e-pens offer a flexible, highly mobile and cost-effective alternative to tablet PCs. The e-learning team in the ESU have recently been looking into possible applications of e-pens for learning and teaching, as part of their role to explore potential new learning technologies. At the Learning and Teaching exhibition in April 2011, staff were able to try out these pens and several expressed interest in trialling them. Colleagues with their own e-pens have also identified potential. This pilot involves the purchase of a small number of e-pens to loan to staff so they can explore their use, for example in providing rich feedback to students. It will also evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the technology. At the end of the pilot, case studies and other findings will be disseminated, and if staff are making active use of the pens the loans will be extended.
This pilot will evaluate 2 types of e-pen, both of which can be used with staff’s existing PCs or laptops either as tethered input devices, or on the move:
Type 1: normally known as an e-pen (e.g. the Apcom), is like a conventional pen. It allows you to write by hand on normal paper, but records your handwriting on the computer screen and can automatically turn it into typed text if required. It can also be used to draw diagrams or make annotations. You can plug these e-pens into most computers and then use annotation tools e.g. in Microsoft Word, to edit documents, such as for marking assignments.
Type 2: known as Smartpens (e.g. the Livescribe), need special paper and also record synchronous audio , which can be played back when you go to the relevant place in your notes. So for example you could record an interview whilst making notes which are synched with the audio recording.
Here are some ideas for potential uses, which staff have suggested:
