Work In Progress: Using Tablet PCs to Integrate Lecture and Laboratory in an Introductory Electrical and Computer Engineering Course

In the Spring of 2006, tablet PCs were used in a new introductory course in Electrical and Computer Engineering to bridge the gap between lecture and laboratory activities. Additionally, the tablet PCs facilitated active learning in the classroom, such as by wirelessly recording feedback on concept questions and enabling collaborative problem solving. These activities allowed lecture content and pacing to be dynamically modified to address students´ questions, misconceptions, and interests. Students also ran interactive simulations either before or after laboratories on their tablet PCs, making classroom demonstrations more engaging while encouraging the development of ideas to test in the laboratory. The same tablet PCs were carried to the laboratories, where students used them to run simulations, collect data, and record observations that were shared in class. Student engagement was very high and students overwhelmingly indicated that the tablet PCs enhanced the learning experience in both the classroom and the laboratory