Mark A. Evans, Klein ISD PDAs in the Classroom Session ID#: PW242 TCEA, Feb. 6, 2002, 2:30pm.

Mark A. Evans, Klein ISD

PDAs in the Classroom

Session ID#: PW242TCEA, Feb. 6, 2002, 2:30pm


Why PDAs? Recently, a teacher in our district

mentioned that she really wanted to purchase a PDA because she wanted to use it to take notes, but she didn’t know which one to buy. A student overheard her and asked, “Why don’t you just use a pen and a P-A-D?


Session Overview To give you ideas and where to

obtain ideas about how to use PDAs in the classroom (especially cross-curriculum advantages)

To provide sites for you to learn how to use PDAs and compare PDA prices

To provide you sites that offer 3rd party applications for educational use


How many computers in your classroom? Teacher directed for guided instruction,

giving directions, and offering demonstration (plus administrative use)

Student use in a one computer classroom

Groups of students &/or computer pods Lab or other one to one ratio


Clarification of PDA/Handheld PDAs: Personal Digital Assistant

(Planner functions such as appointments, tasks, memos, contacts)

Includes telephones with any of these functions

PDAs geared towards youth: Cybiko Handheld Computers: Palm, Ipaq, Visor


Poll How many of you have a handheld

computer with you now? How many of you own a handheld

computer? How many of you have a cell

phone or other technology piece of equipment that has PDA functions?


Poll How many of you know that your

students have a PDA or handheld computer and they use it for school purposes?

How many of you think your students have one, but they keep it secret?


Surprise? Did you know there is an underground of

handheld computer users by students – but because of district policies regarding electronic devices, the students keep their handheld computers hidden?

It is estimated that more than 50-100 students in 1,000 have some type of PDA that they keep hidden while being at school. When we most want students to learn to be organized, we are preventing them from using technology designed to assist them.


Why the focus on Palm? Palm has come a long way since

the Palm Pilot, moving from a PDA then to the Handheld now. Palm has a trademark name of Palm Handheld Computers. When referring to other handheld computers, refer to them as handheld computers, not Palms.


Why the focus on Palm? Development of educational

material and programs Palm offers PETC program to assist

educators in implementing training Palm OS on other handheld

computers


The move into the classroom To get an idea about how

Handheld Computers are being used in the classroom, check out these websites: http://www.handheld.hice-dev.org/ind

ex.htm http://k12handhelds.com/overview.ph

p http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/poc

ketpc/columns/ppceducation.asp


Benefits of Handhelds/PDAs Classroom management (for

teacher and student) Quick transfer of homework and

assignment information Quick retrieval of student work Mobility & cross-curriculum use Ownership of learning


Cross-Curriculum? Easy access to classroom data Transfer of data from classroom to

classroom, taking information everywhere

Ex: Programs used in Social Studies can provide data to be used in Math and activities to be adapted for LA use.


More info on Handhelds? Major examples of handhelds in

education use are: SRI Grants for Palm Handhelds Palm in Education Mindsurf (See TIF Grant Handbook) University of Michigan (HICE) Arkansas Tech University

http://education.atu.edu/people/sadams/


Quick ideas for easy application: Spelling Practice and Daily Edit Math Practice Use as daily planner Pop Quizzes Science experiments (Cooties) Social Studies Journal View examples in Art Play keyboard in music


Where to go for more information? Magazines: Laptop, Mobile

Computing, Pocket PC, Handheld Computing, Pen Computing

Online: HICE, ATU, Mindsurf, Palm, Compaq, Handspring, Sony, and more

Teacherwebsource.com


3rd Party Applications Programs for the Palm Very few educational programs for

the Ipaq, but still an awesome machine

Other PDA/Handheld companies are adding programs


Are the basics enough? Many fantastic classroom assignments

integrating technology are complete by using AppleWorks. The four basic components of that program are word processing, database, spreadsheet, and draw. These same components can be obtained with handhelds – but right now we do not have access to AW.


Where do I start? Does anyone in the district use

handhelds now? Get their opinions. What is your district policy

regarding electronic devices? You may have to change them.

How are they going to be used? What is your goal?


For Texas schools – TATEKS? With a handheld computer, a

portable keyboard, and less than $100 in software, the handheld computer can assist students in meeting almost all of the TATEKS for grades K-8.

Internet components can be figured in for additional costs.


Poll How many of you are using handhelds in the

classroom right now? (If you are using TI-83 calculators in your class, raise your hand; if you are using scientific calculators with probes in your classroom, raise your hand).

How many of your districts are currently considering the use of Palm or Ipaq (or something similar) in your district for student use?

How many of you know at least one person in your school (other than yourself) using a PDA or handheld computer?


Replacement of desktops? Not a replacement of your desktops Not necessarily replacement of

laptops Additional technology for a less

expensive price Cost comparisons for 25 students:

Desktops: $33,000; Laptops: $45,000; Palm Vx, Keyboard, Software: $12,500


Can I get “gadgets”? Keyboards Probes Cameras Microphones Headphones Pen writers/readers Scanners & Bar code readers…&

more


This presentation is at: A complete list of resources and

information for all components of this presentation are available at www.teacherwebsource.com under TCEA Presentation.


Is this it? Quick introduction to

PDAs/Handhelds in the classroom Brief idea of how they can be used Simple listing of sites, magazines,

and companies Questions?


PDAs in the classroom For additional information, contact: Palm in education: Mary Beth Kreml

at [email protected] Ipaq & Handheld Administrative

Uses: [email protected] PDA/Handheld Resources and Info:

www.teacherwebsource.com Thank you for coming. Enjoy

TCEA!

Mark A. Evans, Klein ISD PDAs in the Classroom Session ID#: PW242 TCEA, Feb. 6, 2002, 2:30pm.

Documents

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