The following began as a comment to iPod, Therefore iAm!, but I felt that it might stimulate some dialogue among us regarding emerging mobile technologies in education. Something that I have been very interested in:
I have played with the iPod and it is very, very cool, but I can't help but bring up the fact that a handheld (PDA), my Dell Axim for instance, can also play podcasts as well as read blogposts through a free RSS aggregator called pRSSreader . It allows you view blog posts and to download enclosures (podcasts) directly to the storage card (mine is a 1GB SD card).
NOTE: While my Axim can play video, I have not experimented with vodcasts (video podcasts) as of this posting.
While I can't compare with the storage of an iPod, I like my handheld because it's more versatile than my stepson's 60GB video iPod. More versatile meaning I can use similar features available on the video iPod, in addition to accessing the Internet via Wi-Fi, create and edit documents, spreadsheets, even presentations (i.e. - PowerPoint). I can read and send e-mail synced with my Lotus Notes as well as schedule meetings with colleagues.
We have been wrestling with what part these particular mobile technologies will take in our classrooms. What is the best device for the classroom? I feel that it's really a delicate balance of what desired outcomes and cost to schools.
2 comments:
I continue to think about and struggle a bit with whether or not I want 1 device that does many things, or multiple devices that each specialize in something. There are advantages to both. And, I'm somewhat constrained both by what my district will support, if it's something I want to use at school (i.e. We support Palm OS devices but not Pocket PC devices) and what is provided for me (i.e. BOCES provides my phone, but I have no control over which model of phone it is). I also have to stop and think about ease of portability. How big is it? How easy is it to take with me without pockets (I know, it's a woman thing)? Do I need all the devices to be with me all the time or only some of them some of the time.
Ah, the dilema of mobile technology.
I agree with you Lori, I think we all struggle with which device when and where to put them all. In my ideal world I have an all-in-one solution (For me, this may have been the advent of the Treo 700w, it's pretty cool!)
I also believe that education has always been at the tail end of driving technology. While we won't change the world, we can start to influence administrators and vendors to look at these devices as educational tools and that their market is of school-age.
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