Strategies to Remove Barriers and Increase Motivation to Use the Tablet PC in Formative Assessment

What Is A Tablet Pc/Wacom Screen?

The Tablet PC is essentially a laptop computer that enables the user, through pen technology, to annotate (write) on the screen. Wacom Screen is similar to a Tabletpc but needs to be connected to PC or MAC. There was much excitement surrounding the technology in the late 1980s, reaching a peak by 1991 (Jones, 2008). It was envisaged that this technology would eventually replace the mouse and keyboard, but they were difficult to use and the handwriting recognition was inadequate (Jones, 2008). Fortunately, improved computer technology has resulted in greater functionality with the newer versions. Tablet PCs are now lighter, more efficient and more affordable; processors are faster; resolution is finer; and the handwriting recognition software has been vastly improved (Blickenstorfer, 2008). Additionally, no attempt has been made to replace the mouse and keyboard in the current Tablet PCs and although handwriting recognition is still a feature, “digital inking” (allowing the user to annotate on the computer using a stylus or pen) proves to be its strength (see Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Tablet PCs and Wacom screens