Projects - Palm Network Research

Knowing and Learning Research

Spring 2002 - Fall 2002 - Spring 2003

The driving factor for research and development in this course has been addressing content delivery. Students who have ready computer access can keep up to date with class information via a website or correspond through email. However, this material is only available when the student is sitting at an Internet-connected computer. Through the use of PDA technology, our group provides critical class information in an electronic format that stays with the student wherever they take their handheld device.

This includes such data as the class calendar, upcoming assignments, syllabus and other general course announcements. We have also successfully created a "daily digest" feature, which provides students with articles about current events in education related to the course material. Currently we are experimenting with "Personal Responders". These small applications allow a professor to create a series of questions for students, which can then be collated and analyzed. Responders can be used to spark class discussion, or even serve as formative or summative assement.

The software technology supporting this system is built upon the synchronization capabilities of AvantGo (TM). Please contact us if you have questions about our work in this area.