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Submitted by Katie Wolanin

DyKnow Software Used to Supplement Tablet PC 1:1 Initiative

The Presidential Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology has repeatedly encouraged public, private and higher education institutions to assimilate computer-based technology into learning environments. With technologies being integrated into the classroom, educators are concerned about the impact on students. Particularly concerning is the introduction of electronic distraction to the learning environment.

Bishop Hartley High School, a private Catholic school located in Columbus, Ohio, realized the importance of integrating technology and became a pioneer in one-to-one computing.. The school started one of the first one-to-one Tablet PC programs in the nation, placing a computer in the hands of every junior and senior at the school. Students have the computer 24 hours a day, seven days a week for true anytime, anywhere access.

Students carry their Tablet PC with them between home and school where they are free to use their computers as they prefer; however, for some, that freedom became a problem during class. As teachers at Bishop Hartley began to integrate the technology into their lesson plans, they had no way to know if students were working on the lesson, surfing the Internet, or engaging in some other off-task behavior during class.

The teachers appreciated the added value of the Tablet initiative, but were hesitant to take full advantage of the technology because of electronic distractions.

Kenneth Collura, Director of Communication and Instructional Technologies for the Dioceses of Columbus, implemented the Tablet PC program and wanted it to effectively enhance teaching and learning in the classrooms of Bishop Hartley. He recognized the need to provide teachers with a solution to eliminate electronic distraction so they could take full advantage of the technology.

Collura began to focus on software applications that would complement their one-to-one initiative. While researching software, Collura saw a demonstration of DyKnow Monitor®, a software system enabling teachers to monitor and control student computers, ensuring student accountability. While viewing the demonstration of DyKnow Monitor, Collura was introduced to DyKnow Vision, a collaborative note taking application used to improve the learning environment.

Collura was drawn to the DyKnow software applications because of their ability to overcome electronic distractions while creating a more personalized learning experience and utilizing Bishop Hartley’s wireless environment. DyKnow Monitor became the first solution Collura implemented in order to keep students focused during class time.

Foreign language teacher Stephanie Howe believed DyKnow Monitor made a noticeable difference in her class. The thumbnail views of student screens gives her peace of mind knowing that students are participating class and staying on-task. After implementing the software Howe noticed more accountability among students and overall improvement in students’ grades.

Once Bishop Hartley began using DyKnow Monitor, Collura found that teachers appreciated knowing the students were using their computers for educational purposes. He was encouraged by their enthusiasm and decided to focus on the need to deliver improved individualized learning.

“In high school, where students take seven 45-minute long classes per day, each moment of instruction is valuable,” Collura explains. “We needed a way to make every minute of education personalized for each student.”

Collura’s solution was the introduction of DyKnow Vision to his faculty. With this application, the teacher’s prepared or spontaneous class notes are transmitted onto each student’s computer screen. Students can easily add their individualized annotations, creating an electronic notebook. DyKnow Vision allows teachers to insert content from other applications, poll students and share information interactively, as well as many additional capabilities.

Collura realized a need to reach students with various learning styles, including tactile, visual and auditory learners. With DyKnow Vision, teachers can embed a video from the Internet into the electronic notes to reach visual and auditory learners, while tactile learners can use the Tablet PC pen to add notes to the teacher’s lesson. Students can use the different DyKnow Vision tools to get the best results for them individually – and all the various learning tools are captured in one personalized electronic notebook.

Collura did not require teachers to use the software, but he noticed that they were seeing positive results and were using it in class with increasing frequency. Each semester more teachers and students requested to use the software in their classes; DyKnow Vision and DyKnow Monitor were enhancing the learning experience for teachers and students.

Howe noticed that DyKnow helped slower writers capture all the notes. She also observed that students appreciate having a complete and accurate copy of her notes from which to study, making them more confident when taking exams.

Based on positive student and teacher feedback, Collura decided to purchase DyKnow Vision for all participants in the one-to-one computing program at Bishop Hartley. Today over 300 students have access to the software in all of their classes.

Students at Bishop Hartley enjoy using DyKnow Vision and their enthusiasm for learning has increased. Parents have also noticed a difference. In fact, students are doing so well academically that parents are concerned about how their children will perform at college without a Tablet PC and DyKnow software. Collura eases their worries by reassuring them that teachers using DyKnow Vision are also training students how to take notes and improve critical thinking skills.

The successful implementation of DyKnow software at Bishop Hartley prompted Collura to host several workshops allowing educators from around the country to experience their program hands-on. He notes that every school that has attended a workshop has left impressed by the impact DyKnow software is having on teaching and learning in the classroom.

Collura plans to expand the one-to-one computing program throughout the 55-school Dioceses, and he hopes to outfit these schools with DyKnow Vision and DyKnow Monitor.

He also recognizes the need to show the quantifiable results of using DyKnow Vision and Monitor in the classroom. Collura plans on conducting a related study of this technology at Bishop Hartley to obtain meaningful data that further supports the power of the applications with high school students.

“DyKnow Vision and DyKnow Monitor are not only quality technology products; they have a solid education foundation that makes a difference in the classroom. The company’s commitment to the integration of teaching and technology has helped validate the one-to-one computer model for us,” he said. “It would be a dream to have DyKnow software on a computer for each student in our schools.”

 To learn more about DyKnow, check out the official site HERE.

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