| Instructional Strategy | Blueprints | |
| Instructor's Guide | Resources | Lessons |
| Executive Summary | Handheld computers are now being distributed in schools throughout the nation. With this new form of technology comes a need for administrators to be proficient and to understand the benefits of a handheld computer. It is appealing to administrators to be able to carry in a pocket an entire schools worth of information...from custodian staff contact information to student contact and schedule information. In addition, administrators are able to reliably schedule appointments with parents through their handheld computer. Administrators are encouraged to set an example for their students and apply higher level thinking skills in learning ways to incorporate this newest technology. |
| Introduction | Handheld computers have become popular in schools due to their small, mobile nature. Administrators can take advantage of this technology and demonstrate this opportunity to their students. Administrators can set the tone for motivating students to be proficient and motivate a new learning environment. |
| Background | Handheld computers offer opportunity for administrators to demonstrate new uses for technology as well as having information available at their fingertips. Adinistrators have been found to have a need to manage daily contact and scheduling information. Due to the small size of a handheld computer, administrators are excited to have the opportunity to carry large quantities of student and personal information in such small device. |
| Audience | Students are adult learners, predominately at the administrative and mid-management level. All learners have prior experience at least at the beginning level of computer use and are familiar with e-mail, contacts and appointments using personal management software. Learners are expected to have found a need to maintain management information while they are on the go and are motivated to learn how to utilize a handheld computer to their advantage. Participants will see advantages to sharing appointments via beaming as well as composing email during meetings, having contact information available in their handheld and being able to compose documents such as Word or Excel without lugging around a laptop computer. |
| Goals and Objectives | Use Palm handheld computer for personal management skills using calendaring. Administrators will be able to traverse the basic Palm handheld computer appointment application. Administrators will be able to communicate appointments with other administrators by beaming. Handheld computers will have already setup synchronization software for use between computer and handheld. Basic entry level skills using a computer based personal management program, such as Outlook or Lotus Notes, will be tested prior to training. Initial synchronization will have already taken place. |
| By the end of the lesson: |
Administrators will have created a new appointment. Administrators will have edited an appointment. Administrators will have deleted an appointment. Administrators will have beamed an appointment to another administrator. Administrators will have performed a synchronization between the handheld computer and their desktop computer. |
University of Texas at Brownsville Fall 2002
Susan Quinn © 2002