Janet

Topic 1: Issues with blogging. We spent quite a bit of time talking about various problems and issues with our attempts at blogging. One blogger has recieved feedback for someone out in the wider world, so we know we are “reaching out” and touching someone! We explored http//www.splashblog.com/handhelds. This site is free and allows you to easily post up to 500 photos.Topic 2: The big “WHY” question. Why handhelds? Those of us who use them no longer ask “why?” We are too busy scheming ways to get and keep a class set of handhelds and trying out new programs to find just the perfect one to help the students learn a certain skill. But just in cae you haven’t heard all the reasons, I’ll list some of them:

• Handhelds are fully functioning computers.
• The ease of use and the cost of ownership says it all.
• No viruses!
• Can be easily replaced.
• Simple backup procedure/
• Portability.
• Space efficient.
• Free software.

Topic 3 dealt with projection of handheld processes or programs. We have seen our tech. use the Elmo camera set on a tripod. That is doable, but a clear projection is not going to happen. A better choice would be using the multimedia projector connected to the handheld via a Margi connector (no longer available at Palm). This system made it easy for the students to see the steps that the handheld was being taken through in order to set up a preference or to secure the correct word list for a program like Words to Grow. This connector can also be used to link the handheld to an isolated monitor for use in presenting to a small group at a table, etc. The one drawback was that the students cannot see the stylus actually tap on the screen, but must wait for the change to appear on the projection screen in fron of them. Another possibility was the Mirror program which allows you to drag programs right off you desktop onto the presentor area which is an image of a Palm handheld.

Topic 4 focused on current as well as back issues of the publication education In Hand. We discussed several articles and browsed through the featured “New” items that one can invest in. Several ideas for future blogs were generated. We will use the example of the “Handheld Diary” for one blog in which we will record all the uses of a handheld throughout the course of one day.

Blogging could become addictive! I was reluctant to pause and eat a meal as I was working on this!