Reflections on Handhelds in Education: I could use a little Calm Technology! (project)

Mobile technology was such a foreign topic for me before this class. We won't even begin to talk about ubiquitous computing! Now, it seems that it is all so obvious. This is not only the future of our society, but certainly the future of education. If we want our students to perform "on the same level" as the rest of the world, then we must make them as aware and as comfortable with the technology.

The late Mark Wieser, know as the father of ubiquitous computing, also uses the term "calm technology". (www.ubiq.com/weiser/) I like this because it implies that there is no stress involved, and that the actions are natural. This 'third paradigm' is the idea that the technology is so much a port of our lives and routines, that we barely give it any notice. Computing and technology become as natural to us as a microwave or a cell phone. This is the way technology must become if our students and our teachers are to succeed with it.

One of the biggest problems with technology is the inequitable availability to our students. We, as educators and school leaders, must level this playing field. The Concord Consortium is working to reach just that goal. Andy Zucker of the Consortium states that "Provding computers to all students also equalizes access to these tools for families of different economic backgrounds."www.concord.org/publications. Many states have already put programs in place to try to achieve a one-to-one ratio with students and technology. Many of these programs have reported an increase in student engagement, independence and performance. Technology also offers an amazing number of opportunites to special education students that simpy were not there before.

There is an entire research group at the University of Maryland, Baltimore http://ebiquity.umbc.edu/ dedicated to devleoping just the kinds of technolgy that is needed to make our classrooms ubiquitous. One of their recent projects is something called the mNote - "a wireless mobile multimedia appliance, a next generation educational tool-kit, combining the traditional chalk-and-board teaching method with the latest wireless ad hoc network technology and multimedia processing capabilities. " This device allows the instructor/student to integrate lecture notes, slide presentations, student comments and instructor's handwritten notes as well as other processes. This technology also uses an idea called context-aware computing, in other words, it recognizes its context, or surroundings and adapts appropriately. Wow!

One way that many states are working to achieve one-to-one computing is through handheld computers. They are less expensive, take up less space, and there is an abundance of available software. One of the best things is that they are portable. They can be used outside of the classroom, and even taken home for independent work. Tony Vincent of www.learninginhand.com says that "Classrooms all over the world are using handhelds for teaching and learning because of their low cost, portability, ease-of-use, and great software." A Chicago-based company, TanCher, is working on designing a new handhelds just for students. ( http://www.technewsworld.com/story/40471.html ) It will have a "built in peer-to-peer network that will not require the Internet for users to stay connected." However, it will also be fully Internet capable as well. This kind of investment only goes to prove that mobile technology strictly for education is here and actully, moving forward. If we do not want to be left behind, we better get on board!

Other sources on the Future of Mobile Technology: