"In the _Red_"
|
|
Introduction
Personal Digital Assistants have many functions and purposes to enhance education.
They can greatly increase teacher productivity through the Personal Information
Manager (PIM) which includes a calendar, email contacts, "to-do" lists, and
note-taking. Teachers can do other record-keeping using PDAs including grading
and parent contact information. Many more possibilities exist for student
use, also. The purpose of this page is to help teachers understand how to
use and maintain their handhelds in their schools. While not necessarily
all-inclusive, we feel the information provided here will offer a strong
foundation for schools and teachers beginning to use handhelds in their building.
Please note that this information specifically refers to a palmOne handheld. We focus on this product since it is currently the most prevalent handheld that is cross-platform for Mac and Windows machines.
Terminology
http://www.palmone.com/us/products/basics/glossary/
The above web address from PalmOne
offers a fairly comprehensive list of terms associated with their product.
Following are some terms we use specifically in this site.
PDA: Personal Digital Assistant |
 |
How do PDAs work?
The following
is a summary from the How
Stuff Works website and Webopedia that describes the ins and outs
of a PDA:
(A PDA is )A handheld device that combines computing, telephone/fax, Internet
and networking features. A typical PDA can functionas a cellular phone, fax
sender, Web browser, and personal organizer. Unlike portable computers, most
PDAs began
as pen-based, using a stylus rather than a keyboard for input. This means that
they also incorporated handwriting recognition features. Some PDAs can also
react to voice input by using voice recognition technologies. PDAs of today
are available
in either a stylus or keyboard version.
Apple Computer, which introduced the Newton MessagePad in 1993, was one of the
first companies to offer PDAs. Shortly thereafter, several other manufacturers
offered similar products. Today, one of the most popular brands of PDAs is the
series of Palm Pilots from Palm, Inc.
PDAs are also called palmtops, hand-held computers, and pocket computers.
PDAs are generally used for personal information management – much like a “planner”, or paper calendar. However, PDAs have much more expanded capabilities such as web browsers, image, video, and sound storage as well as cameras.
PDAs differ from laptop computers in that they do not have a hard drive or full power capability. Functionality is beginning to rival desktop and laptop computers, but will still be limited to its size.
In this section:
Connect and charge
Setting up the Palm
Installing Palm Software
Synchronization
1.
Plug the USB synchronization cable into your handheld and the other end
into a USB port into back of your computer. Do not press the HotSync button
yet. |
 |
Setting up the
palm:
1. Unplug
the multi-connector cable from your handheld, if desired and press the power
button on the top of the device.
2. Hold the stylus like you would a pen, and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Use the Quick Tour application or run the tutorial.
Installing palm
software or other software applications:
Palm Desktop lets you enter appointments, addresses, and other
information on your desktop computer. Then you can transfer the information
to your handheld using the HotSync process. It's the fastest way to enter a
lot of information.
If you use Microsoft Outlook, you will still need to install the new software
from the CD-ROM.
Windows:
Follow the instructions on your screen after putting the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM
drive.
Mac:
Double-click on the Palm Desktop Installer icon after putting the CD-ROM into
the CD-ROM drive and follow the on-screen instructions.
Synchronization
or "Syncing" the handheld with the computer
| 1. Connect
the multi-connector cable from your handheld to a USB port on the computer. 2. Turn on the Palm, follow on-screen instructions. 3. When asked, press the HotSync button on the HotSync multi-connector cable. |
 |
|
Do |
Make use the PDA both in your personal life & in the classroom. |
|
Do |
Download free software off the internet. (See Educational Resources.) |
|
Do |
Allow students to EXPLORE & PLAY on the PDA before instruction. |
|
Do |
Share your PDA knowledge with your peers & apply for GRANTS! |
|
Do |
Use a stylus & a keyboard (the oil and dirt from fingers can damage the screen) |
|
DON’T |
Use a pen/pencil on the PDA screen. |
|
DON’T |
Spill liquids (coffee, pop, etc.) on your PDA. |
|
DON’T |
Forget to recharge your PDA. |
|
DON’T |
Allow students to use PDA’s without proper instruction by teacher. |
|
DON’T |
Allow students to take PDA’s home without proper checkout system. |
|
Reassign the application buttons. |
You can reassign the four buttons by going to Prefs and selecting buttons. |
|
Graffiti Help
|
Place your stylus in the Graffiti area between the
letter & number area. Draw a straight line all of the way
to the top of the screen. The Graffiti Help screen will appear. |
|
Quick Beam. |
There is one other "hidden" way to launch
an application. Put your stylus in the middle of the Graffiti
area and drag it all the way to the top of the screen. The Graffiti
Help screen should appear. |
|
Create Shortcuts |
Tap on Prefs, then select shortcuts from the drop down menu in the top
right corner. Create a new shortcut by tapping New. In
the "Shortcut Name" area enter two or three letters of the
text you want to enter. In the Shortcut Text area, enter the complete
text. |
|
Save battery life |
One way to save battery life is to turn off the Beam
Receive function. Remember, once you do this you will have to
turn it back on before anyone can beam you anything. Here's how
to turn it off. Tap Prefs on the Applications
screen. Select General from the drop down list in the top right
corner. Find Beam Receive and change it to off. |
|
Cut, Copy, and Paste. |
At any text entry point, you can select text by tapping
and dragging your stylus across the text. Once selected stroke
a backslash "/" beginning at the bottom left and stroking
up and right. This brings up a toolbar that allows you to cut,
copy, or paste. |
|
Rotate the TUNGSTEN T5 Screen. |
|
Troubleshooting
We have
found that if you run into minor difficulties with your Palm, almost all instructional
web pages tell you to re-set the device. This means that either Palms currently
do not present many technical problems, or that there really is no other way
to solve these issues! Here are some other pointers:
Hot Sync
Synchronization
problems usually stem from incorrect settings, software incompatibilities, or
file damage. These issues need to be resolved from your desktop.
Hardware
Handheld
won't turn on or screen is blank/unreadable:
Try a soft reset
Battery extremely low or
empty.
Re-charge for at least 20 minutes.
Battery won't re-charge.
Check for correct connection of power adapter. Re-connect the device. You
can check if it is charging by seeing a lightening bolt over the battery icon.
If the handheld seems to be losing charge quickly at a frequent rate, it may
be time to replace the battery. Unfortunately, this requires sending the device
into an authorized dealer.
Contrast is low.
Access the contrast control and change settings.
Handheld is frozen or looping.
Do a system re-set.
Software
Handheld is looping, flashing, or frozen.
Do a system re-set.
You have a "fatal
error" message.
Do a soft re-set or system
re-set.
Wireless
File won't
transfer.
Make sure infrared ports are clean. You must be between 6-36 inches. Avoid
direct sunlight. Battery power may be too low.
Soft Re-set
A soft reset is similar to restarting a desktop computer. It's the most useful trick in your toolbox for fixing a variety of issues.
Soft resets usually do not affect your personal data on your device, unless your battery is low. If see battery warnings, change or charge your batteries immediately even if there is an error message onscreen. Also, it's a good practice to perform a HotSync operation before any reset (assuming that synchronization is not the problem you are trying to fix).1. Use an unfolded paper clip, or the reset tool at the tip of your stylus.
2. Gently press the RESET button inside the hole on the back panel of your device (where's the reset hole?).
3. All data on your device should be retained. If you do lose data after a soft reset, you may have a more serious issue with your hardware that requires a repair.
4. After a soft reset, the Welcome screen appears, followed shortly by the General Preferences screen (to set time and date).
If a soft reset does not resolve your problem, you may need to try one of the other resets. back to troubleshootingSystem Re-set (also known as a "warm" re-set)
A system reset tells your device to stop what it's doing and start over again, bypassing any system extensions. This can help you with "boot loop" errors, and let you remove any recently installed third-party applications that might be causing the problem.1. Press and hold the UP button on the front panel of your device.
2. While holding the UP button, use an unfolded paper clip, or the reset tool at the tip of your stylus, to gently press the RESET button inside the hole on the back of your device (where's the reset hole?).
3. The Palm Computing Platform screen will appear. Release the UP button when you see it.
4. Because this reset is a bit awkward to perform, sometimes it doesn't actually happen when you think it does. Test to see if it worked:
o Open the Applications launcher.
o Choose the application named "Prefs."
o Access the General preferences (on some devices, you may need to access Power).
o Tap on the pick list for Beam Receive. Choose "On." If it still displays "Off," then your device was correctly system reset.
o Once you've tested that the system reset worked, perform a soft reset. Otherwise, some functions will not work.Sometimes a system reset fails to break out of a loop. These extra steps may break the loop without having to perform a full hard reset.
1. Perform the first part of a hard reset but stop when you see the option to press UP to erase all data.
2. Then perform a system reset as described above but make sure to depress the RESET pin first and then the UP button; otherwise you will complete the hard reset. Be careful! Don't accidentally perform a hard reset, or you will lose all data on your device. back to troubleshooting
Hard Re-Set
As a last resort, if soft resets & warm resets don't work download this Hard Re-Set file.
Maintenance
Like
all technology, handhelds need regular maintenance and care to ensure
long-lasting, reliable function. Even performing the most basic maintenance
tasks can make
all the difference in the handheld and saving a lot of money.
Suggested Procedure for Daily Maintenance
1. Sign out sheet in computer lab
2. PDA’s to be stored in computer lab
3. Teachers are to pick up PDA’s ONLY
4. Teachers are to turn on palms to make sure they are in working condition
and all parts are present.
5. If needed, teachers will fill out a tech request form
6. Teachers are to make sure all unnecessary files are deleted and all parts
are present.
7. Teacher to return to computer lab and plug in.
Tech support person’s duties:
• Nightly, make sure PDA’s are plugged in.
•
Weekly, inspect and maintenance as needed.
•
Install software as needed.
•
Send in for repairs as needed.
Teacher
and Student Training
In this section:
Teacher Training
Student Training
How Students Can Help With Maintenance
Suggestions for Teacher Usage and Training:
We have found that it is not as common for mass
adoption of a particular technology as it is for a few teachers to volunteer
to pilot it on their own. Therefore, the following suggestions follow the individual
training philosophy rather than group workshop training.
o Equipment:stylus and actual device are intact within given case? USB cable is available if needed for on-the-spot syncing (when connecting with a computer) or other data transfer (such as printing)? Do you have enough devices for your purpose?
o Equipment and software readiness: are the batteries fully charged? Do you have the necessary software installed on the devices? (initially, this is not an issue, but more experienced users will be able to take advantage of free and low-cost downloadable software)
o Student readiness and training: are the students prepared for using the device? If they already have basic preparation and experience, are they ready for the next step? Is your lesson clear and prepared? Does your lesson/activity include time for student-training (especially for new applications with the device)? Do you have a back-up plan in case unresolveable technical problems arise?
How Students Can Help With Maintenance of Handhelds
• www.learninginhand.com
•
www.classsource.com
www.palmOne.com
Ideas for implementation
Creative ways to take advantage of the basic software functions on the PDA:
| Application |
Uses |
| Calendar | º Teachers set alarms to remind them to send students for special
services. º They recorded homework assignments with attached notes that listed details. Students who were absent had the opportunity to check the Palm for missed assignments, or if they had their own Palm, could have the assignment beamed to them. º Teachers set reminder alarms to go off when the end of the class period was approaching. Time for clean-up! º In addition to recording scheduled parent conferences, teachers would note impromptu meetings at the grocery store, in the hall or wherever. An attached note would detail the discussion and outcome. This served as a great record of parent contact. º Teachers recorded lesson plans with attached notes to add detail about materials, equipment or learning strategies. |
| Address Book | º High school teachers stored parent or guardian contact info for
each student and categorized it by class. º Some teachers documented the outcome of parent meetings using attached notes. Using the shortcut stroke and a date stamp allowed teachers to keep a running record of parent contact on one note. º Custom fields let teachers track other data, including birthdays and emergency contacts and phone numbers |
| To-Do List | º One teacher kept a list of her students in a To-Do list and kept
track of which students were to clean the cafeteria tables. She kept the
setting to show completed items, and would check and then uncheck student
names as they completed their jobs. º List the steps of a complex activity and check of each step as it is completed. This was especially helpful for teachers who taught the same activity to more than one group of students. A category for each class would keep the To-Do lists separate. º Use as a modified rubric, listing the behaviors you are looking for. Create a To-Do list for each student by creating a category for each student. |
| Memo | º Create a category for each student (for teachers with small classes)
and add daily notes. º Create a category for each class and have one memo for each student. Record observations about student learning. º Date each entry using shortcut strokes and date or date/time stamps º Create shortcuts for commonly used phrases to speed data entry. º Use memos as a personal learning journal to reflect on and improve learning activities. |
References
and Product Resources
Teachers found that using the basic applications was easy and useful, even
though there are limitations imposed by force-fitting teacher's needs into
business applications. However, there are a growing number of software applications
for educators that will increase the utility of the handheld for teachers.
Some examples include:
|
Software Title |
Platform |
Purpose |
Available from: |
|
Handango Teacher Suite |
Palm OS & Pocket PC |
Three in one: Teacher's P.E.T. grade book & student/class manager,
lesson plan organizer, and Thought Manager, a planning tool. |
|
|
Learner Profile to Go |
Palm OS |
Student management system that allows teachers to asses students, track
assignments and develop rubrics of observable behaviors for assessment. |
|
|
MClass: |
Palm OS |
Assists teachers in conducting running records to assess reading performance
in grades K-3. Other reading assessment titles available. |
Wireless Generation click on "Products" |
|
PDA Teacher |
Palm OS |
Student information log, class lists, absentee report, lesson plan template
and database, gradebook, disciplinary log. |
Palm Education Solutions Click on "Education
Software" under "Software Solutions" and then click "Teaching
Aids" |
|
TeachFile |
Palm OS |
Student management software to track assignments, attendance and general
status lists for all of your classes. Gradebook applications. |
Palm Education Solutions Click on "Education
Software" under "Software Solutions" and then click "Teaching
Aids" |
|
X-Port |
Palm OS |
Syncs SASIxp information to handhelds. |
Product sites of PDAs:
•
www.webopedia.com
•
www.dell.com
•
www.palmOne.com
•
www.welcome.hp.com
Functions, Software:
• www.howstuffworks.com
•
www.microsoft.com
•
www.geek.com/pdageek/features/pockpc/
•
www.mpsomaha.org/willow/p5/handhelds/howtos1.html
•
www.educatorspalm.org/fingertips/fingertips.html
