--> Cedarville University HCP Description

Cedarville University

http://www.cedarville.edu/departments/hcp/projectdescription.htm

Handheld Computing Project Description


Throughout the 2000-2001 academic year, Cedarville's Technology Planning Committee noted the rapid growth in the use of handheld devices within the corporate environment. Devices such as Palm "personal digital assistants" and WindowsCE "pocket PCs" are being used for a wide variety of business functions. The devices offer cost and size advantages when compared with traditional notebook computers, making them attractive to a mobile workforce. This popularity raises some natural questions:

  • Can such devices be used beneficially in an educational environment?
  • Do the benefits of the devices outweigh the costs?

Cedarville University is conducting pilot projects during the 2001-2002 academic year to research these questions. Selected faculty members in liberal arts and business will utilize handheld computers and portable electronic-book readers to enhance the educational experience of their students. Several staff members will also be involved in the pilot projects.

Liberal arts faculty will utilize electronic copies of classic literature and reference works rather than relying on hard-copy texts. Aspects of use which will be explored include:

  1. Suitability of the handheld medium for reading during in-class discussion
  2. Suitability of the handheld medium for extended reading out-of-class (i.e., homework assignments)
  3. Value of electronic search tools, thesauri, and dictionaries during in-class discussion
  4. Use of supplementary material "downloaded" to the student devices
  5. Value of distributing class materials (syllabi, assignments, etc.) in a portable electronic format

Business faculty will use handheld devices based on the Window CE operating system. Aspects of use which will be explored include:

  1. Benefits of using handheld devices to provide additional interactivity during class (e.g., performing short "what if" exercises as part of class discussion)
  2. Suitability of the "pocket" versions of Microsoft Word and Excel for business-class assignments
  3. Transferring case studies to the student devices
  4. Value of distributing class materials (syllabi, assignments, etc.) in a portable electronic format

Faculty and staff members will also be evaluating other uses of the handheld devices:

  1. Interfacing with Groupwise calendar, email, and contacts
  2. Sharing working documents for committee projects
  3. Use of reference works in electronic format