Handheld Learning - learning with mobile and ubiquitous technologies

OK, what about the safety issue, kids being robbed/mugged for their devices?  What are the real facts?  Does this happen, has it happened in your project?  Have the parents nicked the devices and sold on for other uses?  Bullying??  Safety is a big issue and one that I need help on for the Learning Hubs project (58,000 kids in Scotland). If every kids has one, then this will raise the awareness and the potential thief will know that every kids will have, will this cause more crime rather than a pilot projects?

There was an article in the paper here about the project and the online forum was full of complaints about saftey and theft such as... "What a stupid idea, it will be less than a week before you can buy one in the local pub".

The project has now been called in a Government scrutiny pannel (Scotland) to enquire more about this aspect. I need your help to understand what in reality has happened in your project, what the plusses and minuses are, what risks you think there are?

Many thanks

My experience is with Tablet PCs - kids in Maidstone took them home and brought them into school each day.  There were many more damages than we thought but no thefts in the cluster of 60 I managed for a school year.  Bearing in mind a lot of the kids in question have mobile phones, ipods, PSPs and trainers worth equivalent money and with often more street cred maybe those devices are more likely to be targetted?  Anyway, if you want more detail on the project, I have now moved schools, so maybe try contacting Cornwallis school direct.

Thanks for this, some really helpful stuff.  I spoke to Mr Whyley on this and he also passed on some useful advice. One interesting point he raised is that if we believe this type of learning is inevitable then we have to face up the security issue anyway.

Is it inevitable, yes of course. Companies all over the globe are beginning to roll-out mobile devices for their employees. Sales of Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system grew by 100% each quarter in 2006.  All evidence indicates that this growth will continue until the use of mobile hand-held computing is as ubiquitous as the mobile phone is today. In years to come, the use of mobile computing will be used in all sorts of occupations and employees of the future will be expected to use and operate these devices as part of their daily working life.
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I suppose security as an issue can be broken down into two slightly different areas.

1.   Technical security in terms of; access to inappropriate content, hacking, misuse etc.
2.   Personal security and safety of the learners (and teachers) in possession of the devices

Technical security needs to be looked at in greater detail, but so would any electronic device supplied or issued to a Council department and in particular an educational establishment. I am sure that most Local Authorities will have statutory information security and compliance requirements and these will have to be adhered to anyway.

The personal secutiry, well I have found no evidence of it so far and I am glad this was backed up by Gerry.  Also there are many measures we can take to prevent it.

Thanks