Personal digital assistants are also known as handheld computers. Cell phones, I Pods, digital cameras, audio recording, USB port, and even an integrated Global Positioning Systems receiver are considered personal digital assistants. Personal digital assistants are used in the classrooms and they run on the Palm operating system. Students can use these handhelds to work on math problems, create graphs and tables, transfer Microsoft Office files between a computer and a handheld, and use Bluetooth to send applications and files from one handheld to another. These handhelds are a great tools to use in the classroom and more schools are choosing to use them.
Online survey tools are used to collect data across a curriculum. Our SED 300 class took one of these surveys to test our knowledge about multicultural teaching. Other survey tool features include downloadable files for export to spreadsheets, sharing of results, and randomizing the order of answer choices to reduce bias. It helps us in the classroom by testing our knowledge to see what we know. When we get the results, we can see what areas we need to work on and obtain more knowlege of it. Two good rules for writing good surveys are to avoid long questions and avoid bias. Using long questions is not only time consuming, but it can cause the survey taker to lose focus. I know personally that I like short questions that are to the point. Avoiding bias is an important rule for writing good surveys because if you include bias questions then you will get bias answers. It will make an inaccurate survey because the answers will be predetermined.
In Conclusion, personal digital assistants are great tools for teachers to use in the classroom. Teachers can have an assignment for the students to complete on the handhelds when they enter the classroom. The only problem with PDA's is that it can be a distraction for the student because they might play games or text on it. Online surveys are also great tools to use in the classrooms. They help test student's knowledge over the curriculum and see what areas need improvement.
References:
Crismond, David, Howland, Jane, Jonassen, David, Marra, Rose M.(2008). Meaningful Learning With Technology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall
Hopefully we can find a way to allow the use of PDA's in the classroom while limiting the distraction of games and texting. The chances of students cheating are also much greater when electronic devices are allowed in the classroom. Teachers must stay very aware of what their students are doing in class to stay on top of this.
ReplyDeleteI agree that playing games and texting would be a problem, but i am lookign forward to using these tools in the classroom. Not that is will make teaching any easier but for me i think it will make it much more efective.
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