Intel Education: Articles: The Next Small Thing - Handheld Computing for Educational Leaders: Part 3

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Intel Education

ISTE, June 2000
David Pownell and Gerald D. Bailey

Although handheld computers have been promoted primarily as organizing tools, much of their "true" power comes from uses far beyond that of scheduling and contacts. If we do not invent new ways of using this technology, we risk "electrifying the past." As a consequence, the potential of these small computers will be lost. We need to move beyond that and use palmtops as empowerment tools to improve educational leaders' professional working environment and their communications with others in their organization. They need to envision a future where all persons in the learning organization are connected and empowered by the ability to access information anytime and anywhere.

The Pownell-Bailey Model of Handheld Computing Literacy provides a framework to maximize the effectiveness of handheld computing . The six functions show educational leaders how to use handheld computers to stay organized, informed, and connected. School administrators need to be looking to handheld computers for empowering their educational leaders, teachers, staff, and students.

Though the bulk of today's computing is done on desktop computers, tomorrow's will be done on handheld computers. In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it!" Handheld computers represent that metaphorical fork in the road. Take it, and create the future—don't wait for it to shape you.

The authors wish to extend their appreciation to Brian Fitzgibbons and Palm Inc. for their support during the development of this article.

David Pownell can be reached at 016D Bluemont Hall,
1100 Mid-Campus Dr., College of Education, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-5318; 785.532.5886; fax 785.532.7304; dwp4231@ksu.edu; http://educatorspalm.org*

Gerald D. Bailey can be reached at 303 Bluemont Hall,
1100 Mid-Campus Dr., College of Education, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-5318; 785.532.5847; fax 785.532.7304; jbailey@ksu.edu; http://www.educ.ksu.edu/go/bailey*