Projects!

KathyT

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Re: Projects!

« Reply #15 on: January 26, 2005, 07:39:11 PM »

Thanks Graham, unfortunately...(here we go again Undecided

)...even though this one seems to treat frames better, it for some reason can't get logged into Blackboard (it doesnt pass back the authentication, or something. Heres where my techie knowledge ceases...).

I seem to have stepped back in time with the Treo - I was gettiing great results with the Zire and Blackboard combination, even down to being able to post into the discussion boards. Swings and roundabouts, eh?

Cheers,

Kathy


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Kathryn R. Trinder
Research Fellow (e-Learning), Emerging Technologies & Second Life Projects,
Caledonian Academy,
Glasgow Caledonian University

E: k.trinder@gcal.ac.uk
SL: Goldfinch Weatherwax

Graham

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Re: Projects!

« Reply #16 on: January 28, 2005, 12:02:29 AM »

Another project this time at school in Illinois where every student gets a Zire 72

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Avery Coonley School may be nearly 100 years old, but when it comes to endowing its teachers and students with handheld technology for the classroom, this private, independent school in Downers Grove, Ill., is one of the most forward-looking schools in the state.

After the rousing success of a fourth-grade pilot program last year, each student and teacher in grades four through eight now have their own Zire 72 handheld, as well as a wireless keyboard, from palmOne. It's the realization of the school's vision to provide a learning device for every student, and one that has earned full support and cooperation from students, teachers and parents.

"The pilot program gave us a chance to discover the possibilities that handhelds bring to teaching, learning and other aspects of school life," said Joe Janojak, technology director at Avery Coonley. "Once we articulated our vision, parents embraced the idea and were instrumental in helping us raise the funds. They see the benefits."

more of the story from PalmInfocenter.com


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Graham

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Grants To Fund Classroom Projects

« Reply #17 on: February 18, 2005, 10:12:14 PM »

from The Times Record, Fort Smith - Akansas

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By Rusty Garrett

Sixth-grade pupils at Sutton Elementary School will write their life stories. Belle Point students will use Palm Pilots to sharpen math and literacy skills. Pupils at Fairview Elementary School will improve math skills with electronic flash cards. Greenwood High School students will build a better robot.

These activities are being funded in part by the latest round of creative teaching grants awarded by the Fort Smith Area Community Foundation.

The $500 grants go to projects selected from applications for assistance in programs to further the education of math, science and technology. The program is in its sixth year.

Thursday, Foundation Executive Director Darrel Cunningham and board member Carter Hunt delivered a check to Janet Fretheim, a teacher at Sutton Elementary School.

Fretheim’s proposal, “ebooks equal everyone reading,” will enable Sutton students to expand on the use of Palm Pilots they received last fall under a state Enhancing Education Through Technology grant. Freithem’s students will use the handheld computer devices to download electronic books, specifically biographies, which she said students tend to avoid reading for various reasons.

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Graham

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Handhelds in Detroit Schools

« Reply #18 on: February 21, 2005, 08:47:18 AM »

Forum member Elliot Soloway is in the news with this interesting story in The Detroit News about providing every child in Detroit with a handheld computer

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Innovative software paves way for learning

Ann Arbor firm hopes to set up program that runs on Palm Pilots in Detroit Public Schools.

By Tom Henderson / Special to The Detroit News

Elliot Soloway has an education revolution in mind.

He wants to give a handheld computer to every student and make learning as much fun as playing on a Game Boy.

Soloway is co-founder of GoKnow, a University of Michigan spinoff that develops a variety of software that runs on personal digital assistants, such as Palm Pilots and similar handheld electronic devices.

Janine Kopera, a third-grade teacher at Mead Elementary in the Melvindale-North Allen Park district, has learned along with her students.

"Younger kids have grown up with Game Boys," she said. "Doing this is perfect for them. It's better than shared time in the computer lab."

With districts across the country struggling to improve student test scores, innovative teaching strategies can make the difference between success and failure.

Soloway, GoKnow's chief executive officer, hopes to have a large pilot program under way soon in the Detroit Public Schools -- "we're just dotting the I's and crossing the T's" -- because handhelds have the most potential in inner-city schools, he said.

A professor in U-M's electrical engineering and computer science department, Soloway said data show peer pressure works against academic achievement in school in inner cities, particularly among African-American males.

"Books aren't cool. But these" -- he holds up a handheld computer -- "these are cool. Kids will use these. We've got data from Detroit that are incredible. It shows that African-American boys are absolutely hooked on the technology. They won't read books, but this hooks them."

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jfretheim

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Re: Projects!

« Reply #19 on: February 22, 2005, 03:31:13 PM »

I am wondering how Graham found out about my project in Fort Smith, AR. I received a grant to put ebooks on our handhelds. Then we will use ereader to write our own biography. I am having trouble finding biographies that are suitable for the elementary student. If anyone has any helpful hints I would love to hear them. Janet


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Graham

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Re: Projects!

« Reply #20 on: February 22, 2005, 09:48:38 PM »

Hi Janet and welcome to the forum! To answer your question I painstakingly trawl the net each day to find stories about the use of handheld computers in the education sector. Fortunately it's not too hard as it seems that everyday there's a new and exciting project, here's another:

From the Quincy Herald Whig

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By Ann Pierceall

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The homework assigned by Mark Twain Elementary teacher Deanine Haynes will fit in the palm of her students' hands.

Really.

That's because Haynes' 25 fifth-graders are using Palm Pilots in a pilot program to help them organize homework, write papers, study math, practice their spelling words and even take tests on the mini computers.

Haynes said using the Palm Pilots this year has "gone really well."

"The kids actually learn a lot faster than I do how things work. It's been a great, great help," she said, then laughed as she described assigning homework.

"Usually, I just beam stuff to them," Haynes said. Using her Palm Pilot, Haynes selects the program she wants, then sends it to a couple of students, who then beam it on to classmates — sort of like electronically passing papers around a room.

The Palm Pilots were purchased with technology money provided by the Hannibal School District. At Mark Twain Elementary, such money is rotated among the classrooms.

Last fall, Principal Karen

Wheelan attended a technology workshop where she saw the potential for the Palm Pilots. She approached Haynes about using them. Each of the 26 Palm Pilots, which come with a small attachable keyboard, cost about $200. Students had to sign a user agreement.

Haynes said the keyboards get used regularly.

"We type pretty much everything we write now," she said. Educational games to hone math skills can be put on the Palm Pilot, as can a spelling program. Students can even take their spelling tests on the Palm Pilots and know their score immediately. Haynes said each test has a time and date to monitor when it's taken.

"It's really a learning tool, and the students see it as that," she said. Haynes admits there's been a learning curve. "In the end they're really into it, so it's worth it."

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Graham

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Re: Projects!

« Reply #21 on: May 19, 2005, 06:23:20 PM »

I found this in the Clarion News. An interesting project with students using handhelds for data capture for field experiments.

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Seventh-grade students at Keystone High School recently visited the Beaver Ponds in Beaver Township to conduct water testing and Global Positioning System (GPS) activities using Palm handheld computers. The 35 handhelds were purchased through a Hands-on Learning grant. The grant also included training for teachers, the purchase of probes and GPS units. The grant was written by Barb Witkowski, instructional technology specialist and Sharon Radaker, librarian. Above, students test water for turbidity, PH, dissolved oxygen and temperature. The data compiled is then uploaded online on the global water sampling project. Below, Ashley Harrison demonstrates how students use the GPS units as part of a scavenger hunt. Students were given coordinates for longitude and latitude and the units help direct them toward the location. The cross-curricular activities also included taking pictures with the handhelds and technical writing in English class.


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frohberg

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Re: Projects!

« Reply #22 on: August 08, 2005, 02:13:29 PM »

I am looking for any project with a real pedagogic background. It should be more than only delivery of multimedia content to a mobile device. There are e.g. projects where a museum is electronically enriched by mobile technology or participatory simulations or supporting field trips. I have not yet found any project that would explicitely support informal (collaborative) learning. Check my blog http://mobilearn.blogspot.com/2005/07/webseiten-mit-links-zu-mobile-learning.html to find a list of more or less interesting projects. You're welcome to add projects there.


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Graham

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Wake Forest University

« Reply #23 on: August 25, 2005, 11:58:59 PM »

I picked up this news story about a pilot using smart phones in higher education from the Wake Forest University news site:

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WFU first with campus pilot of pocket PC phones

By Cheryl Walker

Aug. 24, 2005

Pocket PC phones will be in the hands of about 120 Wake Forest University students this fall as the university begins what may be the nation's first pilot program to explore potential campus uses for the latest in converged mobile technology.

The pilot program, called MobileU, will explore the ways students are already communicating and find out if one mobile device can meet their needs and enhance academic and student life.

Full story here


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johnpem

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Re: Projects!

« Reply #24 on: August 29, 2005, 02:35:54 PM »

Hi All

We are currently running a trial of 55 Pocket PCs with our business students. The trial has now been running for 6 weeks. It certainly has been a learning curve for all. We have been using IPAQ 2410 (student model) and IPAQ 2750 (Teacher model). Both have wireless. Students have been issued with 2410 pocket PC, keyboard and memory card. Students have enjoyed the ability to take notes and connectiviy to the internet and intranet but get frustrated with the their lack on knowledge of the device. Business teachers report a signiificant change to how they teach and deliver content. Teachers in other subjects have been amazed as to what is available on the Pocket PCs. The most unlikely teachers are now relying students in their classes who have Pocket PCs to look up information as it becomes relevant in class.

QUT a university in Brisbane is helping us to evaluate the project. I will update you all as things progress.

All Hallows' has just recieved a Federal government grant to look at integrating Pocket PCs in to the middle school maths program. I would really like to here from people you are currenlty using these devices in Maths classrooms.

Regards

John


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Graham

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Re: Projects!

« Reply #25 on: October 21, 2005, 10:47:15 AM »

At a time when ALL handheld device manufacturers are scrapping built-in camera's in their low cost devices, i.e. Palm have discontinued their Zire 72 and HP has discontinued their rx3715, this article in Gateway Newspapers caught my eye:

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SF students utilizing latest technology in classroom
By Kristy Graver, Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 19, 2005

It's 10:30 a.m. at South Fayette Elementary School and Scott Sundgren's third grade class is unusually quiet. The 21 students are busy writing and editing essays on tiny, handheld computers.

"They're cool," says a freckle-faced boy holding up his Palm Zire 72. "They're a lot more fun than using pencil and paper."

Through a $10,000 Hands On Learning grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and a 25 percent match from the school district, Sundgren was able to purchase 30 "Palms" for his classroom.

The devices, which are manufactured by palmOne Inc., come equipped with a calculator, calendar, notepad, 1.2 megapixel camera, MP3 player, voice recorder, spreadsheet, slideshow and animation capabilities and an infrared port for sending information and pictures from one user to another.

Using software specifically designed for elementary education, Sundgren is incorporating the state-of-the-art technology into his daily lesson plans.

"These kids have never existed in a world that didn't have an Internet or laptop computers," he says. "For us not to use that technology is unfair to them. You can't be resistive to it, you just have to embrace it and understand how to apply it to your classroom."

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It seems that whilst hardware or operating system manufacturers are being seduced by the business and smartphone market they are forgetting that one 6th of the world's population are school children and need an all-in-one device.


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Graham

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Re: Projects!

« Reply #26 on: October 21, 2005, 11:04:53 AM »

An article I picked up on Yubanet.com concerning students using handhelds at The University of Michigan (how come these guys seem to be getting all the fun?) in Global Change and Extreme Weather courses to integrate lab experiences into the classroom without taking up the entire class:

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GeoPocket: A Classroom Tool for the GameBoy Generation
Author: University of Michigan
Published on October 18, 2005, 07:56

University of Michigan students in "eXtreme Weather" class show their PocketPCs after successfully completing a series of spatial activities through a wireless internet connection. Photo by Ben van der Pluijm
Keeping students alert and engaged is a constant challenge for professors who teach large lecture courses. Even when the lecturer is a dynamic speaker and the presentation is peppered with compelling images and gee-whiz demonstrations, students are still mostly passive listeners.

Not so in University of Michigan classes where the GeoPocket project is underway. Students in Global Change I and Extreme Weather courses use wireless Pocket PCs (handheld computers) or their personal laptops to manipulate data, respond to professors' queries and explore maps, diagrams and photos, all while class is going on.

"In a way, we're trying to integrate laboratory experiences into the classroom environment without taking up the entire class," said U-M professor of geological sciences and professor of the environment Ben van der Pluijm, who developed the GeoPocket with Perry Samson, professor of atmospheric, oceanic and space sciences, and Peter Knoop, a School of Information research investigator.

The instructional team will make a presentation on the project Oct.17 at a meeting of the Geological Society of America in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The teaching tool is ideal for students who are used to spending their leisure hours playing hand-held computer games, listening to music on MP3 players and text-messaging their friends, said van der Pluijm.

"The kids using this are accustomed to technology, and they're accustomed to multitasking---they can interact with things and listen at the same time," he said. "This is a way for them to play with the material that's being presented in class. But it's not just play; they're learning something in the process."

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Graham

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7,000 Kids sign-up for Palms in Oregon

« Reply #27 on: October 27, 2005, 02:08:17 PM »

A story that caught my interest on the Businesswire.com PR portal regarding the uptake by 7,000 students of Palm handhelds in classrooms:

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More than 7,000 students in eight Oregon school districts are using Palm(R) handheld computers this school year, thanks to a creative mentoring program developed by three recipients of a federal technology grant, Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM) said today. Their handheld-integration strategy brings in teachers statewide.

"Originally, the districts applied for a one-time grant, but state instructional technology guidelines allowed them to reapply if the district was willing to mentor another district in the use of technology," said Lynn Lary, instructional technology specialist at Lane Education Service District, which supports 16 school districts.

Intent on extending their grants, Lary and two other grant recipients, Colt Gill, assistant superintendent of South Lane School District, and Todd Hamilton, instructional technology specialist at Eugene School District, got to work collaborating on a mentoring and training program. That was three years ago. Today, the program has generated district partnerships throughout the state and has resulted in the formation of the Northwest Handheld Integration Project.

The first year, handhelds were implemented in South Lane and Eugene School districts. "Handhelds are becoming so common in our classrooms now that the idea of using them in an instructional capacity is much less foreign," explained Hamilton, who initiated and implemented the program for Eugene's School District 4J. "But three years ago it was a different story. It took a leap of faith on the school district's part, and then an extremely successful program to prove that Palm handhelds are about more than calendars and address books. It didn't take long before teachers and other innovative districts saw the potential."

"Upon reapplication, we started mentoring three partners -- Three Rivers, Creswell and Springfield school districts -- and built from there," said Lary. "This year we reapplied for the grant and added Fern Ridge, Glendale, Riddle and Hermiston school districts. Creswell, where I am project director, reapplied and brought on Fern Ridge school district as a partner. This model keeps the momentum going."

Schools Say Motivation Increased

At the student level, the benefits are clear. "Motivation is huge," said Gill. "We thought it would taper off, but kids are producing more and doing better work than they did with paper and pencils. Using a handheld keeps them on task and helps them to be more successful." Although he doesn't have proof that handheld use directly improves test scores, Gill says student achievement is up across the district.

Lary agrees that the handhelds increase motivation. "We had a teacher in middle school who offered an elective math class to interest kids in problem solving," she said. "Usually he has 17 to 20 kids each semester. Once he started using Palm handhelds, 50 kids wanted in. That's the kind of hook these tools are for kids. When it comes to handhelds, kids want access all the time."

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Graham

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Re: Projects!

« Reply #28 on: December 06, 2005, 10:24:21 AM »

Something I picked up from the Philadelphia Inquirer regarding several handheld computer and iPod projects:

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Time's up; put down your iPods

Districts say embracing gadgets can help students excel.
By Melanie Burney
Inquirer Staff Writer

When Domenick Renzi's students get ready for language arts, they pull out their books and their handheld computers.

The fifth graders at Washington Township's Bells Elementary in Gloucester County are using the gadgets in a yearlong pilot project. "They're really cool. It makes the class fun," said Julianne Costa, 10.

School districts across the region are finding new ways to incorporate into the classroom the latest technology - handhelds like Palm Pilots, wireless laptops, and iPods.

Even the biggest Internet craze, blogging, has found its way into a social studies class in Jenkintown.

"We're seeing a lot of different techniques and tools that young learners are using," said Don Knezek, chief executive of the International Society for Technology in Education.

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Teachers should ensure that students learn how to master the technology and how to analyze the data collected, Hartman said. For a science project, for example, students could collect water samples, use handhelds to track the acidity, then go to the Internet to find another class conducting a similar experiment.

Technology "should make teachers' jobs easier and learning more meaningful," Hartman said.

Some teachers have found unexpected benefits in handheld computers. Students help one another with assignments, improving interpersonal skills and helping introverted pupils thrive in group settings.

For example, at Cinnaminson Middle School, seventh graders are working on a CD project that merges music and computer lessons. They record background music for karaoke using a digital recorder, and make CD covers, logos and biographies in computer class.

The students typically work in small groups, and the hands-on tasks are ideal for special-education students, music teacher Brian Belsky said. "We try to make it fun for the kids," he said.

At Washington Township's Bells Elementary, two classes are using handhelds. Renzi uses them at least three times a week, mostly in his language arts and science lessons. That has given students a zest for learning, he said.

"It's very challenging to keep their attention these days. The days of textbooks are over," he said.

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Graham

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Handhelds on trial in Australian schools

« Reply #29 on: December 09, 2005, 08:31:20 AM »

Our friends in Australia are getting going with handhelds in a big way according to this article in the Sydney Morning Herald:

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Handhelds on trial in Australian schools

By Louisa Hearn
December 8, 2005 - 4:23PM

Students at hundreds of Australian schools may soon be sporting handheld computers as part of a trial to test the viability of the devices for future schooling initiatives.

A three-year trial being run by University of Tasmania's education faculty has been granted $250,000 in State and Federal Government funding and is believed to be the largest research project of its kind worldwide.

Andrew Fluck, an IT lecturer at the university, said one of the main drivers of the project was to narrow the discrepancy in computer access for students between home and school.

While home computers were now very common, Australian schools still had only one computer on average for six students, he said.

The three-year trial will take place in Tasmania and Victoria, building on a recent one-month trial conducted in a primary school class in Victoria.

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