Using handhelds in the classroom

There are many ways to incorporate handheld devices into teaching. One of the ways that graduate students were planning to use handheld computers for teaching was through a software program called ‘Sketchy’. This program was designed in such a way to help solve difficult chemistry problems as in Stoichiometry calculations. Further they mentioned that any step by step process could be used in Sketchy. Next, for teaching the students how to access graphs those are generated by this device and to see their footprints. The users were also able to save a periodic table in the handheld device.

The professor identified lack of distracters as one of the main advantage of handheld devices over laptops. He considers handheld devices to be powerful since, it does not play videos and does not have access to the internet.

Some general advantages of using wireless technologies in the classroom are that it motivates the students a lot. It breaks the monotony of a routine lecture class. Using WIFI would also help the teachers and students to access online resources whenever they need it. Students are excited about knowing and using a technology and learn more than being in a traditional classroom setting. As it interests students, they learn quicker. Students could teach among themselves. Using this type of handheld technologies in the classroom make the students work in groups and help each other. Students do not feel learning is something burdening, but they do enjoy learning. Use of wireless technologies also helps for the classroom management, since students are actively involved in learning to operate or learning the curriculum. It does not require a huge work station. Interestingly, it helps students develop self-esteem and confidence.

The use of wireless technology in the classroom changes the classroom atmosphere and the way the students communicate among themselves and to the teacher. As far as technology is concerned students learn quicker than teachers, so they do not completely rely on their teacher for every instruction. As far as I know, present classroom environment sometimes uses the wireless technology like ‘clickers’ to respond immediately to the questions being asked. In this way, it helps the teacher for immediate assessment of his/her instruction. Traditional classrooms were very boring, did not have any interesting technology used in their classroom, but present day and future students are very much exposed to this and get a variety of learning experiences.