In the academic year, 2003-2004, Villa Duchesne freshmen and sophomores were among the first in the country to use Tablet PCs throughout the course of their classes. In 2004-2005, the School expanded this technology initiative from ninth through eleventh grade. And the academic year 2006-2007 saw the inclusion of 7th-9th grade, a move to Middle School students. This impressive tool serves both as a notebook and as a PC. The Tablet PC addresses more individual needs than laptop technology. Depending on their learning styles and preferences, it offers so many more options to the way students learn and the way teachers teach. Instead of the traditional method of taking notes from chalkboard to notebook, students now have several more choices available to suit their learning styles. They may use a special pen to take handwritten notes which can be converted to text; draw pictures and diagrams directly onto the screen; use the built-in microphone to record their teachers' lectures; or use the keyboard to type their notes.

In addition to offering a variety of learning methods, the three-pound Tablet PC also offers much more convenience. Students can upload electronic textbooks for various classes as well as upload their foreign language CDs thereby lightening their carrying-load on a daily basis. The Tablet PC also offers many tools for augmenting daily life from a pen-based music composition tool to a professional style art tool for crafting a draft of a project to new inventions that particularly enhance the use of the pen or inking. Because the tablet is wireless, students can even log-on to the Internet for research or homework as they walk down the hall between classes or sit outside under a tree.

Tablet PCs also encourage collaboration. Students can share information with each other and with their teachers much easier than before. During class time, they can download their teachers' notes onto their own hard-drives so that they can refer to them when they get home. The use of One Note allows students in class to almost seamlessly engage with each other. One Note tools seriously affects the professionalism and organization of note-taking and course engagement. After class, students can work together on class projects without needing to be in the same room.

With nearly 500 students and their teachers using the tablets, Villa Duchesne Oak Hill is encouraging environmental responsibility. Students can complete and submit assignments on-line through each teacher's webpage in Edline, the Network or their School e-mail, helping to create a paperless community -- just one more reason why Villa Duchesne Oak Hill School is moving beyond laptops and infusing technology seamlessly into the curriculum.

Click HERE to learn more about our Tablet PCs.

To educate to live effectively in an ever-changing world