How Teachers Can Use Wacom Tablets in the Classroom
Disclaimer: I received these three products from Wacom in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions remain my own. This blog post also contains affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase one of the products below, I may receive a small percentage of the sale.
Distance learning brought edtech to the spotlight, and many teachers, like myself, are dreaming up ways we can continue to use technology to amplify learning in the classroom.
Because of this, I’ve been spending some time this summer researching the best tools to spark creativity and increase student engagement. When I discovered Wacom products and how they are being used in education, I knew I needed to spread the word.
Wacom is one of the most trusted brands for graphic tablets, loved by designers and creatives around the world.
In the edtech space, more and more teachers have begun to discover the amazing potential of incorporating digital tablets into their teaching.
Why Wacom?
Wondering how you might use Wacom products as a teacher? One solution immediately comes to mind!
Have you ever used a digital whiteboard tool like Google Jamboard and been forced to use your trackpad to create barely legible text?
With Wacom’s pen tablets, you can write with ease – from digital handwriting to sketching to mind mapping to annotating and grading. If you are a math and science teacher, you will love using Wacom’s products to handwrite equations and create diagrams.
Beyond ease of use, Wacom brings creativity into the classroom.
Teachers can show rather than tell their lessons with Wacom.
Students, too, can use Wacom products to explore and experiment using visualization and brainstorming. Art students, in particular, will enjoy using Wacom technology to express their creativity using the same technical tools that real designers use.
Three Wacom Products Teachers Will Love
In today’s blog post, I’ll be sharing the three main Wacom products included in the Wacom for Education initiative:
- One by Wacom
- Wacom Intuos
- Wacom One
1. One by Wacom
In my opinion, One by Wacom is the best graphic drawing tablet on the market for K-12 students and teachers. And you’ll absolutely love that One by Wacom is compatible with Chromebooks.
One by Wacom is a pen tablet that works with PC, Mac, and Chromebooks. Teachers, you will love that One by Wacom integrates perfectly with the edtech tools you’re already using (think Pear Deck, Kami, Explain Everything, Jamboard). Students can also use this tool to draw and edit photos, collaborate in online classes, and even complete academic assignments using their own handwriting.
How It Works:
When you draw on the One by Wacom tablet using the pen tool, the marks will appear on your computer screen.
Pros:
- The price point is affordable ($59.99).
- The setup is simple. Once you are set up, you are ready to go each time you use the tool.
- The product works with Chromebooks!
- This is a perfect tool for beginners.
Cons:
- There are no shortcut keys on the tablet (more on this with Wacom Intuos).
- There is an initial learning curve if you have never used a pen tablet before.
2. Wacom Intuos
At first glance, the Wacom Intuos looks similar to One by Wacom. The tools, however, do have a number of differences worth noting.
First, you’ll notice that the Wacom Intuos has four buttons on the tablet. These four buttons can be easily programmed to perform shortcuts when you’re using a specific computer program. Users of design tools like Photoshop will be excited by this feature!
Second, the Wacom Intuos comes in two sizes: small and medium. The small size has a 7-inch active area, whereas the medium has a 10-inch area. The small does not use Bluetooth and therefore is NOT wireless, whereas the medium is wireless and uses Bluetooth.
Pros:
- The price points are affordable at $79.99 and $99.95, depending on the model you select.
- The setup is simple.
- The shortcut keys are great for teachers who use design tools frequently.
- I love that there is a Bluetooth option (Wacom Intuos with Bluetooth).
Cons:
- There are shortcut keys (yes, I know this is also listed as a pro). If you don’t plan to use the shortcut keys, then they will take up space that otherwise could be used for drawing.
- There is an initial learning curve if you have never used a pen tablet before.
Link to purchase Bluetooth option
3. Wacom One
With the Wacom One, you’ll notice a number of differences in comparison to the other two products. Most notably, the Wacom One has an interactive screen display. This means that users can sketch, draw, paint, and write directly on the screen.
The way it works is that while you are using the Wacom One, the pen tablet will display a complete copy of your computer screen. You will then notice that as you write, changes are made on both screens (computer and tablet) simultaneously.
Pros:
- You can write directly on the screen, so there is less of an initial learning curve.
- The setup takes no time and the display is ready-to-use almost immediately.
- The design is sleek and high-quality – by far the best of the three!
Cons:
- The price point is expensive at $399.95.
- Unless you teach with tools like Photoshop, this tool might be less useful for you.
Thank You
At the end of the day, all three tools – One by Wacom, Wacom Intuos, and Wacom One – are high-quality, easy-to-use tools that have practical application in the classroom. Plus, Wacom tools integrate perfectly with your favorite edtech apps:
- Collaboard
- Explain Everything
- Kami
- Limnu
- Pear Deck
- Other digital whiteboards
If you end up trying out some of the Wacom products in this post, please let me know! I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at myedtechclassroom@gmail.com, DM me on Instagram @edtechclass, or leave a comment below.
Categories
EdTech Classroom 