Learning and Leading - March/April 2010

doesn’t detract from its awesome core feature set. This is an excellent note-taking tool.

My issues with the pen were twofold, however. The first is price. At the time of my testing, the basic model with 2 GB of memory ( approximately 200 hours of recording time at the lowest settings) retailed for nearly $200. The second is that the paper, without which the pen is basically brain dead, cost about $8 for a single notebook with 150 sheets.

Between then and now, both have been addressed, somewhat. The 2 GB version sells for $169.95 (a 4 GB

version costs $199.95), and educator or volume discounts can drop that even lower. Livescribe also recently gave users the ability to freely download and print their own blank microdot pages to a 600 dpi (or better) postscript laser printer. That’s still not as cheap as regular notebook paper, but it helps.

Outfitting a classroom with these gadgets will be a budgetary problem for most schools. However, for special-needs or at-risk students, the money may well be balanced by the capabilities. I do think high school students and especially college

students will love the device. Teachers may also want one for themselves. Assessing student oral reports and other projects would become much, much easier with this tool.

Livescribe Pulse Smartpen $170 ( 2 GB) $200 ( 4 GB) www.livescribe.com

Thanks, Volunteers!

ISTE appreciates and recognizes the valuable contributions of volunteers, especially during April—National Volunteer Month.

Thank you to the many outstanding volunteers who have made ISTE the dynamic, multifaceted organization we are today. Your actions in advancing the field of educational technology have exceeded our expectations and are greatly appreciated.