Paperless is back to paper

I was very pleased with the responses that I got from my last post. I found both comments to be very interesting and as I am thinking about them I keep finding new ways that I can help my own learning process. I have implemented recording my classes to help in adding to my "notes" and how I review the class sessions. But on to current news...

This week has been a challenge for me in the fact that I have lost the use of my tablet. This also means I have lost access to all my notes, hw, and my calc textbook. My power cord had a short and I was unable to charge my computer. This was something that I had not planned on dealing with, but this is defiantly something that needs to be taken into consideration. Not so much by the instructor but more so by a student that wants to go paperless or is paperless.

I was able to access my textbook by uploading it to my Mac and I went to traditional ways of note taking (i.e. paper and pen) but it was a hard transition. I miss the tablet. Last week I was kinda getting to a point of missing paper, and I might start printing out some of my readings just for my specific learning style, but this week had cured me of my paper addiction.

I am finding that while paper is more comfortable for me to use, I am far more engaded within my class when I am using the tablet. I am able to annotate better the notes when they are right on hand. My diagrams are much easier to understand and the habit of just saving things to files rather then having different notebooks has become second nature to me. I also find that when I am reviewing the notes on my own it is nice to be able to change and move things around in an order that allows for better flow when studying.

I will admit that getting fast access to my notes is a bit more difficult using my tablet. When I need to look something up from a perviouse day it is a bit of a pain. I have to remember which file it was in them from there I must wait for it to load (at this point in the class the question is already answered then has moved on) and once the file is open I must find the correct page.

These are all things that I am taking into account when looking at the overall view of this project. I am also taking into account that I myself am a bit bias to paper in the simple fact that it is what I have used my entire life and it is what I am comfortable with. But as I am integrating these new forms of tech I am seeing my learning style grow in areas where is had suffered before.

Third Week?

Yes it is the third week of classes... Yes, I did not post anything last week. Let us just say that it is better that last week is over and this week has indeed started. ( John was sick last week).

But there is some good stuff that I would like to talk about from my paperless journey from within the swing of school. I have come up with some very interesting questions that I would really like your feed back on as far as what you think based on where you are in life.

My biggest question is: Does the implementation of technology in the students hands disengage the student or does it allow them to add new tools that will help them in the long run with the class?

If that was kinda confusing let me going into why I am asking this question. I was able to take notes during class and add annotations such a links for site mentioned in class and diagrams that I could get offline and from there was able to make notes on the diagrams themselves. I was very excited about this and was in the process of showing someone. I finished my show and tell and the first comments was "So that allows you to completely disengage from the class" I really didn't know how to respond... I was actually at a loss for words. I as a student didn't see it as being disengaged at all. I was very excited that I was able to have such a productive class that I would be able to have great notes and sites to go to so that I could see all this great stuff. But after thinking about it I was able to see where this person was coming from. I did have to go online to go to the sites that were being discussed, removing me from the class for a few minutes. But I would very much so like to know what others think about this?


Well for right now I am going to say that that is it. Please let me know what you think I will also be posting comments on twitter and facebook if you would like a day to day update on what is going on. The username for twitter is thechanger42.

Hope to hear from you soon.