Creating a Professional Development Program to Support a Handheld Computing Initiative

摘要

Indiana State University is providing handheld computers to every faculty member in its School of Education. What started as a small pilot program a year ago has grown into a project that is challenging the way faculty are thinking about technology and its application in the teaching and learning process. In addition, a substantial pool of handheld computers has been created for faculty to use with students in the classroom, Recognizing that a strong professional development program was needed to support the handheld computing initiative was instrumental to the initiative's success. This paper centers on the professional development program that was created to support the initiative's efforts. Initial distribution of the handheld computers took place at departmental meetings. A basic overview of the handheld computer was given at that time. Seven different workshops are continually offered as well as one-on-one training opportunities. Once a month, a brown bag lunch and handheld computer brainstorming and idea exchanging session is held with interested faculty and students. In addition, guest speakers have been brought to campus to speak on issues related to handheld computing.