What does the Tablet PC mean to you? A phenomenological research

Abstract

The goal of this study is to gain a detailed understanding of the experience of instructors who have been using Tablet PCs (TPCs) for their teaching practice. The study examines the lived experience of 28 faculty members from a College of Engineering which is promoting the diffusion of TPCs in the classroom. Phenomenology was adopted to answer the question ‘What is it like to use a TPC to teach a course?’ Written applications, one-on-one interviews, classroom observations, and an online discussion board are the data sources. From the iterative process of qualitative data analysis, four common themes emerged in terms of converting to digital resources, teaching by handwriting on the screen, becoming comfortable with technology, and human enjoyment of using the TPC.

Keywords:

• Tablet PCs
• technology integration
• phenomenology

Acknowledgements

Appreciation is due to the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education at the Pennsylvania State University, especially Dr. John Wise and Dr. Roxanne Toto, for their support for this study.

Notes

1. Since reporting profiles of each participant is impossible, a conscious choice was made to deal with the quoted information collectively and omit participants’ identities.