Using the Microsoft Journal

The machine runs a special version of Windows XP, and is able to run most Windows software (including Microsoft Office). However, it also runs applications unique to the Tablet, which take advantage of the unique methods of controlling the machine.

The first of these is Microsoft Journal, which was a huge hit with Olivia and Ben. The software is designed to act as electronic paper, on which you can write and draw using various pen settings (which enable you to change pen thickness and colour to give you every type of pen you might find in your pencil case!). You then simply write on the screen in your normal handwriting. The software seemed to work perfectly with both left and right-handers. Olivia (left-handed) and Ben (right-handed) quickly got to grips with writing on the screen, in their normal handwriting style.

The software also includes highlighting tools (in various colours) and a rubber to erase any mistakes. Of course, you can do all of this on normal plain paper. However, Journal does give a number of advantages over traditional pen and paper, including the useful selection tool. This enables you to highlight any information on your page (including individual letters, words, paragraphs, sketches and even whole pages), and move them around the page or resize them. This facility is completely impossible on normal paper (without the use of scissors!). Ben and Olivia had great fun writing a paragraph into Journal and then rearranging the words onscreen to make silly sentences. Although the two children used this tool simply for fun, the feature offers great potential in helping children to edit their writing, as it enables them to quickly and easily rearrange their work and remove / insert words. Once changes are made, children can review their work again. If they don't like the changes, they can use the undo tool to return it to the original!

Journal also includes special tools which can change your wobbly hand-drawn lines into straight ones (perfect for underlining headings and graph work). This feature will also convert your hastily drawn shapes into perfect squares, circles or rectangles. If you scribble over any mistakes made, Journal will erase them for you!

Even scruffy handwriting may be converted into text. Ben and Olivia quickly found that the software was quite accurate when converting, even suggesting alternatives if it made mistakes. However, they didn't use this facility much because it wasn't particularly easy to manipulate the text once it had been converted, and they didn't see a need to convert their handwriting. Most of the work carried out in school is handwritten, so they decided to keep it that way!

The children tended to use the lined template for their work, but other types of paper are also available, including plain paper (great for Art activities), squared paper (perfect for Numeracy work!), a calendar template, and even music manuscript paper. All pages you create can be saved, enabling you to store huge files of paperwork onto your hard-drive for immediate access. Of course, if you want a hard copy of your work, you can also print it!

Overall, Journal was a big hit with the two Year 6 children. They quickly got to grips with the software, and also found it easy to learn some of the more advanced features of the program. Many of my other Year 6s have also used Journal to record their working out and answers in Numeracy lessons. They found the squared paper very helpful, and the eraser tool was easy to use if mistakes were made. I was also able to use the red pen to mark their work!