PDA in Education: Portable Teaching

A new trend today in the classrooms is the use of the PDA in education. Like laptop computers, they provide portable methods to teach, work alone, and share information, but unlike laptops, PDAs can broadcast information to other PDAs as well as be carried around in the student's pocket.

For teachers, the number of things that can be done with a PDA are unlimited. It can be used to track classroom participation, record grades quickly and easily, scheduling class activities, and take quick notes, either by typing or by a vocal recording. When students use a handheld computer, the teacher's options expand exponentially. The computer can be used to broadcast pop quizzes to all students, share presentations, use educational software for individually paced lessons, or guide children out on the Web through educational or news sites. The only limit to what can be done with a handheld computer in teaching is the user's imagination.

If you plan to use handheld computers, though, you should approach teaching methodology carefully. A pocket PC is a relatively expensive piece of equipment, although it's cheaper than a laptop, and you need to ensure all your students have equal access. You also need to make certain you include the pocket PC extensively in your curriculum in order to justify any associated expenses. Some schools will purchase pocket PCs for students, and you can often get grants to cover the cost as well, but you should anticipate the likelihood that your students will have to provide their own and plan accordingly.

Despite the work involved in planning curriculum activities around the handheld computer, and the expense involved in purchasing of the units and the PDA software, students will benefit from using a PDA in the classroom. Research what's available, financially and otherwise, before making a final decision.