Mobile Handheld Devices in Education

Background

Before discussing the status of handhelds in education, it is important to discuss the various kinds of small devices available because each type of device gives different options for use by students, educators and school administrators. At present, there appear to be a few different broad categories of handhelds along with some sub-categories. One category is the smart phone. The iPhone and the Android phone can be categorized as smart phones. There are several other brands that fit into this category but these two by far make up the bulk of the market currently. A smart phone starts with the phone concept and adds in the ability to run other applications (normally called just “apps”) such as web browsers and a host of other types of programs.

Another category would be those devices that are similar to smart phones but do not have the capability to make or receive phone calls. In this category would be devices such as the iPad™, the iPod Touch™ and a host of other similar devices. This category is in the process of being refined into two different groups. The first, and more traditional group, is the pocket-sized MP3 player. The smallest of these can simply play music while the larger, more sophisticated ones, can do almost everything a smart phone can do except handle phone calls. The second group is a bit larger and more powerful. This group includes devices such as the Amazon Kindle, the Barnes and Noble Nook and, of course the iPad which sparked a revolution in thinking about the personal computer and small devices.

Apple introduced the iPad in April of 2010. Computer World ran an article in March 2010 talking about the host of iPad™ clones based on Linux, Windows and other operating systems that were in the process of being developed (Vaughan-Nichols, 2010). According to CNET News in a September 7, 2010 article, there are currently at least a half dozen or more iPad clones either on the market or soon to be on the market from manufacturers such as Dell, Toshiba, HP and Samsung. To blur the categories a bit, some of these iPad-like devices will be able to also be used as communication devices making calls and sending text messages. Virtually all of these devices will be able to run applications, connect to Bluetooth devices such as headsets and keyboards and most will be able to connect to 3G networks. Some, such as the Samsung Galaxy Pad will come only with a 3G subscription and will be sold through the various telephone carriers’ outlets (Ogg, 2010).