Using PDA's in a primary school

[Jobos]

Is anyone using PDA's in a primary school and if so what are you using them for? HT wants to buy 10 but I can't think of any useful purpose for this age of students

[LeMarchand]

One of mine used them for data logging and note-taking on field trips, but they ended up shoved at the back of a cupboard as none of the teachers wanted to learn how to use them. Some places use them for registration/SIMS.

 

It does sound as if someone has been at a meeting where their use was praised and wants some without a clear idea of how they will be used...

[Jobos]

One of mine used them for data logging and note-taking on field trips, but they ended up shoved at the back of a cupboard as none of the teachers wanted to learn how to use them. Some places use them for registration/SIMS.

 

It does sound as if someone has been at a meeting where their use was praised and wants some without a clear idea of how they will be used...

 

My personal PDA came with a few office apps but they are nowhere near as good as a laptop. Waste of £3000 if you ask me.

[localzuk]

He's wanting to buy a solution to a problem that doesn't exist...

 

Maybe you should ask him what the purpose of them is, and work from there? Mini laptops would be a more sensible purchase.

 

I use a smartphone (PDA with a built in phone bit really aren't they?), and it is brilliant for me - but I could list the number of people in the school who would want or use the same functionality on one hand.

[ryxin]

I never used PDA phone's ever sinced, i just normally used Nokia. I am quite die hard on Nokia phones. LOLz. by the way those PDA users, how does that phone works? is it nice?

[LeMarchand]

by the way those PDA users, how does that phone works? is it nice?

 

Mines getting on a bit (time to wangle an upgrade soon), but I love my HTC Touch. It's a bit underpowered by today's standards, but it plays music and videos, browses the net, syncs perfectly with Outlook, and has a huge range of useful and free software available. The phone is probably the bit I use least, but I've got no complaints about it (apart from T Mobile's patchy coverage in some places): swipe my finger up to select one of my main contacts (or browse the contacts for others) or use voice dial. On the rare occasions that I text it's pretty easy, especially since I installed a better-configured software keyboard.

[enjay]

Maybe you should ask him what the purpose of them is, and work from there?

 

My thoughts entirely - sounds like he's been at a meeting or read something and thought it sounded good. Alternatively, he has a genuine need in mind, to which PDAs might not be the solution, and you'd be better with Netbooks or something.

[studentdocumentor]

Hi using PDAs can be very useful for Foundation stage to help teachers gather evidence for the EYFS profile. Its all backed up on a database on the the teachers laptop so its really good for storing data. Edited September 17, 2009 by plexer
advertising removed.

[enjay]

Hi using PDAs can be very useful for Foundation stage to help teachers gather evidence for the EYFS profile.

 

True, but... Unless the PDA can run EyeProfile or equivalent software, the teacher is still going to need to sit down at a regular computer and "type up" the findings from the PDA, so how would it be better than a block of Post-Its?

[mossj]

I have a PDAphone (G1)...

 

I use it for email/twinned office phone/VNC/IP Cameras

 

I imagine staff would find it useful for email but nothing else.....

[studentdocumentor]

 

Dos_Box

 

 

Please read the AUP!!

Edited September 17, 2009 by Dos_Box

[Jobos]

I think I've managed to talk the HT out of the pda's but it looks like I'm stuck with setting up 45 netbooks

[protonrules]

lol, why buy a PDA for the sake of it?