Handheld devices are ready-at-hand

It is unreasonable to expect computers to have a positive impact on learning and teaching if students and teachers have limited access to them. Communities are not going to earmark enough money, on a continuing basis, to buy and keep the ratio of PCs down to even 2 students to 1 computer, let alone...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Communications of the ACM 2001-06, Vol.44 (6), p.15
Main Authors: Soloway, Elliot, Norris, Cathleen, Blumenfeld, Phyllis, Fishman, Barry
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Children & youth
Classrooms
Computers
Concept mapping
Curricula
Education
Elementary schools
Internet
Learning
Middle schools
Personal computers
Personal digital assistants
Personal information
School districts
Students
Teachers
Teaching
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Summary:It is unreasonable to expect computers to have a positive impact on learning and teaching if students and teachers have limited access to them. Communities are not going to earmark enough money, on a continuing basis, to buy and keep the ratio of PCs down to even 2 students to 1 computer, let alone a 1-to-1 ratio in the next few years. As long as computers are not ready-at-hand, they will not be used in a routine, day-in, day-out fashion. Handheld devices can be the PC of choice for K-12. Each and every child should be provided with a $100 handheld device. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are available on handheld devices. Compelling applications are those that support the teaching and learning of the curriculum. Various applications are discussed. They are: 1. PicoMap, 2. Palm Sheets, 3. Cooties, 4. Fling-It, and Critterville.
ISSN:0001-0782
1557-7317
DOI:10.1145/376134.376140