CTT > Center for Teaching & Technology

"Big Change for $mall ¢hange"

Keynote Address at the 21st Annual Technology Conference, Saturday January 29th, 2005

In order to garner the significant benefits of computing in K-12, each and every child needs his or her own personal computer for use 24/7. While not yet achieving 1:1, schools have already spent considerable sums building up a networked, computing infrastructure. Filling out that infrastructure, going the “last 10 feet” is relatively inexpensive when 1:1 is achieved by providing the children with mobile, networkable, handheld computers. We estimate that a handheld computer, equipped with educationally-appropriate software, can do 80% of what a laptop can do at less than 20% of the cost. The Handheld-Centric Classroom, then, is a blended solution: the existing investment in desktops/laptops and wired/wireless connectivity is leveraged by each child having his or her own handheld. For a relatively small investment, providing each and every child with his or her own personal, handheld computer, we will see a big impact on children’s achievement and attitude in K-12.

Dr. Elliot Soloway is Arthur F. Thurnau Professor in the Dept. of EECS at the University of Michigan College of Engineering. You can find out more about his work at http://hi-ce.org/handhelds

View Dr. Soloway's address (Quicktime format)

<< Back to the Technology Conference