Using Handheld Technologies in Schools

SouthEast Initiatives Regional Technology in Education Consortium Volume Five ◆ Number Two ◆ 2002 THISTHIS ISSUE:ISSUE: HandheldHandheld Using Handheld TechnologiesTechnologies Technologies in Schools Is a computer for every student—a education, K–12 schools are begin- laptop or even a ratio of one desktop ning to take a serious look at hand- INSIDE... computer per student—still a dream held computing for teaching and 2 The Impact of for most schools? Across the South- learning, administrative tasks, and Technology on Education east, the response would be a re- communication and collaboration. In sounding, “Yes!” Several schools, fact, the potential for using hand- 3 Handheld Technology: however, are testing handheld com- helds in education is almost limit- The Basics puters, such as Palm’s Palm Pilots less. Now is the time to begin 5 An Overview of and Hewlett Packard’s Jornadas, as discovering whether or not these Wireless Networking possible technologies to provide each student. Many high school students 7 Considerations When already own a graphing calculator Buying a Handheld that costs about the same amount as Educational Advantages many of these handheld devices. So 9 why provide a student a handheld 10 Educational Concerns computer? In addition to being a 11 Student Teachers and High graphing calculator, a handheld com- School Seniors Beam the puter can serve as a time-manage- Internet ment tool, a graphic organizer, a word processor, a web browser, an e-mail 12 101 Great Educational device, and much more. Uses for Your Handheld Computer Originally marketed as a personal Picture This! organizer for on-the-go business 14 executives and ardent technophiles, 16 Using Handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs) Technologies in Schools have evolved into handheld comput- Using eBooks on Handhelds ing devices and have become one 21 of the most ubiquitous electronic 22 A Sampling of Projects devices in both the consumer and 24 Grant Opportunities business worlds. Sometimes known as PDAs, palmtops, pocket 26 Sample Educational PCs, personal PCs, handheld de- computing devices can be used to Software vices, or handheld computers, help fulfill the promise of educa- Handheld Resources these devices were described in tional computing. They just may be 30 the answer to overcoming the prob- Glossary the Chicago Tribune as looking like 32 a “cross between a cell phone and lem of access to technology and to a Nintendo Game Boy.” creating equity of use in the classroom. This issue of the SEIR◆TEC Due to lower costs, increased func- NewsWire is devoted to exploring the tionality, and the availability of new possibilities of handheld computing software designed specifically for in K–12 schools. ◆ The Impact of Technology on Education Although it is difficult to generalize find- with experts, and with others around ings from technology research, there the corner and around the world. should be little question that technology Many studies, however, have shown has an important role to play in educa- technology has not had a great impact on tion. Ask any teacher who really uses teaching and learning. Why not? There technology effectively in the classroom. may be many reasons, but lack of access Ask students who use technology as a to technology seems to be among the top tool in their own learning. They’ll con- culprits. In a study conducted by Elliot firm what the research (Valdez et al., Soloway and the Hi-Ce project at the 2000) says: University of Michigan, 50% of the 6,000 ◆ Technology makes learning more in- respondents (teachers) to a survey re- teractive, more enjoyable, and more ported that their students use computers customizable. It improves students’ less than 15 minutes a week (Soloway et attitudes toward content and their al., 2000). Why? Sixty percent of the interest in learning. 6,000 respondents reported that they ◆ had one or no computer in their class- Technology offers opportunities for rooms. Neither they nor their students learner-control, increased motivation, have access to computers for any ex- and connections to the real world. tended period of time. According to ◆ Technology can improve student Soloway and his colleagues, “It’s unrea- achievement—as indicated by in- sonable to expect computers to have a creases in standardized text scores— positive impact on learning and teaching when it is used to support instruction [when students and teachers] have lim- in the classroom. ited access to them and thus aren’t using them” (Soloway et al., 2001). ◆ Technology can help students investi- gate and answer complex questions, While every student cannot be provided develop thinking skills, and learn to with a $1,000 desktop computer, it is not access, sort, evaluate, and synthesize outside the realm of possibility to imag- information. ine a time when every student can be ◆ Technology can help students set goals, provided with his or her own $100 per- form and test hypotheses, and make sonal handheld computing device. These discoveries on their own—helping them affordable devices could overcome the develop skills they will encounter in life access barrier that is limiting the impact after school. of technology on teaching and learning. Time will tell the story. ◆ ◆ Technology offers tools to share knowledge and learn cooperatively instead of individually. References: ◆ Technology can make students more Soloway, E., Becker, H., Norris, C., & efficient and organized. Topp, N. (2000, June). Teachers & ◆ technology: Easing the way. Communi- Technology can help students clarify cations of the ACM, 43(6). their questions, locate potential an- swers, and decide on validity, appro- Soloway, E., Norris, C., Blumenfeld, P., priateness, and perspective. Fishman, B., Krajcik, J., & Marx, R. (2001). Devices are ready-at-hand. ◆ Technology can be a powerful tool for Retrieved from www.handheld.hice-dev.org/ assembling, modifying, assessing, and readyAtHand.htm. studying information; manipulating Valdez, G., McNabb, M., Foertsch, M., data; and generating new knowledge Anderson, M., Hawkes, M., & Raack, and deep understanding. L. (2000). Computer-based technology ◆ Technology enables learners to commu- and learning: Evolving uses and expec- tations. Retrieved from www.ncrel.org/ nicate in new ways with their peers, tplan/cbtl/toc.htm. News◆ 2 Wire Handheld Technology: The Basics What is a Handheld Computer? Handheld computers include those devices originally referred to as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and others that have evolved from that concept. These devices now offer many more computing functions than the original PDAs, which mainly in- cluded calendars, address books, and “to do” lists. These devices range in size from those that fit into one hand and use a stylus 1 1 for input to those with keyboards that are approximately ⁄2 to ⁄3 the size of a typical laptop. The term palmtop is occasionally used—referring to the natural progression from desktop to laptop to palmtop—however, palmtop can be confused with the brand name Palm™, so now the more popular term for these devices is handheld computer or handheld device. How They Evolved Apple Computer, Inc. developed the Apple Newton™ in 1993. The company introduced it as the first PDA and sold it as the ultimate information appliance. John Sculley, former chairman of Apple, predicted PDAs would become ubiquitous tools that would hold telephone numbers, keep calendars, store notes, and send and receive data wirelessly. Unfortunately, the Newton was ahead of its time and did not find a market large enough to survive. In 1996, Palm, Inc. delivered the first How They Work truly successful handheld computer, the Palm Pilot. This device helped people or- Operating Systems—While there are many ganize their lives by providing instant, handheld manufacturers in the market anytime access to schedules, important these days, there are really only two ma- phone numbers, addresses, “to do” lists, jor operating systems in direct competi- and other key information. The business tion at the time of this publication: the world quickly embraced the small and Palm OS‚ (used by Palm, Handspring, powerful Palm handhelds. and Sony manufacturers to name a few) and Windows CE/Pocket PC (used by Because of the popularity of the Palm Hewlett Packard, Compaq, Casio, NEC, Pilot, several other manufacturers began Toshiba, etc.). In general, the Palm OS releasing their own PDA devices. These represents a more basic approach, and devices utilized a new operating system the devices are cheaper. The Windows from Microsoft called Windows CE, which CE/Pocket PC system is more robust, was basically a scaled-back version of and the devices are generally more ex- the Windows desktop environment. The pensive and, due to their more complex most recent version of Windows CE is system, require more technical support. now called Pocket PC. Currently, handheld devices using the Palm OS have approximately 75% of the Most of the producers of PDA-type de- market share; however, there are advan- vices are trying to encourage the public tages and disadvantages to both operat- to think of these devices not as PDAs but ing systems, and the decision to use one as handheld computers. Many producers or the other depends upon users’ needs. are not only adding on computer-type Other handheld operating systems being capabilities but also combining their de- used today include Symbian, used in vices with other electronics, such as wireless phones, cameras, and probes. (continued next page) News◆ 3 Wire cellular phone technology; RIM, used in the Expansion and Peripherals: BlackBerry™ line of handheld devices; and the Psion Adding On EPOC system. Input—There are a number of options for entering data into a handheld, depending on the model: The original handheld devices were most often ◆ used exclusively as personal data assistants Onscreen keyboard—The user punches letters (PDAs) to hold telephone numbers and addresses, and numbers on an onscreen representation of a keep calendars, and store notes.

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