The Handheld Classroom: Educational Implications of Mobile Computing

Advances in handheld computing technology have meant that Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are no longer simply electronic replacements for paper diaries, with current models capable of performing a wide range of functions. Such increased functionality has seen the rapid adoption of handhelds in the corporate sector, but it is perhaps in education that this technology may have the greatest impact. Our paper explored the use of handheld computers in a variety of educational contexts. The first part of the paper provides an overview of some of the recent research that has been done in this area, and identifies several key projects. The second section looks at the educational issues raised by these projects, and argues that, as with any educational technology, careful consideration must be given to student needs before any hardware or software can be introduced. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of potential future uses of handhelds in the classroom, focusing particularly on the possibilities created by new wireless standards.