The used of the handhelds produced a student-centered learning because the students had control over their individual Palm. The students utilized their handhelds by organizing their own data, submitting their recordings to the teacher, and downloading quality research from sources that they read. The teacher did have some control over the assignments because he/she could change the format of a handout and then “beam” it to the students, and he/she could collect the assignments from the students as they were submitted. I still feel that the technology made for student-centered learning because the teacher and the students had use of the Palms and the students were judging how the handhelds could best fit their learning.
A particular assignment that the video addressed was a biology assignment where the students were asked to calculate their ecological footprints – or in other words “the number of hectors needed to sustain a human being.” The teacher integrated the technology into the assignment by having the students research various terms and ideas on the topic through their Palm, save their research, and then use it to collect data at home. The students then used their handhelds to record their data (food intake, weight of clothing, exercise, etc.), submit it to the teacher, and keep their project organized in their own Palm. The teacher commented on the use of the handhelds in the assignment by saying that the Palms helped the students stay organized because they did not have to mess with a folder, and the Palms also allowed the students to work on their projects inside and outside of class by saving their work. She also said that the handhelds produced more accurate research as well. The teacher made it very clear that she believes that real world learning heavily impacts the classroom and that a big part of education is keeping up with what is going on in the world.
I feel that this technology was a great addition to the classrooms of Carl Sandberg High. Although the video did not address ways to assess the students’ performance, I feel that it would be an easy thing to do. The teachers could always collect the handhelds and go through a quick check to see how well it was organized, or the teacher could also ask the students to print off a progress report from their Palm to monitor how their project is coming along. The teachers could also ask for things to be “beamed” to them so they could get the students work on their own handheld. As with anything, there could be some downfalls in using this technology. For one, if the student forgets his/her Palm then they would not have their information to work ahead on the project, and for two, the risk is always there of students losing/breaking the handhelds. Also, the Palms could bring along distractions such as various internet sites and chatting among students. However, I do feel that the positives of using the Palms outweigh the disadvantages. The advantages of using this technology would definitely be its ability to be small and compact so the students could pick up where they left off once they leave the classroom, and I feel that it offers a great way to stay organized. The Palms also allow the students to access resources to gain quality research which plays a vital role in the students’ learning.
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