Teaching with Handheld Computers
CMSU - EDCI 5000

Teaching with Handheld Computers is a graduate credit class for 8th grade teachers at Warrensburg Middle School in Warrensburg, Missouri. After implementing a handheld computing program in 7th grade for a year, the district decided to expand the program to the 8th grade. To kick off the project, the twelve 8th grade teachers are taking a 45-hour class from May 30 to June 13, 2006.

The class involves a variety of lessons and activities which are designed to help the teachers prepare for integrating handhelds into their curriculum in an environment in which each student has a Palm TX handheld, a wireless keyboard, and a carrying case. The students take their handhelds home with them every day to complete assignments and to charge the battery. This allows equity in student access to the technology, and teachers can assign homework involving the handhelds.

The class focuses on basic Palm handheld usage, educational software, practical management strategies for implementationin the classroom, and learning activities using handhelds.