December 2001 — Applications
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Leveraging Handheld Technology in the Classroom
How the System Works
The system we are using is based on a PDA developed by Scantron in cooperation with Palm. Each classroom gets a portable scanner, software and handheld devices for each student. The PDAs are kept in the classroom and are used only for quizzes. All other applications are inactive. This is how the system works:
- Step One. Using the PDA, students input their ID, quiz ID and the version of the quiz. They then beam this information to the computer.
- Step Two. Once the information is beamed, the computer generates a quiz form for students, who then input multiple-choice and true/false answers. Students also have the option of entering short answer, fill-in-the-blank or essay questions. Once they have double-checked their work, students beam their answers back to the computer.
- Step Three. The computer instantaneously tabulates the results back to the students and teacher, allowing for on-the-spot feedback and progress.
At the end of class, the students turn in their PDAs until the next time.
The time I normally spend on data entry and grading has been significantly reduced, allowing more time for analysis, adjustment and the ability to focus on students who need more help. I can also use the feedback to determine whether the lessons I'm delivering are at the optimal level for the most number of students. I can run instant reports indicating raw percentage scores that can be immediately analyzed through a number of methods, including mean, median and standard deviation; item analysis; point-by-serial; and most-missed question. Then, I can export results to my gradebook system or a text file. I can even copy quizzes from course to course, and tag those to be retaken by students.
As a teacher, it's gratifying to see my students desire to perform at a higher level. The bottom line is, nobody gets left behind, the kids really think it's fun, and when it's time for standardized tests, they're better equipped to score well.
Barbara Hudgins
University High School
Irvine, CA
bhudgins@iusd.k12.ca.us
Contact Information
Scantron Corp.
Tustin, CA
(800) 722-6876
www.classroomwizard.com
