Pulse Pen for Assistive Technology

Adrienne Foster, Ph.D.Director, DSP&SSpring 2010 Tech Fair

Session Abstract

The Pulse Pen, the latest development, in pen-based computers, provides promising potential for students in a variety of contexts and presents an innovative approach to designing and delivering instructional media. Providing a unique combination of audio, visual, and kinesthetic learning modalities, the Pulse Pen also presents several challenges in terms of accessibility. Participants of the session will learn the principles of using the Pulse Pen in a classroom setting, utilizing techniques for effective note-taking and studying, and converting Pulse Pen content to other formats.

Using the Pulse Smartpen as a Note-taking Accommodation: Overview

Reasons for note-taking accommodations

Principles for use in class settings Techniques for effective note-taking

Reasons for Note-taking Accommodations

Students with multiple disabilities qualify for note-taking

Motivations for using notes vary – absence to LD

Accessibility concerns of electronic notes

Studying is ultimate common benefit

Strategies

Note-taker to Note Reader Ratio Single student model One to one model Group distributionStorage and Data Management Security, charging, archiving, media

conversion Staff, student workers, independent

students

Principles for Use in Classroom Settings

Legal clearance Define context: note-taking vs. test

taking Avoiding audio distractions

(cheating them) Maintaining good perspective: can

you hear me now?

Techniques for Effective Note-taking

Advance preparation Knowledge of note-taking

techniques Understanding of graphic layout

principles Use of symbols, short hand, icons,

punctuation, etc. Power of “doodles” in notes

In the end…

Effective note-taking enhances the power of the Pulse Pen

Audio recording serves as “memory backup”

Online distribution adds powerful communications option for teachers and instructional designers

Now, the Pulse Smart Pen: Overview

Basic Concepts of the Pulse Smartpen

Livescribe-Dot Paper Notebooks Input & Output Capabilities

Basic Concepts

Pen as Computer Paper as interface Livescribe Desktops Digital Ink

Livescribe Videos

Livescribe .com

http://www.livescribe.com/index.html

Original You Tube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJNWIOhSyhA

Sample Pencast:

http://www.livescribe.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/LDApp.woa/wa/MLSOverviewPage?sid=6cQ6TlldMgSw

Notebooks

Lined and unlined notebooks, journals, blanks

Single subject and mulit-subject Printable notebooks Color-coded, numerically organized

Data Paths

Single student user Single student accommodation Multiple student accommodation Instructional technology