Proposed use of gadgets
I love the learning process; even the simplest question can lead you down into a twisty maze of little passages (or something more along the lines of this famous list:)
- Little maze of twisting passages
- Little maze of twisty passages
- Little twisty maze of passages
- Maze of little twisting passages
- Maze of little twisty passages
- Maze of twisting little passages
- Maze of twisty little passages
- Twisting little maze of passages
- Twisting maze of little passages
- Twisty little maze of passages
The point is that even simple things can get complicated. Around the kitchen table (yes Mr. Layton, THAT one), the premise that data collection in classroom evaluation sessions could be enhanced through an electronic device was raised. I quickly jumped to the nearest browser, just to see what eBay might offer up, and then decided to proceed in a more informed manner before any money changed pockets. I’d call “a friend”.
My Skype account soon was beedling away, but there was no answer. However, I had a voicemail message from another lost acquaintance, and it turned out to be something filled with intrigue, involving DNA research and people that didn’t know they were connected. Another mystery: I feel like one of the Hardy Boys, except that I have no (known) brothers. Maybe I’ll need to investigate. But back to the task at hand…
There is recorded evidence that some people have used a Palm Pilot to collect field data. Lists of rocks, if I understood the example screens. That isn’t very different from eliciting oral responses in a classroom. Rocks, students. Rock music. Free association. But back to the task at hand… This question won’t be answered until we actually acquire a device and test it for ourselves. Best that we choose a model that is very polyvalent; if we end up with another MP3 player that takes pictures and reads email, I’ll have found an expensive way of emulating a cellphone.
