Inclusive and Supportive Education Congress International Special Education Conference Inclusion: Celebrating Diversity? 1st - 4th August 2005. Glasgow, Scotland

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PDAs - The Culture of Our Children

Bettie Barrett, Ph.D.
Austin Peay State University
barrettb@apsu.edu

     Nearly a third of American teenagers now carry cell phones.   An estimated 7% of school districts in the United States even provide some students with handheld computers known as Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's)-thanks in many cases to corporate grants, according to the U.S. Department of Education.   For example, about 10% of East Dubuque, Iowa, students carry PDAs according to the school district's technology coordinator.   This is a new technology that can help bring about the Modernization of educational technology through construction of digitization not only to rural areas in all over the world but also in the United States.

     In the world today, there are predominately two computer languages, Microsoft's Windows and Macintosh's OS.   As these two technologies grew, desktop computers came to be found in classrooms across America.

     Then, as the technologies grew even more, computers began to shrink in size and become mobile via laptops.   Technologies went from the laptop computer to the handheld computer in a few short years.   As hard drive storage capacity became available in these little handhelds, the real digitization revolution was at hand.

     In the beginning, these handhelds were capable of just calendars, contacts, and addresses, and when handhelds were capable of holding software programs similar to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and educational math, science, English, social studies, art, music, etc. programs, both corporate America and academia started doing research.

     According to the research, students with special needs in the area of learning disabilities overwhelmingly need help with the following skills:

(1)      organizational skills, including but not limited to time management, scheduling, note taking, etc.

(2)      study skills;

(3)      cooperative learning skills; and

(4)      analytical and critical thinking skills;

Additionally, students with learning disabilities need help on an individual basis in certain academic subject areas such as math, science, language arts, and social studies.   High self-esteem, confidence, and motivation are also characteristics that students with learning disabilities struggle with daily.

     Research states that special needs teachers benefit from the use of PDAs when writing Individual Education Plans (IEPs), monitoring special needs students in general education plans, and recording anecdotal records for behavior intervention/modification plans. Moreover, special needs teachers can use the PDAs for grade keeping and for obtaining instant access to parent info, such as phone numbers or e-mail addresses.    At the Eminence Middle School in Kentucky, a language arts teacher downloads most of the literature she needs from free library sites on the Internet.   Standing within three feet of her students, she then transfers these electronic books (eBooks), along with daily assignments, to students' handheld computers via an infrared beam.   Microsoft Reader allows the user to underline text and write notes in the body of their eBooks.   Students can even create their own eBooks and post them on the WWW.   Moreover, research states that PDAs are an aid to teachers for classroom management.   For example, when students are absent, they can simply download missed notes from another student without problems of illegible writing or misspellings.   Additionally, the transmission of assignments electronically between teacher and students drastically reduces the amount of paperwork inherent in the life of the traditional classroom.

     Research also states that schools benefit from the use of handhelds by putting the regular textbooks on-line.   This will save a lot of money.   For example, history and geography classes at Independence High in New York are switching to e-books instead of regular textbooks.   Additionally, research states that PDAs provide a reliable communication tool between parents and teachers.   Teachers can download grades, notes on behaviors, and upcoming assignments onto student PDAs.   When students take their handheld computer home each evening, parents are able to view the information and stay abreast of student performance.

     PDAs also provide mobility for classrooms according to the research.   The idea of mobility was particularly appealing to the science teachers, especially of special needs gifted students.    For example, instead of students being stuck in a lab all day, students can go outside and gather data using probes from the handheld to measure the affect of exercise on breathing and heart rate.   The portable possibilities of this idea of classroom mobility can be visualized by the image of a backpack containing thirdy or so PDAs. An entire classroom system of handheld computers and related devices will fit in a standard backpack with ample room left over.   It would be an excellent way to get technology to rural areas around the world.

     Hi-CE, a part of the University of Michigan, with the backing of the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE), is one of the leaders in producing educational software and in doing research on PDAs in the science classroom.   Some research findings involving students with special needs are as follows:   Students with special needs at Cottage Grove High School in Oregon were given handhelds in the fall 2001.   Their teacher, Kerry Clawson, had students with mild learning disabilities, which means the students have aptitudes within the average range, but are deficit in certain school skills such as reading or writing as compared to their peers.   Handhelds were put in the classroom to assist students with \b organizational problems\b0   that are common for all students, but particularly troublesome for people with special needs.   When the students received the handhelds, they were excited and uncharacteristically attentive.   After a year of use, the research found that student participation in and completion of class activities and assignments significantly increased with handheld computer use.   Close to 100% of written work was handed in.   Assignments were never lost, and students who had been absent could easily get make-up work beamed to them.   According to the researcher, the students scrambled to send makeup work to each other.   Moreover, students took pride in their written work because it was legible when compared to their own handwriting. The researcher noted that no handhelds were lost, damaged, or stolen.   The students felt special without the stigma accompanied as a Special Education (SPED) student.   Regular education students asked to get into the researcher's class throughout the year.    Special education students in Marysville, Kansas and Larchmont, New York, are benefiting from the organizational capacities of handheld computers.   Students are able to increase their confidence and abilities as they manage homework assignments and deadlines with help of their PDA calendars.   The largest U.S. publisher of educational textbooks reports that some teachers have observed student self-esteem and self-reliance increase as the special needs students become more reliant on themselves to manage their assignments.   Students can take notes in class, keep a schedule of homework assignments, write reports, share information between their PDAs, and keep track of their grades.   Students can easily share information during team projects by linking their PDAs through the infrared beam.   Additionally, the sheer novelty of the technology, itself provides inspiration to some students.   Students who have been issued PDAs, according to the research, tend to appreciate the responsibility entrusted in them to care for the equipment.

     In the world of handheld computers, the two main ones are Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system and palmOne's OS operating system.

     The PDA software programs discussed herein are for Pocket PC handheld computers, namely the iPAQ 5555.   It has a 512 BM memory card and two wireless chips, the Wi-Fi chip and the Bluetooth chip.   It also has infrared capabilities for beaming documents.   All of the schools in Clarksville, Tennessee, namely the elementary (primary), middle (middle-junior), and high schools (senior middle), are Wi-Fi wireless schools.   The Wi-Fi enables the students to connect to the internet in class.

     Handheld computers are replacing laptop computers because they are less expensive, easier to transport, and will hold a lot of educational software programs. For example, the iPAQ 5555 handheld comes loaded with Microsoft:

Pocket PC Word,

Pocket PC Excel, and

Pocket PC Power Point.

Additionally, there are many software programs for PocketPC handhelds to:

(a)   Improve organizational skills:

     Microsoft Outlook

     emTeacher's Pack

     Lesson Plan Organizer

     emStudent's Pack

(b)   To improve Reading Skills

     Microsoft Reader

     e-Books

(c)   To Improve English language skills:

     Word Wizard

     Flash Alphabet

     Fun With Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives

     Dictionary English><French><Russian><Chinese><Spanish>etc.

(d)   To Improve Mathematics skills:

     Pocket Math

     Pocket Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication

     Graphing Calculators

(e)   To Improve Writing Skills in a language

     Foldable Keyboard, for writing and note taking

     Chinese Character Handwriting (example of available software)

     Research states that ideographs can be mastered only through rote learning and are      often forgotten because of disuse.

     This software is illustrative of software being used experimentally around the world with great success in helping students with special needs and their teachers.   However, more research is needed in this innovative technology area.

Annotated Bibliography

Barrett, B. (2000).   Distance Learning and Technology Uses as an Alternative to Twentieth Century Monolithic High School Buildings, presented at the Southern Regional Council of Educational Administration (SRCEA) annual convention at Nashville, Tennessee, on November 11-13.

Behrmann, M.M. (1995).   Assistive technology for students with mild disabilities.   ERIC EC Digest No. 529

Blumenfeld, P., Krajcik, J., Marx, R.W., & Soloway, E. (2000). Promising new instructional practices. In New teachers for a new century. San Francisco: McCutchan.

Blumenfeld, P.C., & Marx, R.W. (1997). Motivation and cognition. In H.J. Walberg and G.D. Haertel (Eds.), Educational psychology: Effective practices and policies. (pp. 79-106). Berkeley, CA: McCutchan Publishers.

Chinese Classical literature:   Pre-Qin Philosophers, Poetry, Prose, Biography, Commentary, Novels, Other Classical Literature, A Chronology of Chinese History

http://www.cnd.org/Classics/index.html

Chinese Language Teachers Association (1999, Links).   Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI (USA).

http://clta.deall.ohio-state.edu/CLTAlinks/links.htm

This website contains unannotated links related to the following topics: (1) Chinese Language and Culture Organizations; (2) Language Organizations; (3) Institutions Teaching Chinese; (4) Study Abroad/Internship Programs; (5) Sources on Chinese Teaching and Learning; (6) Resources for Chinese Computing; (7) Sites with Extensive Links to Chinese-related Topics; (8) Employment Opportunity Listing.

Curtis, M., Gramling, A., Reese, K., Wieczorek, A., Norris, C., & Soloway, E. (2004). Pocket PC Computers-A Complete Resource for Classroom Teachers. Washington, DC: ISTE.

Ebrey, P.B. (2002).   A visual sourcebook of Chinese civilization.   Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (USA).

http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv.   The goal of this visual sourcebook is to add to the material teachers can use to help their students understand Chinese history, culture, and society. [... We] have [...] prepared substantial units on ten important subject areas spanning the length of Chinese history [...]. Students should be able to view these units before coming \tab to class, much as they would read texts in a sourcebook of primary sources. This out-of-class preparation can provide the basis for classroom discussion, on-line discussion, or written assignments. To facilitate such discussion and analysis, we have included questions designed to make students think about the images they are viewing. To help keep the chronology and geography straight, we have included many maps and a timeline. Site Contents:(1) Geography; (2) Ancient Tombs; (3) Buddhism; (4) Calligraphy; (5) Military Technology; (6) Painting; (7) Homes; (8) Gardens; (9) Clothing; (10) Graphic Arts

English Becoming Beijing Preschoolers' Compulsory Lesson

http://www.cernet.edu.cn/20011112/3009360.html (2004)

English Study Popular in Northeast China City

http://www.cernet.edu.cn/20010904/3000196.html (2004)

English-version Textbooks Enter University Classrooms

http://www.cernet.edu.cn/20010904/3000227.html (2004)

Fishman, B.J., Soloway, E., Krajcik, J., Marx, R., Blumenfeld, P. (2001, April). Creating scalable and systemic technology innovations for urban science education.   Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research \tab Association. Seattle, WA.

Glencoe.com (2004).   Glencoe textbook publishers research on PDAs.

www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.phtml

GoKnow.com (2002). Educational software for handhelds, both pocket pc and palm.

http://goknow.com/GettingStarted/LearningImpactExpanded.php.

GoKnow.com (2002). Hebron Valley research.

http://goknow.com/GettingStarted/HebronValley.php.

Hong Kong to Extend Native-speaking English Teacher Scheme to Primary Schools

http://www.cernet.edu.cn/20020220/3020736.html (2004)

Kafai, Y., Fishman, B., Bruckman, A., & Rockman, S. (2001).   Models of educational computing in schools and homes: New frontiers for research on technology in learning.   Educational Technology Review.

Kapiolane Community College, the East-West Center, & the University of Hawaii.   Asian studies development program (ASDP): Syllabus and bibliography collection online.

http://lama.kcc.hawaii.edu/asdp.   This full-text database of Asian studies instructional materials contains course syllabi, bibliographies, and other documents collected by ASDP in the course of its five years of faculty development institutes and workshops. These materials are the core of the database, but other Asianists and instructors of courses dealing   with Asian topics are also invited to submit materials to be considered for inclusion in the Collection." This database contains material on the following topics: Accounting; Anthropology; Art; Asia/Comparative; Asian Studies; Bibliographies; Business Administration; Communications; East Asia; Economics; Education; Film; History; International Studies; Literature; Medicine; Miscellaneous; Philosophy; Political Science; Psychology; Religion; Sociology; Social Work; Telecommunications; Theater & Dance; Women's Studies.

Krajcik, J., Marx, R., Blumenfeld, P., Soloway, E., & Fishman, B. (2000, April), Inquiry based science supported by technology: Achievement and motivation among urban middle school students. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA.

Meridian On-Line Journal (2004).   Personal digital assistants in the middle school classroom: Lesson in hand.

New Generation of Children Dumping Dumb English ..Seven-year-old son gives mother guidance on learning English

http://www.cernet.edu.cn/20020129/3019116.html (2004)

Pan Asia Networking, International Development Research Centre (1998).   Distance education in East and South Asia.   Singapore.

http://www.PanAsia.org.sg/conference\

This is an on-line conference on Distance Education (DE), where you can login, view the discussion threads and even participate in the discussion. Site contents: Welcome Address; Distance Education - China; Hong Kong; Taiwan; South Korea; South-East Asia; Indonesia; South Asia; Bangladesh; India; Nepal; Pakistan; Sri Lanka.

Soloway, E., Norris, C., Blumenfeld, P., Fishman, B., Krajcik, J., & Marx, R. (2001, June).   Handheld devices are ready at hand. Communications of the ACM, 44(6), 15-20.

Smith, D. (2001). Introduction to Special Education, Teaching in an age of opportunity. (Ed). New York: Allyn & Bacon.

Surowski, D.B. (1996).   Overview of the educational system of China.   Department of Mathematics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (USA).

http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~publication/overview

A useful paper divided into the following sections:   Introduction; The Law of Compulsory Education; The Categories Within the Educational System; Educational System Chart; Grading Scale; Administration; Key Schools; Educational and Related Statistics.

Surowski, D.B. (1998).   History of the educational system of China.  Department of Mathematics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (USA). http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~dbski/publication/history.   A paper divided into the following sections: Pre-1840 (Imperial Education); 1840-1949 (Opium War - P.R.C.); 1949-1966 (P.R.C. - Cultural Revolution); 1966-1976 (Cultural Revolution); 1976-present (Post-Mao Reforms).

U.S. Department of Education (2003).

http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/09/21/sprj.sch.classroom.gadgets.ap

Wan Wei Wang.   Ten-Thousand-Dimensional Web.

http://www.cnd.org/WWW-HZ/WWWChinese.html (2004)

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