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Teachers Wanna Hold a Handheld

Schools are inching closer to putting a computer in the hands of every student, and a number of educators believe that handheld computers are the best and quickest way to make it
happen.

By Katie Dean- Wired

"I think it’s a matter of time before we’re all using (handhelds)," said Sally Hennis, a teacher and technology coordinator from St. Louis, who was practicing her graffiti. "I think it’s a matter of getting other
teachers to buy into it. I just see a lot of benefits for the everyday kid."

The excitement doesn’t surprise Elliot Soloway, a professor at the University of Michigan who is
developing applications for the Palm OS.

"Last year, handhelds were emerging," he said. "This year, it’s established."

Hennis uses her handheld computer all the time.

"I bought it wondering if I would use it, knowing that education was really moving that way. Now I don’t
know how I lived without it," she said, now on her second Palm in a year and a half.

She had hoped to see more workshops on applications for the Palm at this year’s National Educational
Computing Conference http://www.neccsite.org/

"I’m trying to figure out how to use Palms in our schools," said Jim Clark, an instructional technology specialist with the Wichita Public Schools in Kansas.

Clark said that a few schools in the district are using the handhelds but he hopes to get some grants to jump-start a larger program.

"It gives all kids an opportunity to use technology," he said.

Texas Instruments also hopes to expand its image beyond that of a graphing calculator for science and math classes to that of a handheld that can be used in other subject areas.

Many schools already use the devices and could download new applications onto them for use in other classes.

"We’re not focused on doing PDAs for business," said Tom Ferrio, vice president of education for TI. "This is specifically designed for students."

The company introduced a new, durable keyboard that is built to withstand the hazards of a backpack. It’s packaged with a word processing software application so that students can take notes. Other new
applications include customizable flashcards and multiple choice questions.

The company is working with the National Council of Social Studies http://www.ncss.org/ and the National Council of Teachers of English http://www.ncte.org/textindex.html to develop more lessons that can be used in conjunction with the device.

In the fall, TI will introduce a product called the TI Navigator http://education.ti.com/global/promo/navigatorfaqs.html a wireless hub for teachers that can collect student work stored on the individual TI-83s http://education.ti.com/uk/product/cdlt/83pse.html then move them to the teacher’s computer to be
evaluated.

While the company is expanding into other subject areas, a number of teachers still regard TI’s tools as strictly math and science.

"Speaking as a parent, I bought a TI for my daughter, and she used it for one semester of math and now she doesn’t have a use for it, versus a handheld which will have more utility," Clark said. "I stopped and
looked at what TI is trying to do and I think it’s going to be a struggle for them."

"I think Palms are easier –- their versatility is so much broader than a graphing calculator," said Thomas Cortese, a physics teacher in San Antonio who uses TI-83 Silver Editions in his classes. "I think they fill
different niches. You have to identify the certain tool for the certain purpose."

Both the Palm booth and the TI booth were mobbed on Monday and Tuesday, the two busiest days of the conference.

One teacher was impressed with the new uses of the TI-83 Silver Edition.

"Schools already have these and they are offering more applications," said Melody Cockrell, a teacher at Mansfield High School in Texas. "It’s a real doable thing –- even for districts that don’t have a lot of
money."

"I’m going to get a keyboard to go with this," added Jim Cockrell, a technology director with the Desoto Independent School District in Texas, who won one of the devices at the TI booth.

Soloway believes that handhelds in schools are a good trend regardless of the brand.

"It raises the awareness that palm-sized computers are a major force to be contended with," he said. "They have disrupted the desktop computer."

http://wired.com/news/print/0,1294,53329,00.html

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