Classroom Solutions
Implementing a large handheld program with students, whether in one classroom or school-wide, presents a unique set of challenges. The information below gives some ideas of things you may want to consider in a classroom implementation and some products designed to make this more efficient.
- Classroom solutions bundle
- Curriculum goals and integration plans
- Policy issues
- Implementation models
- Set-up and on-going management
- Classroom rules
- Professional development
- Recommended products
We provide a variety of on-site workshops on using handhelds in education. We also have several books and resources that give information for a successful handheld implementation. Whether you're just exploring the use of handhelds or already using handhelds and looking for new ideas, checkout these valuable resources. Email us or call us at 800-679-2226.
Curriculum goals and integration plans
Prior to implementing your handheld program, it is important to identify what curriculum areas, skills, and standards you want to address. By thinking about this early on, you can make sure to choose hardware and software that will support your goals.
K12 Handhelds works with schools to help identify applications and curriculum solutions that can best address your specific goals and needs. Email us for more information.
Policy issues
When you are starting your handheld program, there are many policy issues that you will need to address. These include:
- Who will own the handhelds — the school or the student?
- Will students be allowed to take handhelds home?
- How will issues such as damage, theft, and loss, be handled?
- What written policies need to be put in place?
Ownership
The first policy issue to think about is who will own the handhelds themselves. For most public K-12 schools, the school chooses to own the handheld and loan them to students. Some of these schools give students an option to purchase their own handhelds.
Private K-12 schools and universities often require that students purchase handheld devices. If students are directed to purchase their own handhelds, it is important for the school to issue purchasing guidelines that include information such as requirements for the operating system, minimum memory, expansion, and software.
Taking Handhelds Home
Students gain the most benefits from handhelds when they are permitted to take them home with them. This has been demonstrated in a variety of research studies. However, for many districts and schools, there is a great reluctance to let students take home handhelds. There is a concern about theft, loss, and damage of the devices.
Research has shown that handheld programs are more effective when students are allowed to take handhelds home. We encourage schools to be creative in finding ways to develop policies so that students can take handhelds home. (See Written Policies for more information.)
Anecdotally, we have found that students who are entrusted with the responsibility of caring for handheld devices do so with relatively low incidents of damage, theft, or loss.
Damage, Theft, and Loss
It is important to consider how damage, theft, and loss of handhelds will be handled. Most handhelds come with a one-year warranty that covers most hardware issues except screen breakage. (In our experience, screen breakage is one of the more common problems.) It is possible to purchase additional warranty coverage that covers a longer period of time and screen breakage. While not necessarily financially advantageous (because of the low cost of handhelds and the relatively low incidence of problems), some schools may elect to purchase this additional warranty coverage from the manufacturer. Third party insurance can also be purchased.
Because there are likely to be some problems with handhelds, it is recommended that schools have a few extras available to be used as replacement units.
If handhelds are going to be transported frequently, used in outdoor environments, or otherwise used in a potentially rough manner, cases are recommended.
Written Policies
Two of the most common written policies that you may want to put in place are financial responsibility agreements and acceptable use policies.
Financial responsibility agreements are often used when the school owns the handhelds and loans them to students for home use. These agreements look much like band instrument agreements. They are signed by both students and parents and typically state that the school is loaning the equipment to the student and that the equipment is to be returned to the school in reasonable condition. Often the value of the equipment is stated, so that parents know the replacement cost in the event of damage or loss.
In addition, school or district acceptable use guidelines should be examined to see if they need to be updated for handheld use.
Here are some examples of policies that some schools have put into place:
Learning in Hand
Berrien County ISD
Consolidated High School District 230
Plano ISD
West Hardin CSD
Hilton High School User Agreement
Bastrop ISD Handheld Usage Agreement
Implementation models
There are a variety of implementation models that you might consider for your handheld program:
1:1 Ratio — Each student has a handheld. This is the ideal configuration, because it gives students maximum access. In many cases, a 1:1 ratio is the most advantageous model even if not all students in the school can participate in the handheld program. Advantages of this model are access and few classroom management issues. The main disadvantage is the cost.
1:2 Ratio — Each pair of students has a handheld which they share. This model can be effective, especially in elementary schools where students are in the same classroom most of the day. Advantages are access and few classroom management issues. Disadvantages include lack of data privacy and issues regarding how students will share the handheld (especially for home use).
Classroom set — A set of five or ten handhelds are available for different students to use. This model can be used if students frequently do project work, in which each team of students can use one handheld. Advantages of this model are lower cost and some access to all students. Disadvantages include file management issues, lack of availability of the devices for personal use, and issues regarding how students will share the handheld.
Mobile lab — A set of 30 handhelds are available for different classes to check out. This is similar to a mobile laptop lab and may work best if teachers are conducting longer, contained projects that use handhelds, such as water quality environmental studies. Advantages include lower cost. Disadvantages include scheduling difficulties, “ownership” issues, management issues, and lack of availability of the devices for personal use. If you choose this model, we suggest a longer “check out” period, so that teachers have enough time to plan and conduct meaningful activities.
Set-up and on-going management
Setting up 30 or more handhelds is a challenge that merits the consideration of special techniques and tools. Areas to consider include:
- Labeling the devices — Most schools permanently label the devices with the school's name, ID codes, and possibly bar codes. This can be done with inventory tags or with engraving. In addition, you should consider labels with the students' names to indicate which device is which. A label maker can be used for this.
- Naming the devices — Each handheld will need to be assigned a unique user name. If the devices are being assigned to individual students, you might use their first and last name or their network name. Otherwise, a numbering scheme can be used, such as "NHS01".
- Charging the devices — Handhelds will need to be fully charged before initial use. Failure to fully charge the devices initially may negatively affect the on-going battery life.
- Installing applications and files — Tools are available to “mass install” applications, date book items, action items, memos, and other document files. These tools can save you many, many hours of time over installing all of this to each device individually.
On an on-going basis, you will also need to think about syncing, charging, and file management issues. All of these will be best handled if you make the students responsible for these tasks and give them well thought out guidelines on how to do this.
For syncing, you may want to assign students a primary location for syncing. This can be in their homeroom class or in a computer lab or library. It is important to make sure that students sync regularly since this will backup their data. If your students move from class-to-class and having one primary sync location is not feasible, you may want to consider a network syncing solution. Make sure to budget for this in advance though, since these are relatively costly.
Charging stations can be set up anywhere. Since each handheld comes with a cradle or cable, you aren't likely to be short of them, and may even want to check them out to students for home use. Charging is relatively quick, so most schools set up 5-10 chargers in a classroom for students to use as needed.
Depending on how you are using handhelds, file management may be an issue. One simple (and free) way to transfer files between students and teachers is through beaming. This works well for small files, but has the disadvantage of being slow, having limited range, and working only with one user at a time. Other wireless options include enhanced infrared access points, wireless Ethernet, and Bluetooth. These technologies are fast and more efficient than infrared, but do require the purchase of additional hardware. You can also transfer files through standard syncing, through email, or through memory cards.
See Recommended products below for suggested products that can help cope with these issues.
Classroom rules
Before handing out handhelds to students, you will want to think about classroom rules for handheld use. The rules you set will depend on your specific classroom situation, your classroom management style, and your students, but here are some things to consider:
- Rules about use only by the student
Example: You are responsible for this handheld. You should be the only one to use it. Do not loan your handheld to friends, brothers, sisters, or anyone else for any reason.
- Rules about bringing handhelds to class
Example: All students are responsible for bringing their handheld to class each day, fully charged and ready for use. On the first occasion that a student does not have their handheld in class, a warning will be given. For each occasion after that, one demerit will be issued.
- Rules about handheld use in class
Example: Handhelds are to be used in class only when permitted by the teacher and for designated purposes. No game playing or other off-task use is permitted during class.
- Rules about beaming in class
Example: Beaming is not to be done in class except as a part of a designated activity or with prior permission.
- Rules about installing software to handhelds
Example: No software, except that which is on the approved class list of software, shall be installed to handheld devices. If you install other software outside of class, you are responsible for removing it before class, so that there is space available for classroom activities.
- Rules about software licensing and illegal copying
Example: No software should be downloaded or installed to the handheld unless the proper license has been obtained. In addition, any copyrighted materials or other people's work should not be copied without the appropriate permissions.
- Rules about cheating
Example: Exams, quizzes, and tests are to see what you have learned in class. No cheating will be permitted. This includes cheating using handhelds. Handhelds will not be permitted during exams, quizzes, and tests unless permitted by the teacher.
Professional development
Professional development is a critical component to a successful handheld program. This professional development should include not only the basics of operating the devices and training on the applications being used, but also in the areas of classroom management and curriculum integration.
We suggest that an initial training focus on the basics of using handhelds, as well as give an overview of curriculum integration possibilities and classroom management issues. Subsequent workshops could focus on specific applications, curriculum integration strategies, and lesson plan development
K12 Handhelds provides a variety of professional development options, including online courses and on-site workshops.
Recommended products
K12 Handhelds Classroom Solutions Bundles — These bundles include everything you need to get started on a classroom handheld program.
HiHo — The HiHo (Hand In, Hand Out) tool is for managing files for classroom sets of handhelds; it runs on a desktop computer to manage handing out files to students and has a handheld program for students to hand in files.
SD Deploy! — This deployment tool for Palm and Windows Mobile handhelds makes it easy to set up a group of handhelds using the SD expansion card. Includes software and one SD card.
Here are other products you may also want to consider:
The Palm Wi-Fi card is designed specifically for wireless Ethernet access (also known as WiFi or 802.11b). Instantly turn your handheld into a wireless device to access your home, school network, or the many hot-spots now coming on line. (Check for compatibility with specific handheld models.)
Network Sync Servers - These products allow you to sync your handhelds over a network to a central location and generally support links to applications like email, databases and contact management systems. (Note: There is some level of network sync support provided with some models of handhelds, but this is generally not adequate for school use because it supports only one connection at a time. In addition, not all handhelds support network syncing.)
Classroom Solutions Bundles
Classroom Solutions Bundle — E2 Basic Edition
This bundle is designed to give you the basics you need to get started with using handhelds with your students, including:
- One teacher handheld - Palm TX handheld (128 meg, color, rechargeable, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi)
- 30 + 3* handhelds for students - Palm Tungsten E2 handhelds (32 meg, non-volatile flash memory, Bluetooth)
- Handshare classroom license (remote display software; requires Windows)
- SD Deploy!
- Quizzler Pro Instructor Edition (single license)
- Quizzler Maker (single license)
- “Getting Started” guide
- Integrating Handhelds Across the Curriculum kit, including two posters, a lesson plan book, and a CD
For a limited time, the Handheld Toolkit SD card with installable content - Integrating Handhelds into the Writing Curriculum with CD
* Three additional units provided under Palm Education Purchase Program, subject to applicable terms and conditions.
Bundle price: $6,600 (a $7,500 value)
Other options, such as curriculum software or professional development workshops, may be added.
Classroom Solutions Bundle — Wireless Edition
This wireless bundle gives you the basics to get started with wireless handhelds*, including:
- One Palm TX handheld (teacher handheld)
- 30 + 3* Palm TX handhelds (student handhelds)
- SD Deploy! v2
- Quizzler Pro Instructor Edition (single license)
- Quizzler Maker (single license)
- HandShare classroom license (remote display software; requires Windows)
- “Getting Started” guide
- Integrating Handhelds Across the Curriculum kit, including two posters, a lesson plan book, and a CD
- Integrating Handhelds into the Writing Curriculum with CD
Bundle price: $9,400 (a $10,850 value)
* Wireless access point not included, but can be added at additional cost.
** Three additional units provided under Palm Education Purchase Program, subject to applicable terms and conditions
Other options, such as curriculum software or professional development workshops, may be added.
