Teaching in the Palm of Your Hand

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Teaching in the Palm of Your Hand

• Carla Hurchalla Coordinator of Technology
  Professional Development
• Dr. Regina Royer Professor, Salisbury
  University
• Cherie Skeeter 5th Grade Classroom Teacher
• Salisbury, Maryland

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Grant Initiative

• Enhancing Education Through Technology
• Three year competitive grant from Maryland State
  Department of Education
• Year Three Participants served
• 100 administrators
• 70 teachers
• 1750 public school students
• 75 private school students

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• Background
• Wicomico Countys median income - 39,035
• State median income - 52,858
• Wicomico Countys student to computer ratio
  101
• State goal 51

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• Handheld Program
• NCLB Challenges
• More Access for Students
• Data Driven Decision Making
• Improved Reading and Math Instruction

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• Three Year Program
• Year 1
• 60 teachers instructed simultaneously
• Handheld Basics
• Additional Software
• Using Rubrics
• Opportunities for Improvement
• Not enough individualized instruction
• Too much information at one time
• Not enough direction for improving reading
  instruction by using data driven decision making

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• Year 2
• 6-10 teachers instructed by a person who
  completed the course the previous year
• 6 different sessions
• Sessions held in strategic locations
• Sessions lasting no longer than 3 hours each
• Handheld Basics
• Advanced Applications
• Improving Reading Instruction
• Data Driven Decision Making

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Opportunities for Improvement

• Needs of secondary and elementary teachers are
  different
• Structured reading activities
• Central location

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• Year 3
• Small classes separated into secondary and
  elementary groups
• 6 sessions lasting no longer than 3 hours
• Sessions held in central location
• Handheld Basics
• Advanced Applications
• Writing and Analyzing Brief Constructed Responses
• Data Driven Decision Making

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Data Driven Instruction

• Tracking Student Growth
• Comparing Grades
• Lesson Development
• Student Grouping Needs
• Differentiated Instruction

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Into the Students Hands
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Into Our 2nd Year

• Increased interest in writing
• Increased quality
• Increased student focus

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• Higher level of confidence
• Better grades
• Greater responsibility

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A Partnership is Formed

• 5th Grade Working with 2nd Grade

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Student Mentors

• 5th graders teaching 2nd graders Palm basics
• Equipped with a checklist
• Shared their favorite feature
• Accepted accountability

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Palm Pal Program Initiated
Dear Palm Pal, My name is DeRosia and I am
having a wonderful day. How about you? What is
your name? What is your favorite thing about the
palm?
Your Palm Pal,
DeRosia P.
Dear Palm Pal,

Yes I am having a good day. My name is
Wyatt. My favorite thing about the palm is that
it has a lot of stuff.
Your Palm Pal, Wyatt
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Writing Partnership

• Working together to
• Brainstorm
• Create Graphic Organizer with Inspiration
• Write paragraphs with Free Write

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Future Reading Buddies

• Working to develop a partnership using E-Book
• Read book together
• Complete comprehension activities
• Joint book reports
• Present completed project

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A Look at the Students In Action
Click to view a movie.
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Into the Hands of Student Interns

• Paired with Mentor Teachers Who Take Course
• Preparing for the Future in Classroom Use
• Using Same Grading Program
• Used to Guide Continued Instructional Decisions
• Developing Confidence

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Evaluation Tools

• Pre/post survey for attitudes
• Post self report for skills
• Follow- up interviews

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Evaluation Findings for Administrator Attitudes
and Skills

• They can Do it Well or Teach Others (n100)
• Use the date book 85
• Use the address book 81
• Use Docs to Go 59
• 95 responded True Using the handheld computer
  has made me more efficient and effective in my
  current job position.

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Evaluation Findings for Administrator Uses

• Top Ten most prevalent uses
• 10. Planning professional development 44
• 9. Recording data for support personnel 44
• 8. Modeling effective use of handhelds 44
• 7. Recording data for teacher observations
  47
• 6. Exchanging files from home and school 58
• 5. Storing and accessing state standards 58
• 4. Accessing faculty contact information 67
• 3. Exchanging information with colleagues 75
  
• 2. Recording minutes at meetings 84
• 1. Tracking appointments 94

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Administrators Speak Out Standards

• The ability to have the state standards in my
  database in a portable, convenient form has been
  invaluable. It has given me the opportunity to
  read the entire wording of the standard and be
  sure the instruction I am observing actually
  matches the intent of the standard.

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Administrators Speak Out Observations

• The most useful way I have implemented my
  handheld was through teacher observations. I
  could type quickly and then take the handheld
  home and download it to my computer. It was time
  saving and I could get much more information
  down. I also was able to take pictures of
  students working during the observation or
  interesting displays that enrich the lesson.

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Administrators Speak Out Student Information

• I have used the database for keeping track of
  student locker assignments and locker
  combinations. In the beginning of the year this
  is very helpful because I do not have to go back
  to the computer to retrieve that information. It
  can be done on the spot.

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Evaluation Findings for Teacher Skills

• They can Do it Well or Teach Others (n70)
• Use GradeQuick 74
• Organize student information 77
• Envision how handhelds can empower teachers 77
• Record observations and assessment scores 83

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Teachers Speak Out Organization

• The handheld computer aided very much in the
  organization of my teaching. It allowed me to
  keep track of approaching deadlines and
  appointments as well as arrange tutoring sessions
  with my students. I used the handheld to keep
  reminder notes to meet my students needs. I
  also used it to take notes during meetings and
  in-service sessions.

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Teachers Speak Out Assessment

• Handhelds help me.
• Make better decisions
• Collect data and see results more quickly
• Have greater access to student academic data
• More easily see strengths and weaknesses of my
  students
• Collecting data is a great way to make
  improvements in my own teaching and to see what I
  can do to help my students improve.

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Lessons Learned

• Smaller group training for teachers (6) resulted
  in more effective skill acquisition
• Teachers need professional development
  specifically in using handhelds to gather and
  analyze data to inform instruction
• Elementary and secondary teachers require
  differentiated instruction
• Elementary using the scoring tool
• Secondary writing the assessment

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Lessons Learned

• Class sets of Palms should remain with one
  teacher to minimize management issues
• Shift from Learner Profile to GradeQuick resulted
  in less need for technical support

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For More Information

• To learn more about Palms in Wicomico County
  Schools visit our website
• http//www.wcboe.org/programs/oit/Palm.htm