Analyzing the efficacy of using digital ink devices in a learning environment

• Published in: Multimedia tools and applications 2008-11, Vol.40 (2), p.211-239
• Main Authors: Varadarajan, Akila, Patel, Nilesh, Maxim, Bruce, Grosky, William I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Active learning; Classrooms; Collaboration; Computer Communication Networks; Computer Science; Data Structures and Information Theory; Documents; Educational technology; Information retrieval; Learning; Multimedia Information Systems; Pedagogy; Peers; Personal digital assistants; Queries; School environment; Self study; Semantics; Software; Special Purpose and Application-Based Systems; Student participation; Students; Studies; Teaching; Usability; Verbal communication
• ISSN: 1380-7501; 1573-7721
• DOI: 10.1007/s11042-008-0205-4

There has been increased interest on the impact of mobile devices such as PDAs and Tablet PCs in introducing new pedagogical approaches and active learning experiences. We propose an intelligent system that efficiently addresses the inherent subjectivity in student perception of note taking and information retrieval. We employ the idea of cross indexing the digital ink notes with matching electronic documents in the repository. Latent Semantic Indexing is used to perform document and page level indexing. Thus for each retrieved document, the user can go over to the relevant pages that match the query. Techniques to handle problems such as polysemy (multiple meanings of a word) in large databases, document folding and no match for query are discussed. We tested our system for its performance, usability and effectiveness in the learning process. The results from the exploratory studies reveal that the proposed system provides a highly enhanced student learning experience, thereby facilitating high test scores.