Using Handhelds in K-12 Classrooms

Media and Methods, Sep/Oct 2005 by Walthes, Scott

500 handheld computers (PDAs) in one school. Ninth grade students interviewing 30 Vietnam veterans. Social studies teacher, Patti Hanson, knew that taking handwritten notes would be quite limited and time consuming. So instead, with the PDAs, students are able to store and share their interview information smoothly and easily. Here's how they did it.

The handhelds the school bought were immediately assigned to specific elementary and high school classrooms. Now every student has a PDA to organize his or her personal information. These PDAs are capable of numerous tasks.

* PDAs can hold students' to-do lists, class schedules, data collection and notes;

* PDAs are touch screen based and students use a stylus to tap selections on menus to enter information;

* The unit may also include a small on-screen keyboard that is used with a pen. Data is synchronized between the PDA and a desktop computer via cable or a wireless transmission.

What follows are some ways in which teachers and students are utilizing PDAs in different subject areas.

Science Classes & PDAs

A variety of data-gathering probes can be used in conjunction with PDAs. Probes used in science classes have a compact flash device that plugs into a slot on the PDA. Students can capture information on temperature, humidity and motion (as well as dozens of other probes) instead of using static information found in a textbook.

A data-logging program installed on the PDA collects the data at specific time intervals (every sixth of a second, every half second, every minute, etc.). Once the information is captured, the data can be plotted out on a coordinate plane right on the PDA. The information can also be exported to an Excel software chart, transferred to a desktop computer and added to a lab report, PowerPoint presentation or placed onto a website.

While they are collecting a water sample from a nearby creek, students use their handhelds to check articles on the web about species or strains of bacteria that live in creeks.

Language Arts Classes &PDAs

Handhelds allow students to access the electronic versions of books now called e-books. When using an e-book version of a book, students can make annotations directly in the e-book or highlight specific passages. They can use the search function to actually search the text of their e-book for passages that cover the topic they are studying.

While reading an e-book, students can copy and paste passages they want to save into a wordprocessing document. In an English class, a teacher or students can insert notes right into an e-book to clarify certain events in the book or the relationship between the events. Teachers install free dictionaries available online on the PDAs. Students simply tap on an unfamiliar word and see the definition of that word immediately on their PDA.

An example of a language arts class activity might be to have students begin a story on their PDAs by typing in a couple of sentences on a given topic. They then send these sentences to a classmate. This student continues adding to the story and then sends it to the next person. In this way, PDAs allow students to collaborate on a task or assignment.

PDAs Across the Curriculum

PDAs enable students to take class notes by typing them directly into the PDA. The notes captured on the PDA are then exported into a desktop computer. Students value having their notes immediately available.

PDAs with a wireless card also allow students to search the Web for various topics and questions that come up in their classes. Students can search the Web for articles on specific subject areas. Across all subject areas, PDAs help students complete assignments in faster and more efficient ways.

The average price of a PDA is $300. The average price of a desktop is $600. The average price of a computer laptop is $1,500. You do the math.

Scott Walthes is an educational technology consultant for the Madison County Regional Office of Education in Edwardsville, IL. He trains teachers and assists schools in selecting and using technology tools.