I recently found an article that discussed the benefits and new found popularity of using Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's) in the classroom. PDA's, which range in price from $100-$500 are starting to be integrated into college classrooms across the country. Some of the main features of PDA's are that they can be used for storing phone numbers and addresses, checking email, keeping schedules, and playing games. Now, PDA's are becoming more and more useful for classroom use because of their new, expansive features. New technological features such as miniature keyboards can turn your PDA into a miniature word processor. Other features include wireless modems that can connect you to most college networks, and infrared ports that allow for shared data from one PDA to another. Use of PDA's on medical school campuses is much more widespread than regular college campuses due to the incredible availability of medical software. However, many major univerisities have started to use PDA's in their classrooms and I think that the trend is just beginning.
http://chronicle.com/free/v49/i07/07a03301.htm
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I think that PDAs are definitely going to be seen more in classrooms within the next couple of years. Since PDAs are now able to do many of the same things that computers can in less than half the size, they seem to be a very beneficial tool. I have never personally heard of PDAs use in the classroom until now, but I find it a very interesting topic. I think it's interesting that they are used in medical schools, but it seems appropriate since PDAs are so small to carry around and can hold so much information. I always though of PDAs as tools to hold phone numbers and addresses, but now I can see that they are a good educational tool that I may even use in my own classroom one day.
-- Janine Navarra
I think PDAs are a great new technological resource. Besides all the features that can be purchased like word processing, connection to the internet, games, and many other things, they are easily accessible due to there small size and they are much cheaper that laptops and other computers. Also, there great mobility makes them easy for teachers to use in the classroom. As time goes by, I think PDAs will become more popular especially in the classroom.
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