Student use of the Tablet PC - Impact on Student Learning Behaviors

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Terk

Pedagogical approaches that integrate learning technologies have shown promise for increasing students’ motivation. This study investigates how student and faculty use of Tablet PCs relates to key student learning behaviors in engineering undergraduates. Tablet PCs enable annotation, graph replication, and note-taking with diagrams, supporting self-regulated learning. Findings show that higher frequency of student Tablet use correlates with stronger engagement. The results inform how engineering courses can pair technology and pedagogy to facilitate learning.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

AccessFree to download

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Student motivation and self-regulated learning

Instructor-centered versus student-centered pedagogy

Learning technologies and instructional practice

| | Ad | vances in Engineering Edu | cation | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | WINTER 2012 Student use of the Tablet PC: Impact on student learning behaviors CATHERINE T. AMELINK GLENDA SCALES and JOSEPH G. TRONT Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA ABSTRACT Pedagogical approaches that incorporate learning technologies into lessons and coursework have had promising results in relation to students’ motivation to learn. Tablet PCs have been identified as one form of instructional technology that can facilitate learning among engineering undergraduates since this medium allows for drawing on the computer screen, a potentially valuable way for students to annotate prepared lesson documents, replicate graphs and other visual content, and take and share notes that include diagrams. This study examines the degree to which student and faculty use of the Tablet PC is linked to important student learning behaviors. Results of the study reveal that frequency of student use of the Tablet is related to increased engagement in engineering courses. Practitioners can use this information when considering what instructional technology to utilize in engineering courses and what pedagogical approaches to pair the technology with in order to facilitate student learning. Keywords: Instructional technology, student engagement, student motivation BACKGROUND Student motivation plays an integral role in attainment of course learning goals as well as overall achievement. Motivation is largely understood to be influenced by both personal characteristics and factors that are present in educational settings (Beck 2000; Hancock, Bray, and Nason 2002) . Pedagogy that actively involves students in the learning process can serve as a form of motivation and can increase student performance (Zimmerman and Martinez-Pons 1988; Eysink, de Jong, Berthold, WINTER 2012 1 ADVANCES IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION Student use of the Tablet PC: Impact on Student Learning Behaviors Kolloffel, Opfermann, and Wouters 2009) . In particular, pedagogical approaches that incorporate learning technologies into lessons and coursework have shown promising results in relation to student motivation to learn (Hancock, Bray, and Nason 2002; Schneckenberg 2004), including studies among engineering undergraduates (Steif and Dollar 2009) . One way that motivation to learn can be observed is by examining how engaged students are in the learning process, conceptualized as self-regulated learning behaviors. Students who are engaged make connections with pre-existing knowledge, have an organized approach to identified learning activities, and can monitor their understanding of the content presented using critical thinking skills (Como and Mandinach 1983; Duncan and McKeachie 2005) . How students process information garnered from textbooks, lectures, and other course materials can be influenced by the degree to which they use learning strategies such as rehearsal, elaboration or paraphrasing, and organizational behaviors such as outlining or creating diagrams and tables. Application of new knowledge to content currently being studied is another learning strategy that is a form of engagement (Pintrich and Garcia 1991) . These activities are initiated by students and sustained during the learning process (Pintrich and Schunk 1996) . Student motivation plays a role in students’ success ina given course. Undergraduates who utilize strategies that require processing of information being presented and who use metacognitive skills such as setting goals and monitoring their own comprehension are more likely to do better on a variety of course-related tasks including papers and exams. They also achieve higher end of course grades (Perry, Hladkyj, Pekrun, and Pelletier 2001; Pintrich 2004; Pintrich and Garcia, 1991) . In terms of factors present in the educational setting, pedagogical approaches used by instructors have the ability to in

FAQs

How does Tablet PC use relate to student learning behaviors in engineering courses?

The study finds that the frequency of student Tablet PC use is associated with increased engagement in engineering courses.

What learning behaviors are used to conceptualize student engagement?

Engaged students connect new material to prior knowledge, use organized approaches to learning activities, and monitor understanding using critical thinking skills.

Why is student motivation important in this context?

Motivation influences attainment of course learning goals and overall achievement, and pedagogies that actively involve students can support both motivation and performance.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Terk