In this project we will focus on the development, usage and evaluation of a collaborative drawing-based tool to support ink-based annotations between students and educators. Two courses will be impacted in the first phase: Computer Architecture and Human Computer Interface. The classroom created will be available university-wide.
In this project, the quality and speed of the feedback will be improved both to the instructor during the classes and also to the students during exercises. How can an instructor teach a processor datapath in a Computer Architecture class?
In the past, the educator used transparencies, projected on a white board to “write” over the datapath. The students used printed copies of the same slides. Q&A to give feedback.
Now, using one TabletPC per instructor and digital projector. The educator can really write on the slides. The students still used printed copies but can get the modified slides after the classes. Q&A to give feedback. Shy students still remain quiet.
In the future, the educator and the students can share the same slide set using TabletPC in a wireless enabled classroom. The educator can get/send instant feedback from/to students during classes and exercises.
By using the collaborative annotation tool, students can draw over diagrams, pictures and educator annotations to check whether they understood correctly the concepts. This tool will be also usable over conventional software by capturing screenshots.
By receiving an immediate feedback from the students during
the lecture, the educator can check their answers and comment on them,
detecting possible misunderstandings.
This approach will increase the level of attention of the students,
making the classes more interesting and active. It will be possible to
verify the success of the project comparing the performance and the
grades of the students before and after the implementation of the
project.
A collaborative annotation tool will be implemented by using some existing tools: ConferenceXP and Classroom Presenter. The software will be integrated to TelEduc, a university-wide portal for distance learning that will be used to store the lectures.
Besides that, the annotation tool will be integrated to off-the-shelf software to avoid the design of teaching versions of the tools.
By using this tool, TabletPCs and wireless infrastructure, students will be able to learn specific software (like hardware simulators) by using the real software. They will also be able to store and load all their classroom annotations using TelEduc, which is the what they already do for homework assignments and tasks.