There is so much information available about portable devices; it was difficult to decide where to start. However, I did find some advice on purchasing portable devices. When choosing a portable device, some factors to consider include the following: Internet range, Power capability, Screen size, Format, Durability, Added functions, and Price. I did find an interesting chart that listed specs on a large number of tablets.
As I struggled to wrap my head around all of this, my brother (the tech geek of my family) explained to me that a tablet or netbook is basically a "sealed box" that operates on a specific platform such as Apple, Android, or Windows. He said that normally you won't find any USB ports or CD/DVD drives on the tablets. It is what it is, and you can't really take it apart and build a better tablet (which is what he normally does with all of the computers in our family).
Our high school has a 1:1 laptop program, which began with Dell laptops for grades 9-12. The second year of the program, the district purchased HP Mini netbooks for the 9th grade students. This is still the current procedure, since the netbooks basically can do everything needed for the freshmen. The netbooks allow the students to browse the web, watch movies, play some games, listen to music, download numerous apps, and more.
This week I have developed an addiction to that fascinating portable device known as the Smartphone. I have discovered that these devices can be useful to a person like me. Organization is definitely not my strong suit, and one of the benefits of a Smartphone is keeping important data all in one place. Plus, I had a lot of fun playing Pocket Frogs.
Students really like portable devices, but I don't think that tablets or netbooks would excite them as much as the chance to use a Smartphone in the classroom. Over the last year, I have noticed more and more middle school students with iPods or cell phones in lockers, backpacks, or back pockets. It makes me feel bad when I have to tell them to put these devices away, since I would love to use them in an educational capacity.
Some interesting apps are available for students. I was excited to find Spanish Dict because it is one that I have my Spanish students use when they need to look up a Spanish word quickly. Another app that I loved is Project Noah. Students can take pictures of flora and fauna and use this tool to "explore and document nature." Science teachers could utilize this as a motivational tool for those reluctant learners. Since I have been reading science fiction recently, I like the idea of being able to learn more about the planets with Planetoids. It is supposed to show you where the planets are when you choose a specific date.
So, I think it's about time for me to get a Smartphone!
I know a few college students that use netbooks and they really like them. They are very lightweight and portable. They can sit in the union or the hallways and get a lot of work done in between classes. It is also nicer to have your own computer but the are labs available. The only problems with lab computers is that you can't always get to use the software you need if it is not preinstalled, so there is a huge benefit to having a lower price option that is very portable.
ReplyDelete