Handheld Learning - learning with mobile and ubiquitous technologies

For the past 2 years I have been working with the Technology Education Research Unit (TERU) at Goldsmiths and Handheld Learning on a really exciting assessment project using PDAs dynamically linked to pupil portfolios.

Project e-scape is a new approach to the assessment of design innovation at GCSE level, funded by the DfES and the QCA in association with Edexcel and AQA awarding bodies. The project originated in 2003 as a paper based assessment system designed to stimulate pupil creativity in GCSE Design and technology. In 2005 we began to digitise the activity with the introduction of pupil PDAs wirelessly linked to a teachers web site. Over the summer term we piloted the system in schools across the country.

We have worked closely with Handheld Learning to customise the PDAs for the classroom, and TAG Learning to develop the capability of the teachers web site so it works interactively with the PDAs. The teacher has control of the e-scape application which drives the class set of PDAs, dynamically sending instructions to the pupils and automatically collecting evidence of their work in a web portfolio as they complete the design task in a normal design studio setting. Throughout the activity pupils use the PDAs to draw, write, take photos and record audio clips, and even though this forms an important part of the task the digital technology has not taken over, pupils still spend the majority of their time working with paper and modelling their ideas.

Assessing pupil creativity in all it’s forms is central to the e-scape project. With a web based portfolio of work it has been possible for us to experiment with some ground breaking online assessment techniques based on teams of assessors making comparative judgements, rather than individual examiners marking to criteria.

Teachers TV sent a film crew along to one of the pilot sessions to document the activity in the summer. From this material they have created 2 programmes that will be transmitted early in January.

KS3/4 Design and Technology 3 The Future's handheld
8th Jan 07 17:00

KS3/4 Design and Technology 4 New Technology: The Issues
8th Jan 17:15

Teachers' TV repeat the programmes many times over the month following first showing so it gives people a number of opportunities to see the films and they can also see them on the Teachers' TV web site.  www.teachers.tv

The production company have also put together a more comprehensive research DVD with 9 chapters analysing various aspects of the e-scape project with commentary from Richard Kimbell (the project director) and myself.  A 4th e-scape programme has also been filmed by another production company, this time on e-assessment rather than D&T, I'll post an update as soon as we have a transmission date for this.

Hi Graham,

This will be really useful...

If we wanted to begin an e scape project in one of our secondary schools .. how would we begin??

Also what has happened to the film footage shot by Teachers TV at HHL 2006?? they conducted a number of interviews with the Learning2go team and .. I think a few others??