These little computers--just the right size for little hands -- can make a big, positive impact in the classroom. Almost any classroom. I heard how special education classes of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders were using them to make spelling lessons less painful, and more productive. Karen McClain, a teacher in Stow, explained that because many children with special needs struggle with handwriting, they quickly fall behind in spelling. But they CAN spell. Teaching spelling lessons, and later, writing too, on a handheld using a stylus to type in the letters can make all the difference in bringing these kids up to speed, and up to grade level. For that alone, I give handhelds an "A" for achievement.
Dr. Elliot Soloway, of the University of Michigan gave the keynote address.(Augh! Did I just say the "M" word?! Forgive me. Soloway is so delightful it's hard to believe he's from THATSTATEUPNORTH. Oh, I know why I like him...he got his undergrad at OSU. Whew.) Soloway likes to challenge his fellow educators to stop clinging to pencil and paper--to not teach that way, just because that's the way they were taught.
A self-described "geek," Soloway has a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and is also a Professor of Education at U of M. With 20+ years of educational research and a bunch of NSF-funded research grants under his belt, Soloway has earned the right to ruffle some feathers in Education.
So he ruffles. With at least two solid case studies done (in Michigan and in Texas), Soloway has proof that employing handhelds in elementary classrooms ups proficiency test scores. In fact, the results were SO remarkable, he's repeating the tests this year to make sure they weren't a fluke. But he's not waiting for more results to actively advocate handheld use in school.
He likes to call his fellow teachers, the ones who still cling to pencils and paper to teach, "Neanderthals."
If that sounds rather strong, well, so are Soloway's convictions. Handheld computers are just another way to reach kids, he says. Like other "revolutionary" teaching tools before them, they will have their detractors...and then, they will simply become part of the school landscape.
I say, why wait?
While Laptops still carry 3- and 4-digit price tags, some very serviceable handheld computers now have 2-digit price tags. Think about it. What does your local school system spend per student? (Hooooo, boy! We don't have space here to consider the discrepancies between districts in Ohio, but...well, maybe another time.) The number is probably between $4,500 -$6,500--per student per year.
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