Using Pocket PCs in the Primary Classroom
The playing field in our nation's public schools has never been level, but East Carolina University (ECU) and Newport Elementary have collaborated over the past two years to change that. HP Jornada 540 series Pocket PCs have provided second and fourth grade students with access, at home and at school, to the tools they need to compete academically with their classmates regardless of their socioeconomic background.
School leaders, university professors, and financial experts are developing new technological, pedagogical, and financial models to make the successes of this project as widely available as possible. Parents and teachers have joined to be part of a communications team that supports student achievement.
Students lacking financial resources often do not have necessary technology in their homes. Small and rural schools do not have proper digital equipment in their classrooms. Students negatively affected by this lack of resources are part of America's rapidly developing digital divide. Their work is often inferior to those who have access to tools that support content mastery. Pocket PCs can be used to provide equal access to everyone. For example, Web sites can be downloaded to the Pocket PCs so that each student has access to the same information from the Internet. A printer in the classroom is available for each student, eliminating disparities caused by some having them at home and others not.
A local grant provided the money to purchase the necessary technology. Amortization schedules were developed using estimates of the effective lives of hardware and software. The goal is to provide reliable in- formation for school leaders to assist them in planning to provide technology in the classroom from the normal budget.
The teacher, her assistant, and selected school leaders were given Jornadas and trained to use them. Kick-off meetings were held with personnel from the central office, school personnel, university officials, students, and their parents/ guardians.
In October, 2001 each student in the second grade was given an HP Jornada Pocket PC with the full suite of built-in software. Particularly useful was the Task application. It was used for scheduling homework and for communication with parents, who have been an integral part of the project and have been extremely supportive.
This school year (2002-2003) the project moved from second grade to fourth. The same hardware and software is being used.
Assumptions torn asunder
Our assumptions about this project were torn asunder from the beginning. Students learned much more quickly than anyone predicted. The learning curve could be measured in hours and days; not weeks and months. Students cherished their Pocket PCs. None has been lost or stolen. Only one was accidentally damaged and was quickly repaired by Hewlett-Packard. Reading, writing, communications, educational games, music, and recording their own voices have been very popular with the students.
Each Jornada was equipped with OmniSolve calculator, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Microsoft Reader, Pocket Outlook (Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and Inbox), Notes (an electronic notepad for handwritten notes and drawings), a games folder, and other software and work areas for later use.
Math made easier with OmniSolve and a Pocket PC.
Our first lesson involved downloading eBook copies of the fable TheAnt and the Cricket to the Pocket PCs. Each student was asked to read the story in the classroom and to answer questions when called upon. One student, previously labeled as a non-reader, completed the four-page story and asked what he needed to do next. When quizzed about the story, the student answered correctly each time. The teacher was flabbergasted! He could read; he just chose not to do so under regular classroom conditions.
Our first lesson involved reading an eBook version of the fable "The Ant and the Cricket" using MS Reader on the Pocket PCs.
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