Clemson University first received an HP Technology for Teaching grant in 2006. Based on their excellent progress and initial results, they received a follow-on Leadership grant in 2007. Now their students have created a short video that shows the impact. It's fantastic...

The use of Tablet PCs at Clemson is a great example of going beyond "inserting technology into the classroom". Rather they have combined excellent enhancements to instructional practices with the right technology to create a more powerful learning experience.

My favorite example is the Spring calculus class that they redesigned. It was the calculus class no one really wanted to be in because it was the class you had to take due to failing calculus previously. Not surprisingly, when you subject a student to the same experience that they previously failed, the failure rate remains high. In Clemson's case, the D/F/W rate averaged 59%. By converting the lecture based class into a studio-style of instruction (imagine actually being able to "talk about math" during class), and by adding tablet pcs to enable rapid feedback and interaction, the D/F/W rate dropped below 20%. From 60% failure to 80% success. Not bad!

Marilyn Reba, project lead, describes it this way:

"The HP Tablet PCs and the web-based software represent a huge leap forward in classroom communication...They efficiently deliver detailed symbolic information (without equation editors) from each student  that informs the pace and direction of  each lecture... Communication now occurs with that subset of students who would rarely participate in class....Active learning is achieved because all  students are primed for instructor feedback."

The project continues to expand to other departments, and the excitement is growing about the potential to redesign many types of courses so that students are more successful. Which brings me to the video that was created by Clemson students: It's less than 4 minutes long and WELL worth your time. I loved watching it, as it shows what the use of tablet pcs looks like in various settings - and it made me laugh out loud.

Bravo, Clemson!

Jim Vanides, B.S.M.E, M.Ed.
Worldwide Education Grant Strategy
HP Global Social Investment
Hewlett-Packard

For information about the HP Global Social Investments, visit www.hp.com/hpinfo/grants/