Handheld Learning - learning with mobile and ubiquitous technologies

Well, I've uploaded the file (y9exemplar.xls - and an .htm version) to my ISP ftp server.  you might be able to access it from www.galena.org.uk, or you may have to go through ftp.free-online.net/htdocs - I'm not sure - I haven't rebuilt my web site since I dismantled it a while ago, so that may not be a route to it.  I'll email andy a copy, if he's happy to co-ordinate this.

PeterB

Looks good to me - let's go with it.

I'll try to upload one of my live Excel files (names changed to protect the innocent) so you can see an active one (it won't be there yet, as I'll do it this evening - this is expensive time - I'm at home on 56k modem today ... only on line as daughter needs info for her dissertation !)

If you watch www.galena.org.uk it should appear there sometime soon.

Regards,
PeterB

Hi Andy, et al,

>>>we all have similar-ish needs<<<
As you may have noticed from my "Introduce yourself" rant, I get very steamed up about we professionals all over the UK (world?) reinventing the wheel, because there is no central co-ordination of effort.  It's like each of us being given an enormous box of LegoTechnic and being told to build a car - any way we like - but the thing must transport everyone to the same place equally effectively / efficiently... wouldn't it be better if someone gave us a blueprint (with the option to do it better if we could).  Perhaps this could be a way of influencing that !

>>>more userfriendly than excel (hence the success of off the shelf products), <<<
I don't find Excel too bad, and I've not come across any off the shelf products that match its price point and ubiquity (but then I've converting a house - as well as teaching - , so don't have too much time to look).

>>>the data needs to be synced to a place and reports easily created <<<
Ideally it would all go into a database, which would then (automatically) create report paragraphs that didn't look like they were assembled by a computer.  This is exactly what I had developed on Paradox (relational database) over the past 20 years or so, based on the numeric grade / level data (referred earlier).  It automatically produced a ten sentence paragraph describing to parents what their offspring had done, could do and needed to do next to make progress, and it didn't look mechanistic, because I wrote the phrase bank (with additional suggestions from colleagues) and linked it appropriately (English my second main subject).  The problem is (a) the time to develop it for handhelds, (b) the time to link the necessary functions to go from data to paragraph, (c) the overwhelming briliance or political clout to make users want to change from the systems in which they are presently entrenched (d) a cost structure that encourages them to do so.

Andy - Am I right in understanding you're in Bristol (UK) ?... I'm in the Gloucester/ Cheltenham area - perhaps face to face could speed this up, for dissemination to the group later ?
PeterB

Hi teach534, Andy, et al,

>>>You'll have to share what Excel provides in way of assessment. <<<
Actually Excel provides nothing except a way of organising what you wish to log, and the ability to transfer it to and from PC/Palm in a way that is accessible to others (if that's what you need to do).

>>>How do you do anectodal records using Excel? <<<
Having used traditional registers, with little sqaures for present/absence marks, that's how I started using Excel.  Then it occurred to me that I could add text following that mark to (briefly) say what each (or specific pupils) had achieved that lesson, or whether they had a merit award or a sanction, etc.  This extends over the following vacant cells, until the next lesson's present/absence mark is entered (so reminders to yourself can be against each pupil's name if they're needed).  Although most of the comment is over written with the subsequent mark, they still exist and can be seen in full if their cell is selected.

>>>Are your reports qualitative only or can quantitative reports be compiled?<<< 
In the lesson by lesson section, mine are mostly qualitative.  Quantitative could be developed easily enough, for example by adding a column for each lesson to enter numeric results of tests.  These could then be averaged (or other stats analysis technique) at the foot of the column.  I have a section for recording achievement "levels" (Key Stage 3 National Curriculum criteria), or GCSE grade equivalents (Key stage 4), and these can be used to calculate overall grades, find norms, etc..  I still have to use professional judgement to award the assessment grade (moderated with and by my colleagues), so the Palm is used as a recording device.  (If only I could show it their work and say, "What do you think ?" !  (Hang on - could do me out of a job ! - but then, marking isn't my favourite hobby.)

...second message to follow (related)
Best
PeterB

Hi teach534

$300 = about £160 (GBP) - rather a lot !  It would need a phenomenal feature list to justify that when (eg:) DocToGo is about £45-£50 .

Is there a web site that shows these features ?

Thanks,
PeterB

Hi teach534,

You say, "I personally use my Palm for assessment. Since we are standards-based..."
Which program / software do you use for this ?  Does it cost (much) ?

PeterB

Hi Phil and welcome,

...Whether to go fo DocToGo...?  I'd say essential, as it enables pretty seemless connectivity with Excel / Word / etc. (but not directly to Access or any other database).  As these are the main two that pupils are likely to use for recording data / writing reports, essays, etc., they should cover most of what's necessary. 

I'm not familiar with the Palm 31 (I have a T3), - would it be worth buying DTGo as an extra, or does the cost difference between a Zire 72 (presumably with DTGo onboard) and a 31 without not stack up ?  You might be able to negotiate a bulk purchse discount.

I've always (as a "materials educator" - Design Technology, etc. for 37 years) regarded things that fold as having inherent failure points.  The extra keyboard bulk also reduces the pocketable advantage of the pda, and I'm not convinced that pupils' typing speeds would offer an advantage over either using Graffiti or the touch screen keyboard (unless they are visually impaired, when it could offer definite advantage).

HTH
PeterB

Reply to Andy, (et al),
>>Have you experimented with syncing to the computer and then importing the information from the Excel into Access<<

Not fully tried that yet, although it goes half way there by Hotsyncing to Excel, so I can modify either on T3 or on Excel.  Having used Paradox (PC relational database) for about 20 years, I've snootily looked down on Access as being more limited (perhaps it has caught up now !).

I found the trial version of Handbase difficult in that I could not find the way into designing forms, so I couldn't access records in any other form except the basic table - so there was little advantage over a simple(r) spreadsheet (ie: no point in taking that extra step from Excel)

One problem that has (re-)arisen is that as my registers are on spreadsheet it is possible for a pupil to appear in two (or more) different groups - the ones that turn up in both this way (thus avoiding classes they don't like) are not caught by the system, and, with a fortnightly timetable, you (I) don't always carry a foolproof memory of which is their correct group so as to send them back to their appropriate lesson.

NB: My Excel layout has recently changed in this way:
1. the Baseline (minimum expected end-of-key-stage / GCSE grade) columns has been moved immediately after the overall assessment grade, as it is easier to relate to what they actually have achieved so far;
2. and the current achievement level has been given three columns immediately following the newly positioned Baseline column, as they have three published assessments during the year, and this allows a record of successive grades to be kept on file (rather than being overwritten each time)
Using the column / row freeze options in Documents To Go Excel enables you to scroll so the grade area is adjacent to the names

New Layout>>>

1. Number (for running total of pupils in the class):
2. First Name
3. Surname
4. Tutor Group or Form
NB: (which is where I put their VRQ {verbal reasoning quotient}, and any other info {eg: learning difficulties, ebd, adhd, etc.)
5. A series of columns for attendance (& comments)
6. Effort grade
DELETED 7. Achievement grade
7. a series of columns for their attainment in key aspects of the Design Process (Design Technology)
8. over-all grade / level for summative assessment.
9. Baseline Grade/ level Prediction (what they should achieve at next Key Stage based on National Curriculum SATs so far)
10. 3 (in our case) Current Grade / Level

Separate issue - the spelling checker doesn't recognise GCSE, SATs, ebd, adhd - perhaps we need a few educational buzzwords / jargon terms / keywords (oh! there's another one !) added to the dictionary.

HTH
PeterB

Andy wrote: ...do have you developed an excel spreadsheet for all aspects? "

I have used plain Excel(97) as it is compatible with my PC software, and the school's Microsoft Office (XP) so I can transfer the files when I need to.

The Excel file for each class has the following columns:
Number (for running total of pupils in the class):
First Name
Surname
Tutor Group or Form
Baseline Grade/ level Prediction (what they should achieve at next Key Stage based on National Curriculum SATs so far)
Current Grade / Level
NB: (which is where I put their VRQ {verbal reasoning quotient}, and any other info {eg: learning difficulties, ebd, adhd, etc.)
A series of columns for attendance (& comments)
Effort grade
Achievement grade
a series of columns for their attainment in key aspects of the Design Process (Design Technology)
over-all grade / level for summative assessment.

I started using spreadsheets for department and class management about 20 years ago, but found that the duplication that potentially occurred induced errors, so moved to one relational database to handle it all.  The return to spreadsheet is a bit like uninventing the wheel, but I haven't found a DB program that enables me to replicate what I used to have on PC & laptop.

By the way I also use it for dictionary (ordinary and etymylogical), and as scientific calculator, which has impressed kids & colleagues alike - at least one colleague has bought a Palm E on the strength of how I was using my Vx then T3 !
HTH
PB

As a teacher in a UK secondary school in a socially deprived area, few of the pupils have pdas (few have legal ones - was offered a new T3 for £10 ! ), so using them for dissemination of information is not a general option.

I use my T3 for admin - I keep the department timetable, and group rotation schedule on it, as well as Excel format versions of the class registers (these enable me to make notes not only on presence /absence, but also as much as I want to write on each pupil's activities / progress each lesson - including any rewards or sanctions - this has been very useful with follow-up discussions with pastoral supervisers {year heads / tutors} of less cooperative pupils as it doesn't rely on memory - it's documented and can be downloaded to PC).

I also keep a few pictures of good projects as exemplars to show those attempting the same task

Hi Graham,
I’ve just heard of the list and joined this evening.
I’ve not checked the personal profile section yet, so it may be answered there, but I’m preparing this off-line to save the non-broadband phone bill, so can’t check right now.

Are these messages available as an email digest, (I’m on a couple of others, eg ukpug) ?  If they are it would mean I can download the messages and read and prepare replies off-line.  I find reading on-line (especially the backlog I’d like to catch up on) less convenient, partly due to the guilt feeling generated by the 56k (actually 45.2kb on a good day) modem and the sound of cash registers !

Also can I access the forum through the school’s broadband (without having to register again) ?

Regards,

Peter B (thornuk)

Member profile

I’m now a semi-retired Assistant Head (large secondary comprehensive school) and Faculty Leader of Design Technology in the UK.  In July 2003 I shook off the people management and paperwork that involved and took early retirement, but am now teaching part-time (no admin, no paperwork, and a mostly  empty mail slot / pigeon hole in the staff room !!!).

I’ve been involved with computers since 1974, when the only machines available were 200 miles away and accessed by teletypewriters with a 1/2 second delay between pressing a key and seeing it type (in duplex mode, that is – in simplex you didn’t see it type – just hoped !).  The first micocomputer I used was a plain rectangular box about 10in x 6in x3in with a row of 8 toggle switches, a push button and a 7 sector LED display – it took 3 hours to program in the loader (in switched binary) and you prayer for no power cuts, as it was all volatile memory. 

Having braved the RML 380Z (I suspected it of having been built on Clydeside, such were the dimensions of its rivetted construction !), the Apple 2e was pure luxury, with its built in BASIC and a whole 16k bytes RAM – enough for anyone !  In 1984 I was on the point of buying a BBC “B” when Sir Clive Sinclair announced the Sinclair QL – fantastic machine (I still have 2 in the loft), on which I ran department, faculty, and some school admin for several years.  It was only the improved screen resolution that drew me away to the world of the PC especially as they had just ported the software across, so I could use the same applications.

Over 3 years ago I had the opportunity of a new Palm Vx at a good price and started using that mostly for diary, addresses, & notes/memos.  Last June I upgraded to  Palm T3 and now use Excel on it for registration, as well as the photos facility for pictures of particularly good projects kids have made.  I’m presently looking for a database to replace / be compatible with the Paradox application I had extensively developed for pupil records, assessments, and automatic reporting.  Most I’ve seen so far seem very primitive in comparison.  Most seem to synchronise only with Excel which is not what I expect of a proper relational database.

I get VERY steamed up about all those (we) teaching professionals re-inventing the **** wheel when we sit in our study writing workschemes and lesson plans from the same nationally imposed curricula, and abhor duplication of effort.  I look to the intelligent use of ICT to reduce that.  Unfortunately it seems that the main use has been for educational management to see it as a means of requiring yet more (mostly unread) documentation from those at the chalk-face (or whiteboard-face, if you want to be more health conscious).     End of rant.       Possibly.

Any ideas ?

Plus side is that it will remove another non-"teachingandlearning" chore from the lesson management.  It will also give absolute certainty about when pupils come in (including who's late and by how much - as well as when teachers arrive at class late !), and when they leave the room (with or without permission).

Negative is that the routine of calling the lesson register and making eye contact (at least once in the lesson) with each pupil will be lost, thus making it much more difficult to rapidly learn their name - loss of the personal touch (but it could be replaced by something else, including "I'm doing my own register, kids,  in case the auto-system fails !).  Of course it could be linked to a monitor display over the door that shows the name of each person entering as they come through !