Comments on: Tablet Schmablet…NOT! http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/tablet-schmabletnot/ The Read/Write Web in the Classroom Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:06:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Summer Buying Guide: Jeff’s laptop choice at U Tech Tips http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/tablet-schmabletnot/#comment-3300 Summer Buying Guide: Jeff’s laptop choice at U Tech Tips Wed, 24 May 2006 08:15:29 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/tablet-schmabletnot/#comment-3300 [...] Tablet PC: Tablet PCs are gaining popularity in the business world. These little PCs are more along the lines of a mobile laptop but with some added features. For a great review on just what a tablet PC can do, check out Will Richardson’s defense of Tablet PCs in this article. Will has been using Tablet PCs for a couple of years now in education so his explanations are from an educator’s view point. [...] […] Tablet PC: Tablet PCs are gaining popularity in the business world. These little PCs are more along the lines of a mobile laptop but with some added features. For a great review on just what a tablet PC can do, check out Will Richardson’s defense of Tablet PCs in this article. Will has been using Tablet PCs for a couple of years now in education so his explanations are from an educator’s view point. […]

]]> By: John Patten http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/tablet-schmabletnot/#comment-3163 John Patten Fri, 19 May 2006 23:47:36 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/tablet-schmabletnot/#comment-3163 And on the practical side, current wireless video from laptop/tablet to lcd projector does not support high frame rates, i.e. video, nice animation. This means that if a teacher is using those resources in the classroom they're going to be tethered to the approximate location of the projector (due to video cable). A solution we're using to provide tablet/white board are CalComp's School Pad 400. Wireless remote control of your laptop from any where in the room with pen/tablet interface...approx $450. Teachers can control laptop, use it as a tablet, and do it from any location in the room wirelessly... hand eye coordination required ;-)(http://www.calcomp.com/interwriteschoolpad.htm) And on the practical side, current wireless video from laptop/tablet to lcd projector does not support high frame rates, i.e. video, nice animation. This means that if a teacher is using those resources in the classroom they’re going to be tethered to the approximate location of the projector (due to video cable). A solution we’re using to provide tablet/white board are CalComp’s School Pad 400. Wireless remote control of your laptop from any where in the room with pen/tablet interface…approx $450. Teachers can control laptop, use it as a tablet, and do it from any location in the room wirelessly… hand eye coordination required ;-)(http://www.calcomp.com/interwriteschoolpad.htm)

]]> By: Terry Elliott http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/tablet-schmabletnot/#comment-3131 Terry Elliott Fri, 19 May 2006 12:39:26 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/tablet-schmabletnot/#comment-3131 The struggle to transform is immense. I agree with David Jakes and Will that institutionally we are in "new wine in old bottles" mode. Much worse than that is our failure to see how our tools. have broken the old frames of reference. Most of us are teaching in rubble that no one else sees. The new learning world has become a conversation--something for which tablets are just the first iteration. And a small iterative pebble in the great pond of change at that. When I begin to try to get a zoomed back view of what this new world will look like I find I am in a dizzy muddle toward I know not what or when. I think you are both right. If we have to rely only upon the technology of tablets to bring us to the next evolutionary level in learning, we are screwed. If we don't try to rise to that next level with whatever tools we have at hand, we are screwed. The larger question that unites Will and David is simple: how shall students learn? There are many tools we can use to achieve that, some better than others. It all depends upon how you define better. Part of me likes simple and cheap--I taught in a very poor, rural school district ravaged by low property values and even lower hopes amongst its citizenry. Making a virtue of this necessity did not slake my lust for expensive "toys" other schools could afford for their kids. I wanted laptops, pda's, tablets, and anything new I could get my techno-mitts on. I mostly did not get them and I resented not having the best tools for the new learning I wanted to create with my students. Then I remembered: the tool is not the territory. In the end the power of books like The Cluetrain Manifesto and their kin is to demonstrate unequivocally that it is the conversation that matters. So....I am happy for those who have tablets to "converse" in their schools and I applaud those who reach the same learner's nirvana using chalk and talk. Now about this other matter--Cubs v. Sox. We shall simply have to let this weekend of interleague play decide that, won't we? Go Sox! The struggle to transform is immense. I agree with David Jakes and Will that institutionally we are in “new wine in old bottles” mode. Much worse than that is our failure to see how our tools. have broken the old frames of reference. Most of us are teaching in rubble that no one else sees.

The new learning world has become a conversation–something for which tablets are just the first iteration. And a small iterative pebble in the great pond of change at that. When I begin to try to get a zoomed back view of what this new world will look like I find I am in a dizzy muddle toward I know not what or when. I think you are both right. If we have to rely only upon the technology of tablets to bring us to the next evolutionary level in learning, we are screwed. If we don’t try to rise to that next level with whatever tools we have at hand, we are screwed.

The larger question that unites Will and David is simple: how shall students learn? There are many tools we can use to achieve that, some better than others. It all depends upon how you define better. Part of me likes simple and cheap–I taught in a very poor, rural school district ravaged by low property values and even lower hopes amongst its citizenry. Making a virtue of this necessity did not slake my lust for expensive “toys” other schools could afford for their kids. I wanted laptops, pda’s, tablets, and anything new I could get my techno-mitts on. I mostly did not get them and I resented not having the best tools for the new learning I wanted to create with my students. Then I remembered: the tool is not the territory. In the end the power of books like The Cluetrain Manifesto and their kin is to demonstrate unequivocally that it is the conversation that matters. So….I am happy for those who have tablets to “converse” in their schools and I applaud those who reach the same learner’s nirvana using chalk and talk.

Now about this other matter–Cubs v. Sox. We shall simply have to let this weekend of interleague play decide that, won’t we? Go Sox!

]]> By: Will http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/tablet-schmabletnot/#comment-3106 Will Thu, 18 May 2006 22:35:58 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/tablet-schmabletnot/#comment-3106 Hmmm...let me see if my (former) school will let me publish it. But this might be a first...me convincing Tom Hoffman of something! Whoa! Hmmm…let me see if my (former) school will let me publish it.

But this might be a first…me convincing Tom Hoffman of something! Whoa!

]]> By: Tom Hoffman http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/tablet-schmabletnot/#comment-3101 Tom Hoffman Thu, 18 May 2006 21:54:28 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/tablet-schmabletnot/#comment-3101 First off, where's the white paper? You have convinced my of the efficacy of the tablet pc/wireless projector approach over the smart board. I just think they're too expensive to buy for students. First off, where’s the white paper?

You have convinced my of the efficacy of the tablet pc/wireless projector approach over the smart board. I just think they’re too expensive to buy for students.

]]> By: Teaching and Developing Online. http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/tablet-schmabletnot/#comment-3099 Teaching and Developing Online. Thu, 18 May 2006 21:17:41 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/tablet-schmabletnot/#comment-3099 <strong>Tablet Schmablet...Not!...</strong> Dave says he would rather save the extra money and “use an overhead and a dime transparency.” Um, ok…and then what? Throw the transparency away? Make paper copies for the kids? Why not take the digital ink notes that you...... Tablet Schmablet…Not!…

Dave says he would rather save the extra money and “use an overhead and a dime transparency.” Um, ok…and then what? Throw the transparency away? Make paper copies for the kids? Why not take the digital ink notes that you……

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