One class of 6th graders have been learning to use the tablets and Art Ink this week. We began with the tablets open (literally) and the program running with a template open. After demonstrating how to use the tools we let students experiment with those tools. The results were gratifying, enlightening, and instructive.

We learned that sometimes, and we haven't figured out  the why of this (I think it is a "stall" of the stylus), the tools disappear or the program freezes. To get the tools back you right click by holding down the stylus until red circles appear, or and this is easier, click on the keyboard by the Start button in the quick launch, and press Enter.

We also learned there is a "clear all" in the Edit menu and that you can move your canvas from side to side and top to bottom which might be a way to make paintings that are bigger than the screen.

 

In the free Microsoft Experience Pack for Tablet PC is a program called Ink Art 1.3 which is amazing! Our art teacher, Suzy, has been working with her classes on the tablets and Art Ink. She has the students make a  5 X 7 piece that she puts in acrylic stands and uses them as the name plates for where students sit in her class. This year, she decided to make one side of those name plates in the traditional manner and the other side with Ink Art.

Like most "painting" programs, Ink Art has a palette of tools and a palette of colors. But unlike other programs, when you stroke with the paint brush in Ink Art, what appears on the canvas has depth and "consistency". You can see the brush stokes! And you run out of paint in your brush at a certain point in the stroke. You can use the palette knife to pull the paint from that stroke or lay on a different color and blend the two.

The other tools behave similarly appropriately.

Last week I had an afternoon class with 5th grade working with their tablets.  It was exciting and frustrating at the same time.  In the first activity, students were asked to color in a country flag from one of the South American countries.  I copied blank flag outlines into MS Word and students colored the flags after looking at the National Geographic website for the actual colors of their country flags. 

The students worked really hard to color in their flags.  When they printed them out, I realized that coloring in MS Word was not the best choice.  It seems that depending on the size pen they used (ball point, highlighter, felt tip) the quality of color varied.  Some students used several different pens on the same flag and ended up with lighter and darker color patches on their flags. They were a little upset about this.

Next time I plan to use Corel Photo House for coloring.  I think this will use produce a more consistent color and less frustration for the students.    

My second graders have been exploring the Windows Journal program.  Since this is the first time they have used the tablet they needed to learn how to open the program and how to manipulate the pen setting.  They have enjoyed writing with different pen thicknesses and colors.  In addition to writing sentences and short stories, they are drawing pictures to go along with their writing.  In our study of apples we visited an apple orchard.  Their latest Windows Journal project was to invent an apple picking machine and then write about how it is used.  Their writings are continuing to develop as it is more fun for them to write using the Tablet rather than in their writing notebooks.

Today I worked with Emily using a Journal blank template for 5th graders to write out their country name for their flag. They learned to change pen colors, thickness, and the toolbars.

I also worked with Suzy in 2nd grade art where they used Ink art and the paintbrush in that program. They learned to open the tablets, twist, and log in.

Then I worked with Rob and Journal Music notation. We are looking at using the Power Toy - Music Composition to create and playback music notation.

We found that the fully charged tablets could remain on and open from 12:30-3:00 without incident. But we also found that some are having trouble grabbing the laptop profile therefore making it a little challenging to save and open programs.

 Suzy has found that while learning to use the tablets and the software students need to be able to work through the process in a locked step fashion especially if their is only one teacher. "Lay the stylus on the table" is a great way to hold their attention.

Tablets need to be wiped down with the blue cloths after use.