September 2006 — Wireless/Mobile Computing
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Takin’ It to the Creeks
Handhelds with connected probes are excellent for the field because so much of the computing can take place on the spot while students are actively gathering the data—compared to the traditional scenario of collecting data, then connecting to a computer back in the classroom to analyze it.
FIELD TRIPPIN’
According to Michigan-based educational consultant Mike Curtis, to make a field trip such as a nature hike more effective, students can take turns using a handheld to take photos (if the device has an embedded camera, as some do; otherwise by using an attached camera), to write short observations, and to make sketches of what they observe.
One project Curtis worked on measured what was released into a chamber when certain materials were burned. Each student had a handheld, with a probe for every four of them. One student in each group used a handheld as a camera and took pictures; another used a handheld to collect data in Excel; a third student took notes on a handheld-based word processor; and the fourth used the probe. The students later shared data and wrote up their reports.
Water-quality studies using probes to measure the pH of local streams are a common use of mobile devices in the field, says Karen Fasimpaur, president of K12 Handhelds, which advises school districts on the uses of mobile technologies. Another possibility: using handhelds with small add-on cameras that connect through the device’s secure digital (SD) slot. Fasimpaur names Veo International and Taiwan-based Spectec Computer as two companies that offer these cameras.
Probes come with software that analyzes and displays the data as it’s gathered, right on the handheld screen. “They’re great for that,” says Fasimpaur. “Particularly if you contrast them to traditional data sensors, the handhelds have so much computing capability.”
“They stimulate conversation among students,” Doubek says. “The ability to beam and share really gets kids excited, because they’re sharing and talking about the data they’re collecting.”
Making the Right Purchase
Basic handhelds can be fairly inexpensive, with some monochrome-screen models selling for less than $50. A higher-end handheld that includes Bluetooth wireless connectivity might cost upwards of $200. Prices for probes vary hugely depending on what they do; each probe has a specific purpose. A simple probe for measuring temperature or pH might cost $15; a more complex device for measuring, say, dissolved oxygen might cost several hundred dollars. Even when each student has a handheld, all but the most basic probes can be—and typically are— shared. Companies that offer probes specifically for the education market include Pasco Scientific, Data Harvest Educational, Imagiworks (now part of Pasco), and Vernier Software and Technology.
