as you go along.
posted by special-k at 3:25 PM on August 19, 2010
It's easy, just write on paper and it projects full screen. If you have this notes written out, then you could just circle/highlight relevant parts as you go along.
posted by special-k at 3:25 PM on August 19, 2010
So is the main difference between this document camera and a good old transparent projector that you do not have to write on plastic sheets of paper, and can use regular paper?
One of the benefits of a transparent projector with plastic sheet I have found i that its easy to stack them on top of each other and have more of the material done, and still have the ability to put a blank sheet on top of the stack to interact with the audience. But since its on its one sheet its all non destructive to the other layer :)
posted by digividal at 3:30 PM on August 19, 2010
One of the benefits of a transparent projector with plastic sheet I have found i that its easy to stack them on top of each other and have more of the material done, and still have the ability to put a blank sheet on top of the stack to interact with the audience. But since its on its one sheet its all non destructive to the other layer :)
posted by digividal at 3:30 PM on August 19, 2010
So is the main difference between this document camera and a good old transparent projector that you do not have to write on plastic sheets of paper, and can use regular paper?
Yes, no special pens/transparencies. Just use regular old paper, stuff you've printed, books etc. And the projection looks much more natural and easier to read on the large screen.
posted by special-k at 3:39 PM on August 19, 2010
Yes, no special pens/transparencies. Just use regular old paper, stuff you've printed, books etc. And the projection looks much more natural and easier to read on the large screen.
posted by special-k at 3:39 PM on August 19, 2010
Document cameras are used frequently where I'm a student, and they project well and are easy to read if you want a consumer point of view! One lecturer in particular uses the dual projectors to have a powerpoint slide of the issue at hand on one side of the screen, then goes through it with the circling and scribbing on the other side via document camera.
Another option is something that you'd really have to get the organisation to buy - an interactive whiteboard. Size means that it's more for classroom settings than lecture theatres, and I'm not sure how large groups you're teaching.
posted by Coobeastie at 4:08 PM on August 19, 2010
Another option is something that you'd really have to get the organisation to buy - an interactive whiteboard. Size means that it's more for classroom settings than lecture theatres, and I'm not sure how large groups you're teaching.
posted by Coobeastie at 4:08 PM on August 19, 2010
I like a document camera. You can drop a book under the camera, or pre printed worksheet and if the projector is showing on a whiteboard you can mark all over the whiteboard (which has the book / worksheet / whatever on it). kind of like a cheap version of the interactive whiteboard Coobeastie suggested.
posted by busboy789 at 4:31 PM on August 19, 2010
posted by busboy789 at 4:31 PM on August 19, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for the feedback. I don't think I'd find a document camera a significant improvement over transparencies, as I'd still have to flip and print them.
While I like the idea of writing on a whiteboard with an image projected on it, (1) I'd be blocking it, and (2) my department is so old fashioned that we still have blackboards.
posted by espertus at 5:36 PM on August 19, 2010
While I like the idea of writing on a whiteboard with an image projected on it, (1) I'd be blocking it, and (2) my department is so old fashioned that we still have blackboards.
posted by espertus at 5:36 PM on August 19, 2010
Best answer: I wrote a strong recommendation for my current model here.
in your case if the school is helping to pay for it, or you have the budget you could also consider the Fujitsu I mentioned, since it has a larger screen. the inherent trade-off is a smaller tablet the easier it is to carry, but the screen size isn't as natural to write on. my last tablet with a 14 inch screen and you could literally overlay a piece of paper over the writing screen, so it was quite intuitive. 14 inch screens are no longer manufactured. I really like my new IBM, but the 12 inch screen is a bit small for me. The Fujitsu's 13 inch screen might be a little bit better but a little bit more unwieldy.
More and more applications will build in the multi-touch support so if you have the budget you can go for that as well. because of my budget constraints I wasn't able to spring for this and I couldn't justify it in my particular case, but I think it would be useful in the future. I don't think it will be long before they make it so that you can flip slides with a finger.
There is simply no better tool then a tablet PC, although a Bluetooth wacom tablet comes close ( but you can look down at what you're writing ).
With a tablet you'll be able to stay seated or at the podium without blocking anything.
Using a program like Windows Journal or one note, you will be able to resize and cut and paste your annotations and calculations, search through your handwritten notes (think research uses here as well - the ability to search through years of your handwritten notes!!), convert handwritten equations to proper electronic format, distribute handwritten notes from the lecture, make additional annotations to PowerPoint <>>> and in Word.
you can create several pages in a row and "flip" through them just as easily or faster than transparencies.
you also save a lot of transition time. You know how when you're going through a series of slides, and the question comes up or you want to run off a little bit... you inevitably end up running from your computer to the board or transparencies/electronic whiteboard. And in some setups you have to raise the projection screen if it's in front of the board or if you don't have enough board space when you're really working through things. Then, inevitably somebody wants you to wait for a second so they can finish copying it. This gives you the option to say to the slower copier--you know the habitual one, "these notes will be available after class in electronic format". you can go on for several boards worse without having to erase anything. Do some quick calculations for your own situation and see how much time you will save.
as for addressing you are termer issue - my voice recognition is not going to get out that phrase apparently-- your health issue: the handwriting recognition is quite forgivable, but it's hard to tell. At worst it won't work. For the other functions there's nothing to forgive, it Completely mimics writing on paper (ostensibly you are doing that without any problem) --however you place the pan it records the ink stroke as long as you are able to maintain pen to screen contact. so even without the handwriting recognition it should serve your purposes.
The other options don't even come close. I've been using tablet PCs for eight years now for school, for business and also for lectures (Econ/Bus). it's so nice to be able to throw the relevant demand and supply curve to illustrate a point currently on top of the slide when a student needs a quick refresher or to expound. welcome to the world of tablet PCs; you will never go back.
posted by chinabound at 9:16 PM on August 19, 2010
in your case if the school is helping to pay for it, or you have the budget you could also consider the Fujitsu I mentioned, since it has a larger screen. the inherent trade-off is a smaller tablet the easier it is to carry, but the screen size isn't as natural to write on. my last tablet with a 14 inch screen and you could literally overlay a piece of paper over the writing screen, so it was quite intuitive. 14 inch screens are no longer manufactured. I really like my new IBM, but the 12 inch screen is a bit small for me. The Fujitsu's 13 inch screen might be a little bit better but a little bit more unwieldy.
More and more applications will build in the multi-touch support so if you have the budget you can go for that as well. because of my budget constraints I wasn't able to spring for this and I couldn't justify it in my particular case, but I think it would be useful in the future. I don't think it will be long before they make it so that you can flip slides with a finger.
There is simply no better tool then a tablet PC, although a Bluetooth wacom tablet comes close ( but you can look down at what you're writing ).
With a tablet you'll be able to stay seated or at the podium without blocking anything.
Using a program like Windows Journal or one note, you will be able to resize and cut and paste your annotations and calculations, search through your handwritten notes (think research uses here as well - the ability to search through years of your handwritten notes!!), convert handwritten equations to proper electronic format, distribute handwritten notes from the lecture, make additional annotations to PowerPoint <>>> and in Word.
you can create several pages in a row and "flip" through them just as easily or faster than transparencies.
you also save a lot of transition time. You know how when you're going through a series of slides, and the question comes up or you want to run off a little bit... you inevitably end up running from your computer to the board or transparencies/electronic whiteboard. And in some setups you have to raise the projection screen if it's in front of the board or if you don't have enough board space when you're really working through things. Then, inevitably somebody wants you to wait for a second so they can finish copying it. This gives you the option to say to the slower copier--you know the habitual one, "these notes will be available after class in electronic format". you can go on for several boards worse without having to erase anything. Do some quick calculations for your own situation and see how much time you will save.
as for addressing you are termer issue - my voice recognition is not going to get out that phrase apparently-- your health issue: the handwriting recognition is quite forgivable, but it's hard to tell. At worst it won't work. For the other functions there's nothing to forgive, it Completely mimics writing on paper (ostensibly you are doing that without any problem) --however you place the pan it records the ink stroke as long as you are able to maintain pen to screen contact. so even without the handwriting recognition it should serve your purposes.
The other options don't even come close. I've been using tablet PCs for eight years now for school, for business and also for lectures (Econ/Bus). it's so nice to be able to throw the relevant demand and supply curve to illustrate a point currently on top of the slide when a student needs a quick refresher or to expound. welcome to the world of tablet PCs; you will never go back.
posted by chinabound at 9:16 PM on August 19, 2010
Best answer: there has been a major price drop on the Fujitsu and I would now recommend that. I have updated my original post here with this recommendation.
as always though, good not to skimp on the processor. as a professor, you might have to do some data crunching; higher processor models will be a little bit more but probably worth it. therefore the price drop might not be appropriate if you have an unlimited budget..
posted by chinabound at 8:23 AM on August 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
as always though, good not to skimp on the processor. as a professor, you might have to do some data crunching; higher processor models will be a little bit more but probably worth it. therefore the price drop might not be appropriate if you have an unlimited budget..
posted by chinabound at 8:23 AM on August 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks very much for the information. I'll try to find somewhere I can try one out locally. (I'm in the San Francisco area so will probably have to go to Fry's, which is the only local retailer Fujitsu lists. If anyone knows of another, please let me know.)
posted by espertus at 10:31 AM on August 24, 2010
posted by espertus at 10:31 AM on August 24, 2010
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http://www.camcor.com/guides/Classroom_DocumentCameras.html
I've got one ordered for my classroom and am insanely excited about it.
posted by allthewhile at 3:01 PM on August 19, 2010