Surveys:

At the end of the school year surveys were administered to all 5-7^th grade students, parents, and teachers using handhelds.  Our administrator turned over the data analysis job to us.  Our findings from the surveys are listed below.

Handheld Survey Results Summary

Teacher Surveys:

       How effective were handhelds this year for STUDENTS in these

          areas?

·        Most results in this area were in an average (3-4) range.

          What problems most deterred you from integrating handhelds for

          students this year?

·        The areas that were noted as the biggest problems were technical difficulties and time to implement.  Management/ student behavior was noted as a concern on a few surveys.

          If given the choice, how strong would you want to consider utilizing

          handhelds in your classroom next year?

·        Rating 1 (lowest) – 3

·        Rating 2 – 1

·        Rating 3 – 3

·        Rating 4 – 4

·        Rating 5 – 5

          What successes did you notice with the program?

·        Motivation of students

·        Students using them for review

·        Notetaking/organization

          How many times or how frequently did you access or use PAAM?

          Student Use:

·        Never – 7

·        Few Times – 5

·        Monthly – 1

·        Weekly – 3

          Teacher Use:

·        Never – 7

·        Few Times – 4

·        Monthly – 1

·        Weekly – 2

          How valuable is PAAM for integration of handhelds in your classroom?

·        Rating 1 – 4

·        Rating 2 – 4

·        Rating 3 – 1

·        Rating 4 – 3

·        Rating 5 – 1

·        NA – 1

          What is/are your favorite handheld apps?

·        Quizzler

·        Sketchy

·        Summing

·        Calendar

·        Zotes

·        Spell-It

·        Free Write

·        Memo

·        Math Ace

·        Divisible

·        iKWL

·        PicoMap

·        Dictionary Maker

·        Idea Pad

·        Viewpoint

·        Note Pad

          As a teacher, what has/have been your biggest obstacle(s)?

·        Time to brainstorm different ways to integrate

·        Technical problems

·        Students not having a handheld to use

·        Time to use

·        Consistency of accountability between colleagues for expectations

·        Hot syncing problems with PAAM

          To continue to implement handheld integration next year, what MUST

          happen?

·        Be more consistent with palms in general

·        Continue to gather to share ideas and uses of the programs

·        Better tech support

·        More reliable handhelds (possibly 2-3 for back up)

·        A set of guidelines FOLLOWED by all grade level teachers

·        Communication between teachers about what apps to beam to students.

·        Students need to use them more

·        Students need to be able to take them home

·        More money

·        More time

·        Students need to know the basics

          What suggestions for changes to the program in the following areas?

          Student Management:

·        Unity between all grade levels

·        Let 7^th graders take them home

·        Changing contracts so students who lose the privilege of taking Palm home can still use them in the classroom.

·        One set of rules that all teachers understand and will enforce

·        Follow through and consistency

·        System of accountability for misuse

·        Allow them to be sent home

·        Train students in proper use and care of the palm

·        Students don’t need them

          Teacher Training

·        Excellent

·        PAAM, Docs to Go

·        More time to plan lessons to integrate handhelds

·        Allow days to learn at a slower pace and learn a couple things well instead of many things quickly

·        Good training sessions

·        Lot to learn in a short time.  Maybe more time to work with people in our building on ideas and programs.  It seemed the 5^th and 6^th grade teachers worked on this a lot while 7^th grade was more of an after thought.

·        We’ve had plenty.

·        Excessive training in the programs one will actually use

·        Train me in different learning strategies, where it will be helpful to the school, students, and teacher

          Tech support:

·        We don’t get palms back if they are taken for service.

·        I think having Katie M. will be a great help!????

·        Wish I knew, I don’t know, I’m not sure, ??

·        Someone on call that can help in short notice

·        Computer compatibility

·        Good

          Hardware/Software (Purchasing):

·        GPS on teacher palms to use for science activities.

·        Make sure it is user friendly

·        A few things done well instead of a vast amount touched on

·        Sell them

          If training was offered this summer, would you be interested in

          attending?

·        Yes – 5

·        No – 3

·        Maybe – 6

Parent Surveys:

• In general, the surveys that came from 7^th grade students and St. Mary’s students included comments about not being able to take the palms home or that the parents did not know a lot about how they helped students because they didn’t get to bring them home.
• Many of the 5^th grade parents mentioned about more motivation, making learning fun, good to expose students to current technology.
• Homework habits did not change a lot, except that sometimes students did their homework more readily if it was on the palm.  Sometimes, due to problems, it was more difficult to do homework on the palms.
• Very few parents have handhelds and/or plan to purchase them.

Student Surveys:

• Very few students own a handheld, but a majority would like to have one.

• Many students liked the Sketchy app.
• Many 6^th and 7^th graders like them for the games.
• 7^th graders like the Quizzler reviews
• Very few students felt that handheld computers improved their homework habits and study skills

5A Student Responses

n            “My favorite way to use the handheld computer is with the keyboard, because it feels like you’re on a real computer.” ~Kelli

n            “Math Ace helped me learn my division skills better.” ~Stephanie

n            “Sometimes if we had an assignment, then I would be more eager to get it done.” ~Michaela

n            “ I love using it by using it for homework.” ~Lizzie

n            “TimerMFacts helped me get better at Math.” ~Emily

n            “Beaming helps you communicate faster.” ~Michaela

n            “I think having a handheld helped my homework habits and study skills because in Quizzler we had to practice vocab and if we didn’t I wouldn’t because I have a book and it is much more fun on a Palm.” ~Alyssa

n            “I think it’s great that the kids gain the knowledge and experience using handhelds. This will serve them well and keep them current with today’s technologies.”  ~Parent