More heads around a screen: Pilot findings from a study on the use of tablet PCs to support collaborative learning

The use of the Tablet PC in education is a relatively new phenomenon. This paper focuses on the use of Tablet PCs to support collaborative learning with student teams 'working with and around' the tablets. It proposes an evaluation framework to assess Tablet PCs' effectiveness. In a four week pilot study, students engaged in various collaborative learning activities using Tablet PCs in the classroom. The post-survey results indicate strong positive correlations among eight of the nine framework constructs, with "Perceived Learning Outcomes" positively correlated with every other construct except "Motivation". Results also suggest that the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the concept of "Usefulness" in particular may play a significant role in influencing "Perceived Learning Outcomes" and "Time Management" strategies when using Tablet PCs for collaborative learning.