Palm Pilots and their impact on mobile computing

Palm Pilots as Instructional Tools in the Classroom

This paper presents a look at Palm Pilots as instructional tools in the classroom. The writer explores Palm Pilots and how they can improve the learning process for the students who use them. The writer also discusses the best model for such use and describes how many students are benefiting from using them in the classroom. There were five sources used to complete this paper.

The technological boom of the past four decades has taken mankind to heights never before imagined possible. In addition the American public has been demanding improvements in the educational system currently in place. Palm Pilots are technical tools that were not invented for the improvement of education, but have turned out to be exactly that. Palm Pilots are being used in classrooms to improve learning through their many features and the new lessons that students are being expected to complete. The Palm Pilot organizer is more than a date book, it is now an educational tool for instruction.

WHAT ARE THEY?

Before one can begin to understand the significant impact that Palm Pilots can make in the classroom it is important to first understand what a Palm Pilot is and how they operate. Palm Pilots are often called organizers because of the organizational features that they do have (http://www.evsc.k12.in.us/icats/training/palmintro.htm).

Among other things it can:

Enter scheduled events in Date Book

View scheduled events by day, week, or month

Keep all your contact names, addresses, phone numbers, and other details in Address Book

Add tasks to Do List and prioritize them Synchronize your data with Palm Desktop software on your computer so you always have a backup copy (http://www.evsc.k12.in.us/icats/training/palmintro.htm)"

Palm Pilots are excellent personal assistants with the ability to have a significant amount of control over the individual uses that they provide. They often come with an ability to customize their use with several ways to enter data, front panel controls and brightness control. They also come with a list of available software that can do everything from word process to figure out amortization of a mortgage.

Palm Pilots were initially invented for the purpose of business and home use but over the past few years they have found their way into the classroom and are benefiting students in a variety of ways (QUEST Volume 8, Number 1, February 2001 (http://www.mdausa.org/publications/Quest/q81palmpilot.cfm).

Several features of Palm Pilots make them ideal for classroom instruction. One of those features is their compact size, often no bigger than a pocket calculator. They usually do not use a mouse or monitor which means it is easily transported to and from the classroom so that the student can keep track of all work in the same place.

Palm Pilots cost between $150 and $250 (though they can be much more expensive in the upward models with added software and features) and use two AAA batteries (QUEST Volume 8, Number 1, February 2001 (http://www.mdausa.org/publications/Quest/q81palmpilot.cfm)."

Students across the nation are adapting to the use of Palm Pilots in the classroom. Currently they have the newness and excitement factor that calculators had in the 1970 classrooms. Palm Pilots are being used to handle math, science, literature and other subjects with ease according to published reports.

I have never thought we could use these. They are pretty cool," one fourth-grader said about using a Palm Pilot. The fourth-graders in Diana Wells' class click into a special pilot program: a program with palm pilots. I had no idea this could even happen. I have been in teaching for quite a few years. Look how far we have come," Wells said (Palm-Pilot Program Changing The Classroom http://www.theiowachannel.com/news/1221652/detail.html

Hand-Held Computers Used For Assignments)."

They are being used to work on assignments and the students are able to beam their assignments to the teachers. One student commented that the only bad thing he could think of is the fact he could no longer claim that he lost his homework.

A state grant of $8,000 helped pay for the project. Currently, four classes in central Iowa take part in the program, Brummer reported (Palm-Pilot Program Changing The Classroom http://www.theiowachannel.com/news/1221652/detail.html

Hand-Held Computers Used For Assignments)."

Palm Pilots can be used to write essays, send emails to teachers and fellow students as well as calculate math and science problems. Reminders to do homework and notes that are for future use can all be stored in the small device. There is no question that Palm Pilots are providing positive aspects to the classroom. The question now becomes which model is the best to be used in a classroom. There are as many models to choose from with each one having features that must be examined.

The TREO 600 is a popular unit but is rather expensive at $499 in many stores today (TREO 600 ttp:/ / www.handspring.com/products/communicators/treo600_overview.jhtml;jsessionid=OAR1JF).While it offers several excellent features it has things that students are not in need of which drives the price up. A better choice for classroom and student use would be the Palm Tungsten T2.

This unit can run as little as $150 and provides all of the features that a student would need for educational needs in the classroom. It is built sturdily which is important when children will be handling and transporting it (Palm Tungsten T2 Handheld: Product Features (choose a different model) (http://www1.pricetool.com/xPF-Palm_Tungsten_T2).The installed memory system is 32 MB which should easily handle all of the student's needs. The screen resolution is 320 X 320 which is clear enough to be able to work with. It has a touch screen. This is another benefit for student use as there is no stylus to lose on the way home or to school (Palm Tungsten T2 Handheld: Product Features (choose a different model).