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Press Release
Texas Schools Stay on Cutting Edge of Technology With Thousands of palmOne Handheld Computers for Administration, Assessment and Curriculum
MILPITAS, Calif., May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With thousands of handheld computers in K-12 schools, Texas continues its cutting-edge implementation of technology in education, and serves as an icon to other states, palmOne, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLMO) said today.
"As an early adopter of computer technology in education, Texas is keenly aware of its benefits to teaching, learning and administration," said Mike Lorion, vice president of vertical markets at palmOne. "Its schools were among the first to use handhelds in large school districts, and today it continues to break new ground using handhelds for reading assessment in schools throughout the state."
Some 900 schools are using a handheld-to-web version of the state-recommended Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI), an assessment tool used by classroom teachers to obtain an accurate picture of the reading development of students in kindergarten through second grade. The handheld version, mCLASS(TM):TPRI(R), was developed by Wireless Generation, a leading provider of handheld software for K-12 observational assessment, in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency; the University of Texas Center for Academic and Reading Skills; and the Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics. Performing a HotSync(R) operation moves all of the progress data to a secure website where teachers and administrators can view and analyze reports, and find instructional planning tools for translating data into appropriate teaching strategies.
Some of the state's largest independent school districts (ISD) have set new standards for the use of the mobile TPRI; others are aggressively moving handhelds into teaching, learning and administration. Here's a look at two.
San Antonio ISD Uses Mobile TPRI, Launches Administrator Academy
"mCLASS, the handheld version of TPRI, is among the most important tools for teachers and learning specialists, especially in the early grades," said Miguel Guhlin, director of instructional technology for San Antonio ISD.
With more than 900 palmOne(TM) handhelds used to administer the handheld-to-web software, mCLASS:TPRI is now used in 64 of the district's 94 schools.
"Paper is not an option," said Guhlin. "In the beginning, some teachers didn't want to change, but after training they found out how easy it is to administer the test and how much time it saves. Now, no one is complaining."
The biggest benefit, according to Guhlin, is immediate feedback. With mCLASS:TPRI, teachers, reading specialists, campus instructional coordinators and administrators get valuable information about students immediately. They use it to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, spot trends, direct instruction and aggregate data for reports.
The district also is fine-tuning its professional development program using Tungsten(TM) C handhelds from palmOne with built-in 802.11 (or Wi-Fi) capabilities, which are central to Guhlin's long-term vision.(1)
"My goal is to have wireless on all campuses in three years," he said. "We want to use mobile wireless carts and begin to use the handhelds in other areas of the curriculum."
The first wireless handhelds are targeted toward administrators through the district's new Data Driven Administrator Academy. The pilot program is aimed at assistant principals who conduct teacher appraisals and work with student data. Using ePrincipal(TM) from Media-X Systems, they have instant access to attendance, grades, schedules and demographics. The district also uses mVal(TM) to help complete criteria-based performance appraisals of staff. eWalk(TM) is used to quickly design walk-through templates and collect information on the handhelds. The wireless connection lets them keep in touch with their offices and communicate with colleagues using Outlook email.(2)
Allen ISD Helps 50 School Districts Integrate Handhelds into Classrooms
Attendees of last year's summer institute to help administrators and teachers learn how to integrate technology into their classrooms didn't receive traditional paper packets with class materials and an agenda. Instead, the week-long Key Instructional Design Strategies Institute (KIDS) was conducted for the first time using handhelds. Each participant was given a Zire(TM) 71 handheld from palmOne to keep, and teachers went home with classroom sets of Zire 71 handhelds, Tungsten E handhelds and other Palm Powered(TM) devices.
For four years, Allen ISD, a suburban district in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, has used its Technology Innovation Challenge Grant to help more than 350 administrators and teachers from 50 disadvantaged districts across the state learn to integrate handhelds into math, science, social studies, language arts and administrative duties.
"We wanted to address the equity issue," said Bill Adkins, director of the KIDS Grant. "Our district is considered to have many resources, and we decided to take what we have learned about technology integration and train other districts that don't have the resources."
KIDS is a researched-based model of instruction designed to express the best in teaching practices combined with the power of integrated technologies, with evaluations conducted by the Institute for Integration of Technology into Teaching and Learning at the University of North Texas.
KIDS and Allen ISD's leadership in technology integration is based on experience. The district integrated handhelds in its curriculum this year after using them extensively since 2002 to administer the TPRI using Wireless Generation's software. "What started as a small project now includes 58 kindergartens, representing 900 students. The district plans to add first grade next year."
"Wireless Generation's TPRI software replaces cumbersome pamphlets, files and reports required to administer, score and report test results," said Adkins. "The handheld version saves teachers time and enables them to have more eye contact with students while giving the tests and visually see how the student is doing."
Before the district started using handhelds, kindergarten teachers typically set aside two or three days a semester to meet with students to complete testing forms and manually administer the test. The process took an average of 30-45 minutes for each student.
"Considering that most kindergarten classes have 18 to 22 students per class and teachers have two classes -- a morning and an afternoon class -- it's quite time-consuming," said Adkins. "Now TPRI assessment takes an average of only 15 minutes per child. It's literally cut the time in half."
More information on Allen ISD is available at www.allenisd.org.
More information on San Antonio ISD is available at www.saisd.net.
About palmOne, Inc.
palmOne, Inc. delivers what matters most to customers -- whether a single consumer or company of thousands -- enabling users to improve their personal lives and professional productivity through mobile devices and solutions.
palmOne is the name adopted in October 2003 by Palm, Inc., when it spun off PalmSource, Inc., maker of the Palm OS(R) platform software, and acquired Handspring, Inc. Uniting the Zire(TM), Tungsten(TM) and Treo(TM) subbrands, the creation of palmOne launched a new, stronger market leader in handheld computer and communications hardware and software solutions.
More information about palmOne, Inc. is available at http://www.palmOne.com.
(1) The Tungsten C handheld from palmOne is usable only on campuses that have an installed Wi-Fi network, which may or may not provide Internet access. The FCC offers free unlicensed radio spectrum for short-range wireless communications by individuals, schools, hospitals and libraries.
(2) Email account required, not included.
Broadcast Video and Other palmOne Materials
Broadcast video and other materials are available online from palmOne's Multimedia Library ( http://www.thenewsmarket.com/Palm/Registration/Login.aspx ). Press can register at the site, which is hosted by The NewsMarket (thenewsmarket.com), a web-based news and video archive, to browse and preview an extensive content library and order footage directly from their desktops. Registration and ordering on the site is free.
NOTE: Palm OS, palmOne, Treo, Zire, Tungsten and HotSync are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to palmOne, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.
SOURCE palmOne, Inc.
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