The three common types of handheld computers being used in schools are: Pocket PCs, Palm Handhelds, and iPods. These diminutive computers have plenty of memory to hold software applications, electronic texts, various documents, audio, and video. In fact, all three of these kinds of devices can play podcasts. Podcasts are audio or video on the web that can be automatically downloaded, ready to sync to a mobile device. There are thousands of podcasts freely available and they are organized in several different directories on the Web.

Educators are equipping themselves with handheld computers to keep track of their calendars, address books, and tasks. Administrators are using software to guide them through classroom observations, locate student schedules, and to record parent meetings. Teachers are using handhelds for lesson planning, keeping organized, inputting grades, tracking student behavior, and assessing performance.
Handheld computers are a way to achieve a one to one computer to student ratio. Keep in mind, handheld computers won't completely replace desktop and laptop computers. The screens are too small and their processing power is limited. However, some handhelds can be outfitted with an add-on keyboards for text entry. Instead of taking up valuable time in the computer lab, handheld-using students can word process right at their desks, freeing the lab computers for more complex uses. Likewise, instead of using large, expensive computers to practice math facts, elementary students can cozy up in the corner of the classroom with a handheld and practice their multiplication tables.

Handhelds tend to be simple to operate, allowing students to focus on their task, not the technology. For example, think of typing a paragraph using Microsoft Word. You have an overwhelming number of menus, palettes, and options. Writing a paragraph can quickly become complicated. Not so on a handheld. With limited functionality, the user focuses on the text he or she is writing, not the bells and whistles. Cathie Norris, Educational Technology Professor from the University of North Texas, calls the extra options on desktop and laptop computers “excess functionality.” She says, “We have to pay for excessive functionality. What we need for students is task-appropriate technology…for students, what we are looking for is the simplest device to accomplish the tasks they need.” In many cases, the simplest device is a handheld.

Unlike the original Palm Pilot from 1996, handhelds are no longer just electronic organizers. Palm and Pocket PC handhelds are fully functional computers that can run a variety of software applications. With over 30,000 applications for the Palm Operating System and over 20,000 for Pocket PCs, there are so many things a handheld computer can do! Classrooms around the world are using tiny computers to work more efficiently, motivate students, and to improve achievement.

learninginhand.com is a resource for educators who use handhelds or are interested in what handhelds can do. You'll see that handhelds are small computers that can do big things for learning!