How to introduce the Palm to students

A typical sequence for in class-training

Before passing out Palms:

• Introduce handhelds by name
• Stylus
• Power on/off
• Navigation into apps and back to home
• Explain the “hard” buttons, “soft” buttons, and graffiti pad (parts of the Palm)
• Explain how work is saved internally even when they go home, unlike a desktop computer

CONTRACTS:

·        Go over rules and responsibilities of use

·        Stress basic care of the handhelds—“treat it like a $200 egg” is a phrase we refer to a lot!

·        Students agree to their part of the contract and understand the consequences for misuse.

·        Handheld name goes on contracts

Putting power in the palm of their hands!

• If never turned on before, students will need to digitize and set the date of their handheld.  If it is already past that screen, it is a good idea to do it again anyway:

·        Scroll down to Prefs,

·        Tap on Digitizer or Touchscreen and align the screen

·        Tap on Date and Time and set them  (Chicago or any city in Central Standard Time will work)

• NOTEPAD
• Create a new note
• Beam it to a partner (Drop-down menu, beam note)
• Switch back to your note and beam it
• CONTACTS/ADDRESS BOOK
• New Contact
• Enter information with the on-screen keyboard
• Make it your personal business card (Drop-Down menu, “Select Business Card”
• Beam your business card to others by pressing and holding down the “Contacts” hard button
• MEMO PAD or TASKS (to introduce graffiti)
• Practice writing the alphabet using graffiti strokes—teach each letter and capitals and numbers
• GIRAFFE
• Only have 10 “crashes”
• Show them how to access Help
• Let them go! 
• Post highest scores
• Now, choose your favorite application and use it to learn/teach content!

Websites to remember:

Mr. Vincent’s “Learning in Hand”

http://learninginhand.com

O’Neill Public School’s “Handling Handhelds”

http://www.esu8.org/~oneill/km/handhelds/