1 Using PDAs in Economics Andy Ramsden - LTSS [email protected] Bhagesh Sachania – Economics Network [email protected].

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Using PDAs in Economics

Andy Ramsden - [email protected]

Bhagesh Sachania – Economics [email protected]

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that’s us, what about you?

1. Who are you – first names ;-)

2. A quick straw poll:

• who owns a PDA?• who has used one?• if you own one, what do you most frequently use it

for? For you, what is the wow factor?• those who don’t own one, what do you think PDA is?

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what are the aims of this workshop?

The aim of the workshop is, using the context of Teaching and Learning Economics, to …

1. Raise your awareness of handheld technology2. Create the opportunity for some hands-on experience3. Raise questions for you to reflect and re-visit in the future

with respect to the application of handheld technology and teaching and learning

The plan is to address the following three areas …

1. What is a PDA and how are they being currently used in education?

2. How might PDAs be used in teaching Economics?3. How might PDAs be used in learning Economics?

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how are we going to achieve these aims?

Experiential Learning - A method of teaching which uses active participation and the applied use of new skills through role playing and on-the-job experience, in addition to lecturing.erc.msh.org/fpmh_english/gloss/gloss_e.html

Collaborative learning - When learners work in groups on the same task simultaneously, thinking together over demands and tackling complexities. Collaboration is here seen as the act of shared creation and/or discovery.www.unesco.org/education/educprog/lwf/doc/portfolio/definitions.htm

Facilitators - A person who helps students learn by discovering things for themselves.www.trainandemploy.qld.gov.au/tools/glossary/glossary_f.htm

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activity 1: getting to grips with a PDA

The aim of this task is for you to gain hands-on experience of using an internet connected PDA and to start to think about the strengths and weaknesses of the technology.

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activity 1: getting to grips with a PDA

In small groups, using an internet connected PDA answer the following questions

1. What is a PDA?2. Find examples of the use of PDAs in education,

especially within Economics?

Instructions

• Write your answers using Pocket Word• Beam your Word document to another group

http://www.google.co.uk/pda

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feedback on activity 1

Describe what you think are the strengths and weaknesses of a PDA?

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activity 2: using PDAs in teaching Economics

The aim of this activity is to make us think as educators what tasks we regularly undertake and if we could use a PDA to improve the process.

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activity 2: using PDAs in teaching Economics

In small groups, using flip chart paper, breakdown the different tasks associated with teaching. Try to make this as granular as possible, i.e.,

Creating a lecture presentation

Planning Researching the topic

Sourcing the material Creating the powerpoint

Authoring 2nd and 3rd versions

Presenting and uploading to the course VLE

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feedback on activity 2

Write down 1 task and reflect on how you might use a PDA to improve the efficiency of the task.

Try to view the PDA as an extension of the computer.

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some common tasks on a PDA

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presenting from your PDA

Margi Presenter-to-gowww.margi.com

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class register – a simple example

Handbasehttp://www.ddhsoftware.com/

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activity 3: how are you using eLearning?

The aim of this activity is make you reflect on how you are currently using elearning and how a PDA might add value for the student.

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activity 3: how are you using eLearning?

As a group brainstorm how you are currently supporting / facilitating learning through the use of a VLE (or other electronic means).

• What type of material are you distributing?• What type of tasks are you requiring students to

complete?

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activity 4: what is the student experience?

The aim of this activity is to let you explore the type of content that can be delivered to a PDA and the usability of the content.

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activity 4: what is the student experience?

In small groups, using the help sheet, explore some of the common eLearning tasks when delivered to a PDA.

When reviewing them, reflect they are on the following questions;

• Where is there an advantage of using a PDA over a computer?

• After experiencing these, what things do you need to account for when creating electronic resources?

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feedback on activity 4

A quick straw poll

1. How many people are aware of the proportion of their students who have access to a PDA?

2. On the assumption that there is a high proportion, what issues would influence the likelihood of you creating your eLearning material in a format that is suitable for a PDA?

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how about communication? A demo of skype

“Skype is a little program for making free calls over the internet to anyone else who also has Skype. It’s free and easy to download and use, and works with most computers” and on the Pocket PC platform – so says skype.com

When listening to this exchange, we’d like you to reflect on the following question;

• How might you adopt this technology to support learning with your students?

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where next?

The material for this workshop, including; the presentation, all the written up flip charts, some recommended links and details on how to contact us are available from the following blog - http://www.mobile-learning.blog-city.com

In the search box type in debe. A number of contributions will appear, to access them you’ll need a password: debe

Please feel free to add comments.

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where next?

Instructions:

Search: debe

Password: debe

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any question?

Thanks ;-)