Selection Synergy PDAs Digital Imaging Portable Keyboard Other Devices Teacher Tap Links Handheld Device Selection   There are many handheld devices available. Before you purchase, determine your needs. Consider how many students you have and how the equipment will be used.   Each teaching and learning environment is different, pick activities that will benefit your classroom the most! Ask yourself about your teaching & learning environment:   Need What hardware, software, and peripherals do you currently have available? How do you use these resources? What are the constraints or barriers to using these resources? What tools and resources do you need to fill the gaps? Are you better off with multiple tools or a single tool with many components? PDA with attachments or separate camera, GPS, audio recorder Learning Outcomes What are the essential questions your students will be addressing? What tools will help your students address these questions? What activities will your students be doing: write, read, calculate, organize, graph, map, visualize, record, practice, translate, etc. What learning style areas need particular focus for this activity? text, audio, visual, motion How will a device help you and your students do better work?   Ask yourself questions about specific devices:   Ease of Use Is it easy to learn to use the device and teach it to others? Is it easy to set-up, use, and share the data from the device? Connectivity How will this device work with my other devices and computers? Will it connect directly to my computer or printer? Will software need to be installed to use it with other devices? Will I need cables or is the device wireless such as infrared? Does this device connect to particular hardware (Mac/PC) or software (Word)? Does this tool promote collaboration and sharing such as beaming? Software Options What options are available for adding software components? Is this software compatible with software you already use? Expandability Can memory, storage space, modules, or other expansions be added later? What ports or options are available for connecting to other devices? Can components such as attachments be shared among different devices? Durability Is this device durable enough to use with the students? What's the expected lifetime of the device? How soon will it need to be replaced? Electrical Requirements Does the device use standard or rechargeable batteries? Is this a problem? Does the device have accessories or requirements for recharging? Does the device require a power outlet? Price Do the benefits justify the price? How much will the device cost with all hardware, software, and accessories? How many devices do I need to do the work and what is the total cost? How does the price compare to alternative devices with similar capabilities? Selection | Synergy | PDAs | Digital Imaging | Portable Keyboard | Other Devices | Teacher Tap Links | Eduscapes Graphic courtesy of Handspring - http://handspring.com Created by Annette Lamb, 05/02.