Rationale Before using the Tablet PCs in my traditional mathematics courses, students would listen to a lecture-based instructor while taking notes with paper and pencil. Students typically thought this style of class was boring and would often lose interest quickly. Our departmental success rate in our developmental math and College Algebra courses would be approximately 45-50in a "good semester." Those statistics alone showed a serious need for change in our delivery of instruction. We began the project as a focus on our pre-service teachers. In the LCCC Math and Science Teacher (MaST) Project, students used the Tablet PCs for research, note-taking and presentation delivery in the math, science, and education classes. Our MaST Project students took these Tablet PCs to the elementary schools for presentations during volunteer work. The project proved to be such a success, improving our students' attitudes toward learning math and science. Our team decided to expand the use of the Tablet PCs to the include more students and more classes.

Implementation (pedagogy) Our team wanted to implement change over a variety of courses to include College Algebra, Math for Liberal Arts, Pharmacy courses, education courses and some science courses. In previous semesters, these courses were typically taught in a lecture-based format with students taking notes. Some courses offered Powerpoint presentations while students had to print the lecture slides prior to class. Now, our courses have transformed our students from passive to active learners. For example, our Physics professor, Rob Gramer, has students utilizing the tablets for note-taking and in-class research. He also has students use a publisher based physics software during class while using an Audience Response System for "real-time" quizzes. Ms. Tracy Hickman, Director of the Educators Preparation Institute, organizes the MaST Project. She has issued one Tablet PC to every MaST Project participant to use both inside and outside of class for the entire semester. Her students are encouraged to use these in every course and must use them in their designated math and science courses. All MaST participants also use the Tablet PCs for in their volunteer work at local elementary schools. Dr. Cheryl Boice, Professor of Microbiology, is teaching General Biology to our MaST Project participants. She provides her lecture notes and Powerpoint slides to her students for download on the Tablet PC. This way, students can take notes on the slides in electronic form. Dr. Boice is also changing her style in her Microbiology class. In addition to the electronically provided notes, she requires her students to perform on-line research for a term paper on an unknown organism. She also gives students access to coursecompas materials to enhance student learning. All the students' needs are at their fingertips -- the Tablet PC. In my College Algebra course, I used Plato Learning's College Algebra software during class. Students also had the opportunity to access instruction from home utilizing this software. For my Math for Liberal Arts class, I provide lecture notes and slides for download onto the Tablet PC. I have my students prepare presentations on mathematics using their Tablets. I also give students access to coursecompass materials, quizzing, and computerized homework. The Tablet PCs have provided each instructor with a variety of different strategies for teaching.

Implementation (technology) The LCCC technology department has worked closely with our team to provide the best service for students. The placement of the access nodes were paramount to the success of this project. Students needing to perform research are able to get the full benefit of resources with the placement of an access node in our Learning Resource Center. Every student now has the ability to use a wireless computer to perform experiments, study on-line tutorials, and conduct internet research right in the classroom. Also, students participating in the MaST Project will have internet access and a computer to work from home. Our technology department has worked with students to establish basic tools in the Tablet PCs to help with student success.

College Algebra class Impact on Teaching The goal of the LCCC Technology for Teaching program is for student partcipants to gain excellent learning skills and a thorough knowledge of how wireless technology can be used within their education and their future career. Our program objective call attention to three critical stages of skill development: Objective 1 - Technological Preparation: At least 75% of student participants will demonstrate competency in basic technological skills by the end of their first semester of participation. Objective 2 - Skills for Learning: At least 75% of student participants will demonstrate mastery of critical, technology-enhanced learning skills by the end of the first year of participation through on-line research, discipline-specific mathematics and science analysis tasks, and presentation of knowledge using PowerPoint and other software packages that allow for projection in a group setting. Objective 3 - Career Application Strategies: At least 75% of program graduates will demonstrate mastery over discipline-specific use of technology within a career setting.

FETC 2005 Presentation Impact on Student Learning Achievement of program objectives will be measured in terms of program benchmarks and group comparisons. Benchmarks will be demonstrated as follows: Objective 1 - Technological Preparation: competence in basic technological skills will be measured through a standard LCCC computer skills competency test. Objective 2 - Skills for Learning: Skills in online research, presentations, and analysis will be demonstrated through course grades and classroom student products. Objective 3 - Career Application Strategies: in class demonstration and feedback from supervisors of use within internships and career-related volunteer experiences. Another measurement in close watch is our successful completion rate of our mathematics courses: One Year Ago - Typically successful completion in a College Algebra course was approximately 45-50% Today - Today, our successful completion rate is approximately 55% One Year From Now - We optimistically project a success rate of 75%

MaST Project participants in math class "The Tablet PCs have allowed my students to play an active role in their learning. The students' faces light up and they're eager to learn when they use their PCs. HP has provided me an avenue for teaching that is exciting to the teacher as well as the students." - Cifuentes

Gramer's Physics class utilizing Tablet PCs Quick Facts Dept: Department of Mathematics, Department of Education, Department of Science and College of Allied Health Courses Impacted: College Algebra, Math for Liberal Arts, Survey of Calculus, Calculus, Teaching Diverse Populations, Introduction to Education, Introduction to Education Technology, Earth Science, Pharmacy Technician Orientation, Pharmacy Calculations, Applied Pharmacy Operations I & II, Therapeutic Agents, Physical Science, Physics, and Microbiology. # Students Impacted: approximately 450 # Faculty Involved: 8 This project is funded in part by the 2004 HP Technology for Teaching and the 2005 HP Technology for Teaching Extension grant.

Contact Us Paula G. Cifuentes Professor of Mathematics [email protected] (386) 754-4260 Website available soon http://faculty.lakecitycc.edu/cifuentesp/hp Tracy Hickman Director of Educator Preparation Institute [email protected] (386) 754-4324 For more information on the MaST Project, go to http://www.lakecitycc.edu/students/mast/ Patty Smith Professor of Pharmacy Technology [email protected] Dr. Cheryl Boice Associate Professor of Microbiology [email protected] Rob Gramer Associate Professor of Physics [email protected] MaST Project HP Project

References & Publications Florida Educational Technology Conference 2005 presentation highlighting the use of the Tablet PCs in our MaST Project, January 26-28, 2005 in Orlando, FL. http://faculty.lakecitycc.edu/MAST/FETC.htm Preparing Tomorrow's Science and Math Teachers at Community Colleges: Round II conference, March 12 -13, 2005 in San Antonio, TX. FETC Presentation

This project supported in part by an HP Technology for Teaching grant.