Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are hand held devices that can be used to simplify work, transmit data, and keep track of tasks with checklists and calendars. The use of these types of devices in a classroom, according to chapter 2 in the textbook, can be a very effective tool of instruction and a positively impact student motivation. There are many things a PDA can do that can enhance the learning of a student while making the lesson easier to understand and accomplish. I believe the most efficient use of a PDA for a classroom setting would be in a mathematics, with teaching graphs, or computer class with teaching how to use excel spreadsheets. Information can be easily transmitted from 1 PDA to another by use of beaming, or syncing with a computer. I personally have one of the Palm Tungsten E2’s and have found that I have trouble with using it for anything other than keeping a schedule of appointments, a checklist for assignment due dates, and as an address book. My children have used it and seem to have no problem with navigating the different programs it offers though.
We use online surveys to gather information on a topic, marketing, likes or dislikes about issues, and in the case of the classroom, gather information on what a student knows or doesn’t know about a topic, which can guide a teacher in the direction on where to start a lesson on a specific topic. If a teacher knows what the students already know about a topic or issue the teacher can spend much less time on teaching a topic that they already know and spend more time in areas that the students are less comfortable with.
Two good rules to go by when writing a survey, in my opinion, are: keep the question short and to the point (avoid long questions), and avoid questions that lead a person to answer in a certain way (avoid leading question).
The use of technologies such as those mentioned in chapter 2 can be an asset to the learning environment if used in the proper manner. There is a lot of room for students to misuse technologies, like PDAs, so strict rules with their use must be enforced. If teachers can properly integrate such technologies into the learning environment then great things can be discovered by their students by promoting active, reflective, and complex learning with the use of technology.
Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R.M., & Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful Learning With Technology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Bill, I do agree. PDA's would certainly be an asset in the classroom. I believe a teacher would have to set guidelines at the beginning of the year which included disciplinary action for any abuse.
ReplyDeleteHey man its true younger kids can run more technology oriented devices then their parents can so don't feel bad about that man it become nature now. But that doesn't mean that you can't teach them about technology teach them about everything you've been learning in class and impress them for a change. Surveys are defiantly the best way to gather information about our students, and like you said it could be a time saver so the teacher doesn't have to go into so much detail about that certain topic.
ReplyDeleteI use to have a PDA and after awhile I got use to it, and it came in handy. I really enjoyed using mine. I agree that students could easily misuse the technology they have today and need rules to make sure they don't.
ReplyDeleteI agree that pda's would be a great source of learning in a classroom but of course their would have to be some rules and regulations set for the class so the students wont get off task
ReplyDeleteVery detailed response. I believe that if the students were taught the correct way to use PDA's they could be very efficient and useful in many ways. Great response!
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