Six Reasons Why Administrators Should Use PDA’s and Cell Phones:

Scheduling

As any administrator will surely tell you, they are busy people! Whether they are bustling from meeting to meeting, state-to-state, or roaming the hallways of various schools within their districts, they must meticulously and strategically plan and track their schedules. For this reason, PDA’s and Smart phone technologies often become an administrator’s best friend! All handhelds and Smartphones come equipped with an easy-to-use calendar, a contact (address book), and to-do list applications. In addition, most if not all of these have built-in alert systems that will notify these individuals of their upcoming appointments. The portable nature and synchronization capabilities provide administrator’s access to their life no matter where they are. As they assist you with your busy schedule, your office secretary will also enjoy the seamless way that appointments, contacts, and tasks can seamlessly be added and updated on both your handheld and your office computer.

Click Here to Review Devices and Applications that Assist with Scheduling

Staying Connected

While administrators continue their journey from meeting-to-meeting at remote locations and throughout their districts, they can rest assured that the newfound wireless capabilities of both PDA’s and Smart phones will allow them to stay connected with their contacts at school and abroad. Specifically, wireless capabilities allow administrators to multi-task. For example, when an administrator is waiting for a meeting to start, waiting for their food in a restaurant, or waiting to catch their flight in a wireless environment, he or she can quickly check their e-mail, make a phone calls (Smartphones only), instant message their secretary to notify parents of an important event, etc. during their wait. This prevents these tasks from piling up at the office.

Click Here to Review Devices and Applications that Assist with Staying Connected

Data Mining

Administrators today are faced with many challenges to provide up-to-date data at an instance notice, anytime anyplace. At the most basic level, administrators can use their handheld to take notes at a meeting, calculate, and collect data (text, voice, and maybe even snapshots). Handheld devices, combined with wireless capabilities and database applications, provide an exciting solution to this challenge. These combined technologies provide the administrator with real-time (up-to-date) access to student demographics, inventories, student, staff, and parent contact information, budgets, policies, state and national standards, assessment data, teacher evaluations, etc., anytime, and anyplace they need to retrieve it. This becomes particularly beneficial in times of school emergencies, parent teacher conferences, board meetings, town meetings, and state and national conferences.

Click Here to Review Devices and Applications that Assist with Data Mining.

Accountability

Administrators have to be accountable for almost everything! Classroom assessment via handhelds is likely to provide administrators with exactly what they need to determine student progress based upon state and national standards, as well as teacher progress based on yearly evaluations, personal development programs, and state and national standards.

Click Here to Review Devices and Applications that Assist with Accountability.

Cost Efficiency

Handheld computers offer a cost effective alternative to classroom computers and computer labs for your schools. Unit by unit, handheld computers are cheaper than desktop and laptop computers. In addition, educators can find a variety of free and discounted software applications for the classroom.

Click Here for price comparisons of popular Handheld Devices.

Lighter Travel

Finally, make travel to meetings, and conferences easier on your self. With the right accessories, you can actually do any presentation from your handheld that you would typically do from your laptop. The portability of handhelds will allow you to increase your productivity in convention centers, airports, hotels, as well as on airplanes, in taxis, buses, and subways.

Click Here for Devices, Applications, and Accessories that are sure to make your life easier while traveling.

Websites consulted for this research:

Education Quick Guide: Administration - PalmOne
http://www.palm.com/us/education/resourcelibrary/quickguides.html

8 Tips for Administrators Using Handheld Computers – Mguhlin.net
http://www.edsupport.cc/mguhlin/artifacts/writings/2004/8tipspalm.htm

Handhelds Help with Student Info Systems
http://www.palm.com/us/education/studies/study51.html

Administrators’ Guide to Handheld Computers – The Handheld Educator
http://www.palm.com/us/education/studies/handheld_ed.html

Thinking Big and Small –The Handheld Educator
http://www.palm.com/us/education/studies/handheld_ed.html

University of Texas at Dallas – PalmOne Education Solutions
http://solutions.palmone.com/regac/success_stories/education/education_details.jsp?sotryId=1021

Management at your Fingertips – The Handheld Educator
http://www.palm.com/us/education/studies/handheld_ed.html

Home-School Connection – The Handheld Educator
http://www.palm.com/us/education/studies/handheld_ed.html

Data Mining- The Handheld Educator
http://www.palm.com/us/education/studies/handheld_ed.html

Accountability – The Handheld Educator
http://www.palm.com/us/education/studies/handheld_ed.html

Standards and Assessment
http://www.palm.com/us/education/studies/handheld_ed.html

References:

Caughlin, J. & Vincint, T. (2003). Handhelds for teachers & administrators a
complete resource for using handhelds in grades K-12! Watertown, MA:
Scholastic.

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