| When I was in education all the rage was | | | | Christensen would you like it better if it was |
| technology in the classroom. The rage wasn't | | | | wireless?" Part of the grant was a requirement |
| technology in general but rather hand held devices | | | | for such opinions and updates. Hand helds in the |
| or palm pilots of some variety. Although I have | | | | classroom is a marketing scheme for technology |
| been removed from a classroom for a couple of | | | | software and hardware companies to make a |
| years now nothing has changed. PDA's do not aid | | | | buck on an unsuspecting consumer. Generally |
| in learning. | | | | schools do not know anything about technology |
| I'll start with the devices themselves. In my | | | | so they are easy pickings. Some one comes along |
| experience there was a company that offered up | | | | and offers an article saying hand helds will raise |
| devices as part of a grant. The device was | | | | your scores and boom you've just sold a bunch |
| nothing more than a palm pilot with a full | | | | of hand helds. |
| keyboard built in. Actually worse than that | | | | Now for the education part. I have ready many |
| because the screen was smaller. It reminded me | | | | studies and reports on this topic. All give good |
| of an old electric typewriter. These devices were | | | | examples of how they are used. But those |
| supposed to revolutionize teaching. How? Good | | | | examples do not show in aid in learning or test |
| question. No one knew. I was looked down upon | | | | scores. They show a convenience factor. Like the |
| in these camps or meetings when I would put | | | | science student that uses a device to measure |
| down the devices. I was seen as a downer or | | | | the air in a lab for its content. It's a tool. It didn't |
| pessimist when in reality as a problem solver I | | | | help you learn about air just tell you what was in |
| was looking for answers. A palm pilot will not | | | | it which you should have been taught before |
| increase test scores unless the answer key is on | | | | going to the lab. Some students use the palms to |
| it. In the sessions we had to learn how to | | | | track food intake for nutrition tracking. That's |
| integrate these devices into the classroom we | | | | great but you could keep a journal. Again not |
| basically learned how to install drivers and beam | | | | learning just more convenient. |
| things. We learned how to teach how to use the | | | | I have yet to see how these devices help |
| device not how to use the device to teach. | | | | educate children. They generally learn the device |
| In reality as a business man I saw through the | | | | not addition material. I don't know how to make |
| grant. The company that offered up the devices | | | | these devices useful in teaching or learning. I didn't |
| was using the grant group as beta testers. As a | | | | have a technology device in my programming |
| technologist they were eager to hear my likes | | | | classes and those were for how to learn to |
| and dislikes on the device so they could go back | | | | program a computer. I do not see this as a |
| to the lab and make changes based on me. "Mr. | | | | solution to teaching, learning, or low test scores. |