Abstract:

Using the Livescribe Smartpen technology has improved delivery and reuse of problem solving information explained in the course of engineering instruction. The Smartpen combines computer applications in actual ink-based pen to record and link together all spoken and written words. Information can be captured during or after class, then made available over the campus intranet for students to access and review later. Using this technology, difficult concepts and problems are recorded and explained.
Application of Livescribe in a problem solving course can be very fulfilling both for the student and the instructor. Students often express the need for more help in solving problems and Livescribe was a great tool in satisfying that need. Students not only are able to obtain the solution to a problem but can also hear it explained in great detail and they can do that repeatedly. This method allows the student to understand the problems at their own pace beyond the scheduled class time and can access the pencast at anytime outside of class hours. For the instructor it alleviates the large time investment in explaining problem solving to each individual student freeing up time and making the instructor more efficient.

Keywords:

technology, smartpen, livescribe, problem solving.