Ask Microsoft

Q: Please introduce yourself. What do you do with Windows Mobile in education?

A: My name is Bill Hagen and I am a Mobility Solution Specialist for Windows Mobile working with the education vertical niche, which includes both K-12 and higher education customers. My role has many facets; I'm always doing something different each week, but primarily I work with our Windows Mobile partners who work in the education field to develop and promote solutions that enhance the education experience for both teachers and students worldwide. We are increasingly working with the various mobile cellular operators to promote applications that work on approved devices and networks.

Bill Hagen

Q: How are educators using Windows Mobile? Specifically, how can these devices really help the learning process?

A: Educators are adopting and deploying Windows Mobile-based devices and solutions in order to increase student achievement and faculty productivity. Now that Windows Mobile is the world's top selling operating system for PDA's we are seeing it being used by schools as they adopt the solutions which Windows Mobile developers and Independent Solution Providers have created for the learning environment. Educators are enabling their students to achieve their learning potential with various solutions; three we like to talk about are categorized as classroom collaboration tools, mobile learning tools and mobile administration tools.

Classroom collaboration tools can enhance the learning process in many ways. One example is when students are provided with Windows Mobile-based devices to answer teacher-initiated questions via a wireless network called a Student Response System or an Audience Response System. The teacher can see who answered what question correctly or even view a group polling response to get feedback from the entire classroom, which shows if they can move on to another subject or need to discuss the current subject further. Other classroom tools enable educators to take attendance, store recently visited or assigned Internet sites or lesson plans, do reading assessments, demonstrate concept mapping, store graphics and illustrations, and even beam games. A lot of great solutions are available for managing devices in the classroom; one example comes from a company called Go Know. Go Know enables students to have their devices updated with their own data when they authenticate and use their credentials on that particular device, lessening the teacher management burden.

Mobile learning is the ability for students to take learning with them outside the classroom. Common uses include: eBooks (e-textbooks), science probes that collect date, graphing calculators, GPS location services for maps, and GIS mapping and reference guides.

Mobile administration tools for Windows Mobile-based devices allow faculty to extend their district's data stores to a handheld. One example is the Student Information System which gives principals and educators ready access to student information on their Pocket PC, including security information, bus routes, and medical and contact information. Some schools are using ID badges that are scanned by a mobile device utilizing a Bluetooth scanner to identify which student is on which bus. Should parents inquire about the location of their child, the school district can provide them with accurate, current information.

Viewing announcements from the school Web site or district portal is important as well and can be combined in the Microsoft Learning Gateway Framework.

Many of these solutions can be found at www.microsoft.com/Education/sif.aspx.

Q: What is Microsoft doing to help Educators communicate with parents and district employees in a mobile fashion?