Handheld Instructional Technology

Response to Handheld Lesson Plans

After reading several of the handheld lesson plans submitted by students at Arkansas Tech University, there are several that I would feel comfortable using in the elementary classroom. These were a few of the lessons I felt would work with students that I have had in classes. Anna Thariel prepared two, Research Project to Accompany Miss Renee's Mice and Creating and Maintaining Reading Logs, that I would use with my classes. Luke Heffley presented a lesson called African Capitols and Countries which used CityZen. I felt that it was very useful. I liked the idea of
using the freeware, CityZen. I also like Ginger Campbell's handheld lesson plans for Harry Potter and Name that Tree. Both of them used the handheld computer effectively.

Submitted by Vickie Pannell

Reaction to Elliot Soloway @ MIT

After viewing the video of Elliot Soloway at MIT, I was ready to learn more about handheld computers. It seems like the way to go in the classroom. Each child has their own computer. He shows that with handheld computers productivity can be greatly increased in the classroom. The handheld can be used in almost every aspect of the classroom, from creating to practice.

He explained the cost effectiveness of the handheld compared to the desktop or laptop. A handheld is so much less expensive that more children could be outfitted with a handheld much easier than a desktop or laptop. He also shows that teachers use desktop computers very little during the week because they do not have one for each student. That makes sense. When each child has their own handheld, they can use them all day long on each activity. With the handheld collaboration on projects is so much easier because the project can be beamed to each other for comments. The student can get feedback immediately instead of waiting for the teacher to wade through stacks of paper.

Mr. Soloway's presentation really opened my eyes to the use of handheld technology.

Submitted by Vickie Pannell

Handheld Class Questions-Vickie Pannell

Before starting the Handheld class, I was skeptical about using Palms in the classroom. I had no idea how to use a Palm. Now, I can definitely see the benefits of using the Palm in the classroom. I did not think younger students could possibly use technology like this. I know they can use a Palm now. After using the Palm in class myself, I can see the ease of using a Palm. I know all ages could greatly benefit from learning to use the Palm.

I would like to use the Palm in the media center to gather information from the students. If our school can get Palms for us to use, I would like to teach small groups to use them in the media center. I would like to have students do some research about books they would like to read, compile that information on their Palms, beam it to each other for input, and compile a reading list for me. This way they will benefit and so will I. I can use this information to order books that they will be likely to read and teach them to use the technology at the same time. When other teachers see how easy they are to use, I hope they will want to use them in their rooms for projects also. I plan to tell as many as I can about the Palm and encourage them to go to classes or workshops so they can see the Palms as a useful classroom tool.

Here are 5 links with very helpful information:

http://scottadams.blogs.com

http://www.palmone.com/us/education/studies

http://midgefrazel.net/pda.html

http://www.mpsomaha.org/willow/p5/handhelds

http://www.rainbowtech.org

Palm Class EDMD 6883-01

1.) What were your opinions about the use of handhelds in the classroom when you began the class?
I thought that handhelds were just mini-day planners, and I knew that you could use a palm to keep statistics in basketball games. I never really thought about using handhelds in classrooms, or that they were even used, for that matter.

2.) What are your opinions about the use of handhelds currently?
I think that handhelds could really "spruce" up learning, for lack of a better term. If a teacher had access to all of the software that is out there, it really allows for the opportunity to enhance learning through a variety of ways. You can intertwine learning methods with handhelds to keep the students on-task and keep them learning without losing focus.

3.) How will you use handhelds/Palms in your future teaching or education?
It will be difficult in the current situation that I am because I work at a school, where the students are 85% lower SES students, but I would like to purchase one for my own personal use, possibly to use at track meets for quick evaluations and explanations to my athletes.

4.) What would you tell a teacher who is considering using Palms in their classroom?
It is a great tool that can really help and open up unlimited doors to materials they can incorporate into their lessons.

5.) Give links to 5 sites that people can go to that are informative if people are looking for more information.

www.k12handhelds.com/101book

www.pesoftware.com

palm.atu.edu

www.edteck.com/palm

www.educatorspalm.org

Submitted By Laura Williams