Proposal

Narrative

Proposal for Livescribe smartpens

Continuation and expansion of the Livescribe smartpen program

This program has previously proven to be a highly successful implementation of Student Technology Fee Proposal funds for an assistive technology tool. Students have shown more enthusiasm than we anticipated, using the Livescribe smartpens to assist with their coursework and finding them to be an integral part of their study strategy for success. The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) has found that the educational value provided by the smartpens is presenting an increase in the number of requests to retain smartpens for continued semesters. This has resulted in an increased demand for new pens to provide to incoming students. This proposal submits a request to provide additional smartpens to meet this expanding need.

What is the Livescribe smartpen?

The Livescribe smartpen is an innovative technology device that incorporates cutting edge Universal Design to enhance instructional technology and improve student learning. It works as a digital pen which records synchronized handwriting and lecture audio. This allows the student to review class content by clicking on a precise point in the student’s written notes and obtaining audio from the exact point in time when the note was written. The pen can be used in conjunction with the Livescribe notebook, note paper printed on an inkjet printer or the notes and audio can be downloaded to a computer for enhanced functionality. Once the notes are downloaded to a computer, the student can search through handwriting and find keywords by using built-in handwriting recognition. Livescribe files that have been downloaded can also be synchronized across mobile devices for use on technologies such as tablets and smartphones to broaden and enhance the efficiency of studying.

The OSD has found the Livescribe smartpen to be an innovative and valuable assistive technology device which presents great academic value for many students with different disabilities. The OSD launched a pilot program implementing Livescribe smartpens which included training and subsequent loan to students. This program began in June 2010 and was highly successful. A Technology Fee Proposal was granted in February 2013 for 100 additional smartpens, and this became so popular that every smartpen provided by this grant was utilized by students. Students found the use of the smartpens so valuable that a large number requested that they be able to continue using the pens for subsequent semesters.

The current use of the Livescribe smartpens at the OSD has led to greater student independence and considerably increased the OSD students’ access to learning. The further implementation of Livescribe smartpens would serve to support student success initiatives, increase access to higher education and contribute to a state-of-the-art information technology environment.

 

Ways in which OSD students benefit from using the Livescribe Smartpens

A large number of OSD students significantly benefit from increased repetition of lecture information coupled with synchronized audio content when using the Livescribe smartpens. The smartpens assure accuracy of lecture capture for many students challenged by learning disabilities who need the repetition of learning materials as an essential component for academic success. During tutoring and supplemental instruction situations, the smartpens allow the student to take away the full explanation of learning concepts and independently and repeatedly review them outside the session with full aural and text content. The smartpen has the ability to upscale any handwritten text by the use of vector graphics. Text that is produced by the use of vector graphics provides the benefit of not degrading in quality when the size is increased and is not subject to pixilation (a tendency of images to appear block-like when magnified on a computer monitor). This greatly benefits a student with a mild or moderate visual impairment who needs the ability to read clearly enlarged text.

Types of disabilities that benefit from the use of a Livescribe smartpen

Although the Livescribe smartpen offers benefit to most students, it is of particular value to students with disabilities. Students with cognitive challenges often need the repetition of lecture material when they are learning in order to fully understand or retain information. It is common for these students to process information at a slightly decreased speed and the ability to pause and replay the description of a new concept greatly enhances their learning experience. Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often have difficulty maintaining attention and concentration for extended periods of time, and will frequently miss key subject concepts which makes the ability to replay material greatly beneficial. Students with dysgraphia struggle with writing ability and can fall behind with the task of writing their classroom notes. The use of a smartpen will benefit students in this category by allowing them to not miss any of the verbal content that they may be struggling to write manually. Many students challenged with mild and moderate levels of visual impairment find it difficult to write notes fast enough in the classroom as they have to spend extended time writing in clear text with thick point felt tip pens to create maximum visibility of notes. The smartpen allows them to write in a shorthand fashion and refer to the synchronous audio for added elaboration, while they can enlarge the written notes to increase clarity for more visually productive reading. Additionally, some students with mild hearing loss and audio processing difficulties find the ability to review notes with a smartpen at decreased speeds or increased volume levels helps them to fully understand classroom lecture content.

Cost saving and efficiency benefits to the OSD

The pilot use of the smartpens has lessened the need for volunteer notetakers for many students thus reducing the time spent by the Notetaking Coordinator in recruiting, training, and tracking volunteer notetakers each semester. In this process, the students also gain increased independence by the use of the Livescribe smartpen.

Facilities

No facilities reservations required.

Hardware Requirements

No hardware requirement or costs.

Software Requirements

No software costs.

Personnel Costs

No personnel costs.

Other Costs

No additional costs.

Timeline

The proposed timeline for this project wold include immediate implementation upon successful provision of funds from proposal grant. Length of use of equipment provided would be a minimum of 3 years and a maximum depending upon the working life of the equipment.

Sustainability

N/A.?

Resource Matching

The Office for Students with Disabilities will provide staff for training students in the use of the requested assistive technology equipment.

Implementing Organization

The Office for Students with Disabilities.