Journal Review Handheld Educator

Assignment: Journal reviews

Excelsior Corp.(2003)
Every Child can Learn, The Handheld Educator, Vol 2(8), p.1-5
(The Handheld Educator is an advertising insert in the Technology & Learning journal, December, 2003 - Volume 24(5)

The product review may have been non-objective; the pedagogy discussed was valid and useful.
The author presents three strategies for "brain based learning:"
a) Create learning environments in which students are immersed in what they are doing.
b) Provide students with "challenging activities."
c) Include critical thinking into student activities.

Immersing students into their activities
This is one of the issues presented by Dr. Elliot Soloway at his recent LIU presentation. It is a key component of any successful learning environment - handheld-based or otherwise. Students perform much better when they perceive their participation as an opportunity rather than an obligation. These students come into the classroom with a predefined desire to succeed - a shared-vision with the teacher/school. The teacher's job becomes more of a mentor, coach, director and less of a guardian, task-master, disciplinarian.

This last issue acknowledges the many roles that teachers play in the course of their work day. This has come up in many articles and texts I've read. I have dealt with it elsewhere. Briefly, I believe some day we will recognize (and institutionalize) at least two distinct roles/specializations - categories of roles to be more precise - that teachers perform: a) pedagogical and b) administrative/behavioral. The pedogical functions are best left to the educators: the subject experts, the curriculum specialists, the "learning delivery experts," etc. The administrative and behavioral functions involve all of the things a teacher must do to prepare and process his/her students for learning. Its biggest component of course is discipline; but not far behind are all the parent/community interactions, school system interactions, classroom management issues, etc. These responsibilities deserve greater recognition and their own professional position, perhaps "Teacher Administrator." This position should demand respect, specialization, professional skill and an appropriate salary.

Challenging activities:
It is important to guage the difficulty level of every lesson for every student - as best we can. This subject is related to Senge's concept of teaching to each individual's specific set of "intelligences," i.e. customizing the teaching methods and activities to suit the learner. Lessons (and all curricula in general) need to be tailored in such a way that students are neither bored by to little material presented too slowly nor choked by too much material presented too quickly.

Critical Thinking:
In a true constructivist environment, the students should take part in their own performance evaluation. If required, necessary adjustments should be made so that students stay "on track" without wondering off too far before being brought back on track. Putting class activities into the context of their real lives will help them develop critical thinking skills - in their real lives.

The article discusses some of the activities (inter-activities) in which the students participate. Pictures of the students in the classroom, engaged in their "learning games" with the beaming handheld computers (PDAs), clearly illustrate that the students are enthusiastically enjoying the experiences. It is clear why Dr. Elliot Soloway's enthusiasm is so demonstrable. The Hi-Ce project itself is successful because of the enthusiasm it exudes.

The technology allows for all kinds of advanced educational uses including teacher (school) monitoring of students' activities and progress. Teachers can beam quizzes and special messages to individual "handhelds" in the classroom. Likewise, students are constantly engaged in 1-on-1, 1-on-many, many-on-many handheld activities (games?).

It is the very smallness of the handhelds (these little teaching tools) that makes the difference in how this tool is used. It is one of the points that Elliot Soloway was making. Sometimes it is subtle changes in technology that bring about major changes in use. The size of the handheld computer is just such a "subtlety." I've discussed this topic of subtle changes having major affects in another journal review.

reviewed by Jerry Garfunkel

Which of the ISTE Standards are discussed in this article?

ISTE Standards
1 Basic operations and concepts	*Yes*	> Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.
1 Basic operations and concepts	*Yes*	> Students are proficient in the use of technology.
2 Social, ethical, and human issues	No	> Students understand the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology.
	No	> Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software. Legal
	*Yes*	> Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.
3 Technology productivity tools	*Yes*	> Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
3 Technology productivity tools	No	> Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works.
4 Technology communications tools	*Yes*	> Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.
4 Technology communications tools	No	> Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.
5 Technology research tools	*Yes*	> Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources. Research
	No	> Students use technology tools to process data and report results.
	No	> Students evaluate and select new information resources and technological innovations based on the appropriateness for specific tasks. Critical thinking - knowledge, evaluation, synthesis, application
6 Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools	*Yes*	> Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions. Webquests
6 Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools	No	> Students employ technology in the development of strategies for solving problems in the real world.Critical thinking - knowledge, evaluation, synthesis, application
this chart was cut and pasted from http://cnets.iste.org/docs/NETS_S.doc. It is a personal homeworkaid for me. J. Garfunkel

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Which of the NY State Technology Education Standards are discussed in this article?

NYS Technology Education Standards
Design	*Yes*	Engineering Design
		Key Idea: Engineering design is an iterative process involving modeling and optimization used to develop technological solutions to problems within given constraints.
Tools	*Yes*	Tools, Resources and Technological Processes
		Key Idea: Technological tools, materials, and other resources should be selected on the basis of safety, cost, availability, appropriateness, and environmental impact; technological processes change energy, information, and material resources into more useful forms.
Computer	*Yes*	Computer Technology
		Key Idea: Computers, as tools for design, modeling, information processing, communication, and system control, have greatly increased human productivity and knowledge.
System	*Yes*	Technology Systems
		Key Idea: Technological systems are designed to achieve specific results and produce outputs, such as products, structures, services, energy, or other systems.
History	No	History & Evolution of Technology
		Key Idea: Technology has been the driving force in the evolution of society from an agricultural to an industrial to an information base.
Impact	*Yes*	Impacts of Technology
		Key Idea: Technology can have positive and negative impacts on individuals, society, and the environment and humans have the capability and responsibility to constrain or promote technological development.
Management	*Yes*	Management of Technology
		Key Idea: Project management is essential to ensuring that technological endeavors are profitable and that products and systems are of high quality and built safely, on schedule, and within budget.
this chart was cut and pasted from http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/techmap/map.htm. It is a personal homeworkaid for me. J. Garfunkel