Creative Classroom Online - Tech for Learning


Contents
	FEATURE: Kathy Schrock's Tech Quest

Kathy Schrock's Tech Quest
What are portable devices and how can I use them?
by Kathy Schrock

A reader wrote that she would love to have more computers in her classroom. However, she doesn't have the school funds to buy them, and even if she did, she doesn't have enough space or electrical outlets to support them. So she's looking for alternatives that will stretch her limited funds and benefit as many students as possible. An option I recommend is to buy a set of smaller, less-expensive portable computers -- Personal Digital Assistants, or PDAs -- to supplement classroom computers or your school computer lab. PDAs are less expensive than desktop computers (the ones reviewed here run from $150 to $225 each) and they are small enough for students to use at their desks, in the library, or even on a field trip. To learn more about portable devices and their practical applications, we'll go on a Tech Quest together. Each letter in "quest" stands for a step we'll take. In addition, each quest is aligned with one of the standards from the International Society for Technology in Education's "ISTE Recommended Foundations in Technology for All Teachers." For more information, visit http://www.iste.org/.

Kathy Schrock, a technology coordinator in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, created Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators on the Discovery Channel school site: http://discoveryschool.com/schrockguide/

The Quest: How to Choose and Use Portable Devices

Questioner: Who is going on the quest? It may be a classroom teacher, technology coordinator, or library media specialist.

Understanding: What is the purpose of the quest? What are portable devices and what can they do? How can students use them? How can these devices work in tandem with my desktop computer? How much do they cost?

Explanation: Exploring options for finding an in-depth answer There are numerous ways to integrate technology into the curriculum with portable devices. In my district, students grab their PDAs for such tasks as writing, note taking, and data collection. For example, during a cooperative learning project, some groups of students may choose to have each member take notes on his or her own device. Other groups may choose to use one device only, passing it among the team members who each input their notes. Either way, kids can then hook their PDAs up to our desktop computers, compile the information, and print out final documents. Reflect on how you might use these devices, and then consider the following options.

AlphaSmart 3000 and 3000 IR
The AlphaSmart 3000 and 3000 IR are keyboard-like devices that hold up to 100 pages of text. The small screen displays four lines of text at once. Its features include spell check, cut/copy/paste, and an automatic shutoff (a real battery-saver). You can also load it with "mini" software programs, tutorials (such as one to improve typing skills), and templates (called Applets) that you can download or order from the AlphaSmart Web site (http://www.alphasmart.com/).