Tablets run the risk of being gimmicky or misused for the likes of Facebook without a well-structured learning activity that has a defined output. This activity needs to relate to the lecture/seminar and the output then needs to be fed back to the tutor/rest of the class to create a meaningful learning experience. This presentation shows seven ways that tablets can be used with free Apps or web-based resources to encourage engagement and interaction in teaching sessions. The screenshots use an Android tablet, but the Apps are also available on iPads.

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Using Tablets in Sessions
Learning Technology Bite
Matt Cornock
The screenshots shown are from an Android Samsung Tablet, though the Apps are available on other Android devices and iPads

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After the talky bit…

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Tablets offer new opportunities

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Defined activity required
Focus
attention
Clear
objective
Defined
output

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Read a short article Identify key points Find via web search or
open readings on the
device
Analyse an argument
Contrast opposing views
Analyse a data set Identify trends Use visualisation apps to
access and present dataInterpret data
Discuss a topic Capture ideas or questions Make notes using post-it
apps or Google DocsExplain an issue
Practice a skill Demonstrate a process Create content in Google
Docs or with cameraRecord experiences
Types of activities

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Tablet Home Screen
Basic Free Apps
Adobe Reader
Google Drive
Quickoffice
Built-in Apps
Web Browser
Camera
YouTube
Basic Maps

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PDF Annotation
Adobe Reader
Great annotation
Helps keep track
when using
documents
in-class
Clunky to save
back to cloud

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PowerPoint Annotation
Quickoffice
Annotation via
slide editing by
adding shapes
Seamless
integration with
Google Drive
Saves back to the
cloud

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In-class calculations
Google Sheets
Could use pre-set
template
Synchronous
saving and
collaborative
working
On-the-fly
marking and
feedback

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Google Docs
Could use pre-set
template
Synchronous
saving and
collaborative
working
On-the-fly
marking and
feedback
Sharing work

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Google Maps
Browser-based
custom maps
Add text, photos,
and videos to
markers and
areas
Access rich resources

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Linoit.com
Group pin-boards
Moveable notes
Can use camera
for photo notes
Browser-based
Requires free
account
Capturing ideas

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Fusion Tables via
Google Drive
Instantly visualise
large data-sets
Pull data in from
free web sources
Browser-based
Visualising data

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Tablets enable…
Accessing and
interacting with
resources
Contributing and
collaborating

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But remember…
have a structured learning activity first