With the growing amount of handheld technology found in educational settings across the country, Klein Independent School District (ISD) is ahead of the game. Their first ever Technology Fair is a great example of how they have decided to educate their community about technology in education - and they are among many who are taking such measures. Conventions and fairs are beginning to pop up all over educational settings and are great ways to spread valuable information about handheld technology. Read on to learn about Klein ISD's Technology Fair and the great response it has received.

The Background

In March 2001, Klein Independent School District (Klein ISD) held our first Technology Fair. The purpose of the Fair was to provide the community (residents, employees, and students of Klein ISD) with the opportunity to see examples and presentations of technology integration into the classroom from kindergarten through 12th grade levels in the Klein ISD schools. A second purpose of the Technology Fair was to provide learning opportunities and technology exhibits. One learning opportunity that I wanted to offer related to PDAs. A few Klein ISD employees had purchased PDAs over the prior year, and the awakening of PDA benefits had spurred many administrators to begin looking at the use of PDAs for personal information management. Many people were contacting me asking for my opinion and advice about what PDA to purchase, what gadgets might be needed or advised, and how come I always had mine with me.

I am an employee of the Technology Department, and also known as a Tech-Gadget addict. I had been using my Palm Vx for almost a year and could see the benefits of owning a PDA. Since those of us involved with technology were asked to propose sessions for the Fair, I volunteered to share my interest and learning about PDAs for our first PDA Users Group Session. I figured that the Technology Fair would be a great opportunity to have an informal hour of sharing what I knew, and to find out what others in our community knew or wanted to know about PDAs.

I expected to have five to ten people show up for the session, especially since my session was scheduled at the end of the day. My surprise for the number of people that showed up was only surpassed by the excitement of the participants to know more about PDAs. All in all, we had over twenty-five people attend the session, with standing room only, and having to turn people away to the crowd.

The Session

In the Technology Fair advertisements we had advertised that owners of PDAs wanting to attend the PDA Users Group Session could bring their PDAs, but owning a PDA was not a requirement to attend the session. I had people introduce themselves, explain why they were there, if they had one or planned to purchase a PDA, and what their role would be in using and implementing PDAs into the educational system (whether as administrator, teacher, parent, or other).

I then divided the session into four major categories: 1) explanation of devices and terms such as handhelds, PDAs, and palm/pocket-size computers; 2) functions and purposes such as personal information management, grading, classroom uses, word processing, database, spreadsheet, and communications; 3) accessories and devices such as keyboards, communications, memory and power supplements, and carrying cases; and 4) Show and Tell in which those with PDAs at the session showed which device they had, discussed why the particular unit was purchased, and how much the unit cost. I followed up the session with a Question and Answer period. In the excitement of the moment, I asked participants if they would like to receive a PDA newsletter I had considered creating, or if they would like to attend an even more formal PDA User Group Session than what we had created for the Technology Fair. Most people at the session decided that they would like additional sessions, and they asked me to please start a newsletter.

The Results

We have had two formal PDA User Group Sessions since the Tech Fair, and after each one, someone either contacts me to let me know they have purchased a PDA, or to let me know that they learned new tips and tricks that they hadn't known beforehand. Additionally, I have created an email newsletter that I produce on my own time because of my interest in PDA education. I post the PDA newsletters on my personal teachers' website at www.teacherwebsource.com. Klein ISD is making initial preparations for the Second Annual Technology Fair in March 2002, and plans are underway for a November PDA Users Group Session in our district. As teachers become more aware of this valuable educational tool, our district will focus more on integrated lessons within the classroom, but for now, I'm still showing people what the market offers, guidance as to what each person might want, and most of all, to share in the excitement of the individual as he or she enters the PDA Users' world.

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About the contributor, Mark A. Evans

I am a District Instructional Technology Teacher in the Klein ISD Technology Department, and one of my tasks is to become more educated about PDAs. Additionally, I am to provide the department and district with guidance on PDA integration into the classroom. I have owned a Palm Vx, and now I am using a department issued Compaq Ipaq 3670. Any questions can be sent to me at mevans@kleinisd.net, 281.655.6315, or visit the Klein ISD website at www.klein.texas.schools.esc4.net.

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