This paper discusses research on using tablets to promote student authorship through personal learning environments (PLEs). The research involved two case studies with students aged 6-12 using tablets for educational activities. The activities were designed and analyzed based on PLE and learner control models. The analysis found that while the activities promoted authorship, mobility and collaboration afforded by mobile devices were not fully utilized. The paper concludes that designing learning activities based on student authorship needs to explore these affordances and create a spontaneous technology environment that allows students to be decision makers.