Engage Wireless LCDuWriteTouch

Gadget ReportEducation 635Mark Roque

History

• Released in February, 2011• uWriteTouch is a subsidiary of CIM Industries• > 25 years providing web, intranet, audio-

visual design/integration, IT, security solutions, and training & development

What is the Engage Wireless Tablet?

• A hand-held device, similar to an ipad or Android table

• Measure 10.1’’ diaganol• Has an interactive LCD touchscreen• Uses wireless to transmit to receiver• Receiver plugs into USB port on computer• Whatever you do on tablet screen shows on

computer’s screen

Why use it?

• So why use a tablet to do what your keyboard or mouse can do?

*allows you to write on the screen using software such as SmartTools

*you can circle, highlight, etc any information

*allows you to interact with what is projected on screen w/o sitting at computer

“Poor Man’s Smart Board”

• Essentially, this tablet allows you to use your screen as an interactive white board, to a degree

• Its main advantage over a SmartBoard, Promethean, etc. is its cost

• This unit is considerably cheaper than an interactive white board

So what does it look like?

Learning to use the Engage Tablet

• County-sponsored in-service training (three)-- focused more on learning Smart software

notebook, gallery, etc• Web-research (tutorials, training videos, etc)• Consultations with others who use SmartBoards• Trial and error…experimenting during planning

time and for small activities with class

My experience

• Smart tools were all simple to learn and use• The tablet itself is basic, as you we all are

familiar with touch screens• It was simple to come up with things I could

use it for• However, there is a major problem – it won’t

stay connected!

Connectivity issues

• The tablet frequently loses connection with the computer

• We were told at the training that this could happen• However, the solution was to be simple – just walk

back into range and it will reconnect.• Typically, the device would not reconnect• It may take hours to re-establish a connection or a

restart of the entire computer• Also, on occasion, the tablet causes the computer to

freeze requiring a control/alt/delete reboot

Lesson

• Use an online map to learn nations of Europe• Teacher and student use the tablet to interact

with the map being projected on screen• Countries can be circled, names written on,

and then “tapped” to reveal correct name.• Again, connectivity issues limited this to a

degree

• http://www.yourchildlearns.com/europe_map.htm

Website before using Smart

Website after using Smart Tools