Archive for the ‘smartpen’ Category
It is not the tool, but how you use it.
July 31st, 2010 | 
Author: 
However as with any tool, there are benefits and there are drawbacks. The question isn’t about if the smartpen is effective, rather it is about you!
The trick is to step back and analyze the tool’s real value in helping you accomplish your teaching tasks. If you’re not evaluating the way that you’re using this or any other technology to get things done, then you may be in danger of technology overload and become overwhelmed by the number of tools at your disposal.
One way to handle is this to really map out the various online or technology tools that you use in your preparation and teaching and then organize and rank them in order of importance to you.
- which tool helps you accomplish the widest variety of tasks on a regular basis.
- which tool is the most effective for what you are doing.
- what is the added value of using one tool over another.
Prepare a chart that summarizes your tasks, the tools used and added value of each tool. Analyzing how you are using the tools in your toolbox will increase your efficiency!
Who is using the smartpen?
Below is a collection of links describing how people are using the smartpen. I will be updating this post with additional links as I find them!
Qualitative Researchers
1. Rob Tannen was interviewed in the Summer 2009 issue of QRCA Views, a magazine for qualitative researchers, on the topic of the Livescribe Pulse Smartpen. See page 54 of the online version to read the article.
Students
2. Student bloggers shares his impressions and reasons for using the smartpen
3. Holden Page a student thinks that he may pay attention in class with a smartpen
4. Smartpen and paper helps blind students
Teachers
5. Professor Michael Welsh wrote about the smartpen as a digital ethnographology tool.
Sample conversation lesson using Smartpen
In the sample lesson below I worked with a 15 year old Israeli student who studies English in school.
Sample Lesson Language Objective : To give clear and accurate spoken instructions in order to enable a partner to recreate a drawing
1. I tore out a page from my smart pen notebook and tore the page in half.
2. I gave Roee half of the paper and invited him to draw anything he wanted without showing it to me.
3. When Roee was ready, I clicked the record button on the smart paper and he proceeded to describe his drawing to me. We were sitting back to back so I could not see Roee’s drawing.
4. I asked Roee questions and his answers guided me in the recreation of the drawing.
5. We then compared the drawings and Roee analyzed the differences in the two.
6. This activity could have been done using a regular pen and paper, however, having the opportunity to watch the pencast and analyze the language that was ellicted during the activity added value to the lesson.
I hope you enjoyed this sample lesson. I am currently developing more content and ideas for teaching with the pen. If you are interested in joining me in this exciting adventure and would like copies of my worksheets /lesson plans please subscribe to my mailing list at the top of my page, email me or follow me on twitter.
Comments/Questions/ Feedback are most welcome!
Posted in Learners, smartpen | 
Tags: english, language learner, sample lesson, smartpen | 
No Comments »