Electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN) have been a reality for nearly twenty years, though primarily in industry.  However slow academia has been to adapt to the technology, the changeover now seems inevitable as tablet technology becomes more ubiquitous.  The chemistry department at University of North Georgia has recently implemented an iPad loaner program in order to give undergraduate students experience with ELNs, a skill they will likely employ during their graduate or professional careers.  The technology benefits students and faculty in both the lab and classroom setting.  Student ELNs tend to include more detail, with pictures and recordings.  Collaborations between student groups and faculty are facilitated through cloud storage using intuitive iPad apps with minimal or no cost.  In the lecture setting, free electronic textbook options have been explored and students use iPads to record lecture notes and to work in-class example problems.  The technology facilitates active learning by allowing students to share work publically in real-time with digital content mirroring.  The benefits and challenges of implementation and student response to the technology will be presented.

Implementation of cost-effective tablet technology for the development of electronic laboratory notebook skills and to promote active learning at the undergraduate level

249th National Meeting (2015)

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