ERIC Number: ED537955
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2003
Pages: 6
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Handheld Computers in Education. Research Brief
Education Partnerships, Inc.
For over the last 20 years, educators have been trying to find the best practice in using technology for student learning. Some of the most widely used applications with computers have been student learning of programming, word processing, Web research, spreadsheets, games, and Web design. The difficulty with integrating many of these activities into the curriculum for teachers is the lack of accessibility to the computers because of single-computer classrooms and over-scheduled computer labs. Laptops have been included in some schools to address these concerns but have found to also be cumbersome, limited in capabilities, and expensive. One of the new developments in educational technology that may make these difficulties obsolete has been the introduction of the PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) into the classroom. As with many technological developments, educators began to explore this new technology that provided the portability of a cell phone and the capability of a desktop computer. Teachers can benefit by using handheld computers because it allows them quick access to student attendance, grades, and performance assessment charts. Also, students can benefit when using handheld computers because it may allow them to have more control over their learning while the teacher can spend less time on classroom management and devote more time to planning and preparation. This brief provides general considerations for handheld technology implementation, specific considerations for handheld technology integration, and strategies for maintaining handheld technology integration at school. (Contains 18 online resources and 8 resources.)
Descriptors: Attendance, Computers, Educational Technology, Word Processing, Best Practices, Technology Integration, Classroom Techniques, Programming, Research, Internet, Computer Games, Web Sites, Handheld Devices, Technology Uses in Education
Education Partnerships, Inc. Web site: http://www.educationpartnerships.org
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Education Partnerships, Inc. (EPI)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A