University Improves Collaborative Hands-On Learning With Tablet PC Projects

Overview

In 2002, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) successfully incorporated the Tablet PC into the collaborative design phase of an international robot-design competition. Since then, both faculty and students have been using the Tablet PC running Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 to enhance the learning process for project-based courses. Improved drawing capabilities and an operating system that easily handles mathematics and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) programs set the Tablet PC above desktop computers when students use virtual-design learning aids. The built-in wireless capabilities and portability of the lightweight Tablet PC increased students' productivity, simplified team work, and improved access to Web-based services, including an essential online peer-review process for completing coursework.