Utilising tablet PCs in tutorials to aid external students

Abstract

[Abstract]: A tablet PC (a computer with a special screen so a stylus can write directly into an active program) was used in a tutorial setting to record pen-strokes and audio subsequently edited as a video. Because the subject primarily involved mathematical manipulation, ordinary text-based presentations might not be as beneficial. The intention was to provide a fuller tutorial experience for external students compared to the usual static page of worked solutions, which does not allow the student to discover the deeper thought processes behind the flow of the solution. A broader range of senses can be engaged, deepening the learning process and assisting those students who tend to learn aurally. Students were surveyed regarding their impressions of how useful the videos were in conjunction with the static page of worked solutions. Also studied was the inclass learning experience due to the use of the computer instead of the traditional board.