Article Review

Melissa Haller
TED 8600
Mr. Tony Vincent
29 January 2005

Article Review: Handhelds in the Classroom

Handhelds have been around for a good period of time. However, these handheld computers, or palm devices, have been around in the world of business. Most people have heard of such a device that was good for those in the business world to keep their schedule, appointments, and contacts. However, what few people do know are the use of these same devices in the classroom environment as well. Education World investigates four different schools that have used these handheld devices in their classroom to learn. In this article, readers will learn the different uses of such devices and some questions that still do exist.
One of the advantages that these handheld computers provide for students is the constant use of technology with their handheld. Due to the low cost of these devices, each student is able to have a handheld with them at all times. Schools that do not have this option for handhelds do not get this constant interaction with technology. Students at such schools have to share with those computers provided for them either in their own classroom, computer room, or media center. Therefore, these students have limited access with technology. These students with the handheld computers are able to use them all day long everyday of the school year.
There is a variety of software out there made specifically for handheld devices that allow the students to learn either by tracking their nutritional intake, graphing in math, measuring in science, and using a dictionary in their foreign language classes. Such software help the students further their knowledge in a subject. Students are also able to attach their handhelds with a computer to share their data. With the handheld devices, the students are able to always have information that the need within their specific classes, as they can carry them around in their handheld.
Questions, however, have risen on the use of handhelds in the classroom. Most questions have dealt with the same issue, the lack of software for classroom use. Most of the software, as these handhelds were first created for, have dealt with the business world. However, as more and more classrooms are using these devices for their students, developers have created software that allows students to learn and in a unique way.
After reading this article, I do believe that these handheld devices can be a wonderful way for students to learn. Looking back on my schooling, I know that I would have been fascinated by such devices and would have probably been more apt to want to learn if I was given such a device. However, a couple of questions do exist as I am still learning about them both in class and through this article. I know that these handhelds are affordable and compared to a computer they are a lot cheaper for schools to buy. However, I would think that providing each student with one of these in the lower income schools would still be costly. I also think that having a computer is necessary, as the article said that you could synchronize your handheld and computer. So, these would still be a cost for the school as well. I am looking forward to the creation of more software programs in the future years.