Participants in this workshop will analyze the use and benefits of an iPod® and handheld computers within the curriculum to meet state and national standards. They will consider the wide variety of mobile devices available and the basic features included on each one to help select the model most suitable for their individual situation. They will compare, contrast, and evaluate the effectiveness of handheld technologies to support learning in a variety of content areas to meet students’ individual needs.

Sources of curricular software for mobile devices will be explored and techniques in using those software packages to meet curriculum needs. Participants will learn the sources for eBooks, how they can be circulated among students, and incorporated within the curriculum to meet learning standards. Participants will explore various software packages and techniques in helping students write their own eBooks and notes and share within their writings with others. Participants will explore methods of locating, downloading and utilizing websites on personal mobile devices.

Parcipants will survey sources of educational podcasts and vodcasts and how they can be downloaded and incorporated into the curriculum. Participants will also learn the basic techniques of preparing their own podcasts and vodcasts and locating a broadcast site. They will consider some legal and copyright issues involved in podcasting and vodcasting. Participants will compare the differences in preparing eVideo for a mobile device as opposed to a television screen.

Participants will explore software and techniques in managing classrooms using handheld devices and assisting students in using handheld computer as student organizers.

Outline

Outline

1. Introduction – 3 minutes
2. Overview of mobile devices within the curriculum – 5 minutes
3. Sources and uses of eBooks within the curriculum – 10 minutes
4. Writing eBooks and eNotes – 10 minutes
5. Locating, downloading, and utilizing websites – 10 minutes
6. Locating and utilizing educational podcasts and vodcasts – 10 minutes
7. Preparing student-produced podcasts and vodcasts – 10 minutes
8. Summary and Closing – 2 minutes

Supporting Research

1. Hitchcook, Chuck, Anne Meyer, David Rose & Richard Jackson. "Technical Brief: Access, Participation, and Progress in the General Curriculum" http://www.cast.org/publications/ncac/ncac_techbrief.html

2. Crawford, Valerie, and Phil Vahey. "March 2002 Evaluation Report." Palm educations Pioneer Report Mar. 2002
http://www.palmgrants.sri.com/?PEP_R2_Report.pdf

3. "Handheld Computers in Education: Research Brief".The Principals' Partnership, sponsored by Union Pacific Foundation.
http://www.principalspartnership.com/

4. "New Becta research report - Handheld computers (PDAs) in schools" British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta)
http://www.becta.org.uk/corporate/press_out.cfm?id=2636

5. "Research Shows Handheld Computers in Classrooms Enhance Student Achievement." GoKnow Learning.
http://www.goknow.com/sbr/GoKnow%20SBR%20Announcement.pdf#search=%22%22Handheld%20computers%22%20education%20research%22

Presenter Background

The presenter teaches the online professional development classes "Learning Applications for the iPod and Handheld Computers" and "Digital Media and Visual Literacy" for the University of Wisconsin-Stout and previously at the University of Northern Iowa.

Mrs. Bell has authored two books "Handheld Computers in Schools and Media Centers" and "Creating Digital Video in Your School" published by Linworth Publishing.

Mrs. Bell has spoken at the 2004 Computers in Libraries Conference, Washington, D.C., 2005 NECC, Philadelphia, and the Iowa Technology and Education Connections conferences.

Mrs. Bell has been a high school library media specialist for twenty years. She received a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Hawii, a library media endorsement from the University of Montana, and a BA degreee from the University of Northern Iowa.

Prerequisites

Interest in mobile technology.

Referenced Web Links

http://www.drscavanaugh.org/?ebooks/?ebrs/?intro.htm

http://www.daisy.org

http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/education/

http://epnweb.org/

http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/