PC-TABLETS : The Next Dimension

Abstract

For hundreds of years, mathematics has traditionally been taught either on a piece of slate, a blackboard or more recently on an overhead transparency. Unfortunately, once the lesson is over, there is no permanent record of the event. Moreover, it is very difficult to make a Black and White medium exciting to a generation who grew up with animation, Internet, BlackBerry and Bluetooth. Math instructors have tried to adapt lessons to the computer, but have had limited success simply because math cannot be taught effectively in a static environment. For every example that is carefully designed and put onto a computer screen there exists the possibility that one may be asked for further clarification hence the permanent need for a blackboard. So, the challenge becomes how to incorporate all of the benefits that come with digital presentations, such as animation, audio, video and file transfer, with the capacity for spontaneous handwritten annotation.