Monday, November 5, 2007

Personal Digital Assistants for Students

The discussions on this blog have been focused on teacher use of the PDA. However, as most educators are aware, this handheld computer is being integrated into the curriculum in schools across the country. I believe that this movement will not go away for two key reasons: 1) a PDA can be put in the hands of each student at about 1/3 of the cost of a regular desktop computer, and 2) by changing the student to computer ratio to 1:1, we are making positive strides in closing the digital divide among students. Take a look at this online video which demonstrates very well how the Olathe School District in Kansas implemented PDAs.

Offering quality training for teachers and time to work with any new technology prior to its implementation is very important for ensuring success of the program. That’s why I propose running a pilot program of placing PDAs in the hands of a select group of teachers before implementing throughout the building. This pilot program will: 1) provide critical feedback prior to implementation, 2) model the effectiveness of the tool to those more skeptical, and 3) build enthusiasm for the PDA among teachers and students alike.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

PDA Software for Teachers

Each PDA comes with some tools to complete basic tasks such as a calendar, contact/address software, task lists, calculator, a memo function, and possibly more. However, the fun really begins when you start downloading software to personalize your PDA for your own needs and interests. As I prepared for this blog entry, I found myself getting off-task several times looking at a multitude of available downloads that I would love to have. No doubt you will do the same.

One site that I particularly like is Handango which is well organized and allows you to search by PDA type and/or by interest. One such category is Education and also breaks down into several subcategories including teachers and students. This site also provides many free trial versions which allows you to test the software to verify that it will truly meet your needs. I utilized this option recently with a 30-day free trial of a “Teacher Tool” which I plan to purchase as it has been very useful in tracking/documenting student behaviors in my classroom. Basic features include the ability to create/review a list of students, performance notes, student/parent contact information, incident records including warnings.

Another site that offers great tools and downloads for teachers is Hands High Software. I found a free trial version of “Participate” which provides an easy way to track (adding or subtracting) participation points for your students. I have provided a few more links below that I thought would be useful to teachers, but have fun searching on your own to find the tools that will work for you. And please leave me comments and links of any more sites and tools that will make our teaching tasks easier.

Handmark – offers a variety of software easily organized by PDA type
Download Pipe – can download manuals for various software (i.e. Excel, PowerPoint, etc)
MemoWare – free ebooks; browse by category

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Which PDA should I select?

Ok, you have decided to try using a PDA, but just like everything else in our world, there are so many to choose from. Ugh, what to do? Well I suggest that you use the same approach as if you were selecting a jar of peanut butter:

  1. review the reason for using
  2. ask other's opinions
  3. compare costs

It is not possible to identify one particular PDA that would fit the need for all teachers. It is important to review the purpose of the PDA when selecting. A good first step may be to decide between a regular PDA or a smartphone (cell phone and PDA all-in-one). I originally thought that the smartphone was the only way to go; however, since buying my used PDA to test the waters I have found that the regular PDA really serves my needs just fine for now. Nonetheless, be sure to carefully review your own needs and uses when deciding on the right tool for you.

The links below can help guide you through the next steps of gathering opinions from others and comparing costs. Although you do have to pay a membership fee to utilize Consumer Reports, I especially like their reviews which include quick recommendations, ratings, explanations of features, and the "How to Choose" section. So take some time to read over the reviews at the following links to help in selecting the right PDA for you.

Consumer Reports

MobileTech Review

Brighthand

Friday, November 2, 2007

How could a PDA be useful for Teachers?

MOBILITY!! That is how a PDA can be so useful to a teacher. Many tasks can be accomplished on the go whether you are moving about your classroom, attending meetings, working from home, or from just about anywhere. Some applications that are common among teachers using a PDA include: lesson plans, recording student behaviors, recordkeeping (financial or student records), data collection, tracking learner profiles, calendar/planning, address book/contacts, task list, memo pad, and so much more. This article from Tech Learning offers first-hand feedback from a group of teachers that are using PDA's.

Stay tuned for future posts that will offer helpful links to choosing the right PDA for you and where to find valuable downloads and software to easily accomplish the tasks mentioned above.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

What's a PDA?

In my last master's class, I was introduced to the PDA, a Personal Digital Assistant. After experimenting with some in class, I decided to purchase a used Palm Tungsten from a classmate for a bargain price. I decided it was worth the low price to have the opportunity to work with the PDA on a regular basis and decide how much I would really use it both personally and in my work as a middle school teacher. Well, I have stored my leather-bound Franklin-Covey planner and have jumped in with both feet into the technology world of planning. BUT.... there's so much more I can do with this PDA than planning.

Use the link above if you just need to find out more about a PDA and be sure to check out my next posts for some ideas on how teachers can use this terrific tech tool to streamline the most mundane and tedious tasks!