| Set up |
| Charging and Hotsyncing |
| Storage |
| Privilege of Use |
| Initial Lessons |
| Beaming |
| Gaining Community Support |
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Menu - Set up - Charging and
Hotsyncing - Storage - Privilege
of Use
Initial Lessons- Beaming
- Gaining Community Support
Set up: Preparing handhelds for initial use
This is the
procedure I used to set up 2 hotsync stations and 30 handhelds. For the
first hotsync on each handheld I chose to use the User Profile option
for the sake of efficiency. When using this strategy to install several
applications at once you do run a risk of creating software conflicts.
All third party software may not be 100% compatible with the Palm operating
system or each other, thus causing the handheld to lock up. The User Profile
feature is designed only for the first time HotSync operation, before
a User ID has been associated with a particular Palm handheld. A safer,
but more tedious strategy is install 1 application at a time. For those
willing to take the risk:
- Install
Palm software on the Hotsync stations but skip the Hotsync.
- On both stations create a Class Profile in the Palm desktop Hotsync application.
- Select
Users from the Tools menu.
- Click
Profiles.
- Click
New. The New Profile dialog box appears.
- Assign
a name to the Profile such as "Class Profile" and click
OK.
- Click
OK to close the Profiles dialog box and return to Palm Desktop. The
new profile name appears in the User drop-down list of the Palm Desktop
toolbar.
- Install
additional software included with the Palm, setting it to hotsync with
the Class Profile.
- Download
and install on each hotsync station all additional software, setting
it to hotsync to the Class Profile.
- Locate
and download the application. I recommend creating a folder where
you keep all of your handheld downloaded files.
- When
the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved
the download. Locate the zip file and double-click it. This should
launch the decompression utility. Choose a location to save the
application and begin the decompression. This could be folder nested
inside the Palm download folder named after the application.
- You
now need to transfer the files from your computer to your handheld.
All application files have the file extension prc. If you double
click the prc files in the folder of the unzipped newly downloaded
application, the application will be placed into Quick Install for
the handheld. Quick Install will launch and you will see the prc
file qued to install to the handheld upon the next HotSync operation.
You install any data files (pdb) the same way.
- The next time you synchronize your Palm the new applications will be installed.
- Locate
and download the application. I recommend creating a folder where
you keep all of your handheld downloaded files.
- Hot sync all Palms choosing the Class Profile.
- Place
the new handheld in the cradle and press the HotSync button. Because
the handheld is not associated with a particular user, the Users dialog
box appears.
- Click
Profiles.
- Select
the Profile that you want to use and click OK. An alert appears, saying
that installing a profile will overwrite all data currently on your
handheld.
- Click Yes. All of the Profile data is transferred to the handheld. The next time you perform a HotSync operation, the Palm Desktop prompts you for a User name associated with the Palm handheld.
- Since more than one student would be using each handheld we chose to label each handheld with a User ID number, instead of any names. This is the same number that is on the inventory label we applied on the palm. Enter each handheld's User ID number into the Hotsync application, odd numbers on one station, even on the other. For example, 1, 3, 5, 7.... on the "Odd Hotsync Station" and handhelds 2, 4, 6, 8... on the "Even Hotsync Station."
- From
the Tools menu of the Hotsync application choose Users
- Select
New
- Enter
an appropriate number
- Click
OK
- Repeat
for all handhelds
- Hot sync all palms on the appropriate station, choosing the correct User ID number instead of the Class Profile.
- Press
the HotSync button. This message will appear - “Create a new
account on this PC”.
- Select
OK.
- Select
the correct user ID Number from the pop up box and click OK. You will
have 60 seconds to select.
- When
the hotsync operation is complete, you will hear a tone from the handheld
and see the notation that the sync operation is complete.
- After hotsync is complete, user name is visible on the handheld.
- Additional software can still be installed in the future but the new application file will have to be copied into each handhelds install folder.
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Menu - Set up - Charging and
Hotsyncing - Storage - Privilege
of Use
Initial Lessons- Beaming
- Gaining Community Support
- Charging:
The batteries do not behave the same in all handhelds. These notes are
in reference to the Tungsten E handheld.
- Charging Stations: There are charging stations in two separate areas in the classroom, positioned to avoid congestion. Each station is equipped with power strips which the adapter are plugged into. When charging is taking place the powerstrip is turned on. When not in use the power strip is turned off so as not to pose a fire hazard. We have found you have to wait a couple seconds after removing the handheld from the charger to view an accurate image of the battery's power level.
- Power Consumption: Color screens require much more power than the monochrome screens, with or without a backlight involved. SD usage and IR/beaming also drain power.
- LiIon Battery: Technically LiIon batteries are most affected by total discharges. While a deep discharge on the Palm doesn't get the battery too low, it still can have an effect on the life. LiIon and NiMH batteries do not suffer memory effects like NiCD. Letting the battery get really low kills it faster than keeping it topped off. Don't purposely let the battery 'die' unless you have a good reason to do so. The battery is rated by total discharges, the less total discharges it gets, the longer it can potentially live.
- Wireless
Keyboards
The Palm Wireless Keyboard uses infrared (IR) technology to communicate with your Palm handheld which will affect your battery charge. The following tips will increase the battery charge on your handheld when the Palm Wireless Keyboard software is installed.- Select
the "Home" icon on your handheld
- Select
the Keyboard application icon
- Choose
"General" from the pick list in the upper right-hand
corner
- Choose
"IR Config" from the pull down menu
- In the "IR AutoOff After" pull down menu, select the 5-minute setting
(The 5 minute IR AutoOff setting is suggested, however you can also choose the 1, 10, or 30 minute settings depending on your keyboard usage preferences.)
If you choose the "None" setting, the IR port on the handheld will continually be active (or constantly on) during handheld use, and will reduce your handheld charge.
If you have chosen a lower IR AutoOff setting (e.g. 1 minute), the IR port may time out while your handheld is still on. To restart the IR port for use with the Wireless Keyboard, turn your handheld off and on again. - Select
the "Home" icon on your handheld
- Recommendations
- Charge
overnight, every night.
- The
first time, do a soft reset while your Palm(TM) handheld is
charging in the HotSync(R) cradle in order to calibrate battery
indicator setpoints.
NOTE: Performing a Soft Reset should not erase the data on your Palm handheld. However, it is a good idea to back up all handheld data to your computer. If you are unable to synchronize, or you wish to make a backup copy of your Palm handheld User information, please proceed with the directions below:
Back Up User Folder
- Double-click
'My Computer' on the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Desktop and
open the C: Drive.
-
Open the Program Files folder and then the Palm folder.
-
Right-click the User folder and select Copy. The User folder
will be a truncated version of your User name.
-
Minimize the current open windows.
-
Right-click an empty location of your Windows Desktop and
select
Paste. You should now see a backup copy of your User folder on the desktop. If you do not see a backup, please repeat steps one through five, until the backup is visible. If you have more than one Palm handheld user synchronizing their information using the same computer, we suggest repeating steps one through five for each user.
- Double-click
'My Computer' on the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Desktop and
open the C: Drive.
Soft Reset while your Palm handheld is charging in the HotSync cradle
- Place
your Palm handheld in the HotSync® cradle and ensure the
charging light illuminates.
- Depress
the reset button on the back of the Palm handheld with a small
blunt object such as a paperclip, or by using the reset tool
in the end of your stylus. Please do this while the Palm device
is seated in the cradle.
- The
Palm logo or Palm Computing Platform screen should appear,
changing to the General Preferences screen.
-
Charge the handheld for a minimum of two hours to attain a
full charge. If the issue remains unresolved, then, you will
need to perform a Hard Reset. A Hard Reset restores all the
Preferences and other settings on the Palm(TM) handheld to
their factory default settings.
- Charge
overnight, every night.
- HotSync
- HotSync stations are located in two separate areas in classroom to avoid congestion. The students do not have to HotSync everyday. If they have published something that needs to be printed or backed up then HotSyncing is done. If they used the handheld playing an educational game that doesn't store any of personal data, such has Hungman, there is no need to HotSync.
- There is a network option available for HotSync that would enable you to HotSync a handheld from another computer on the network. During this process the HotSync process sends the data to the home HotSync station via the network. No data is stored on the station that is actually used to complete the HotSync operation. The Palm OS must be installed on both computers in this situation.
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Menu - Set up - Charging and
Hotsyncing - Storage - Privilege
of Use
Initial Lessons- Beaming
- Gaining Community Support
- Each student handheld has a numbered inventory tag stuck on the back.
- Plastic flip lid containers are used to store the student handhelds. Approximately 8 handhelds are stored in each box with 2 boxes with the odd numbered handhelds and 2 boxes with the even numbered handhelds. On the side of each box is printed the students' names whose handhelds belong in that particular box. This system expediates distribution and collection of the handhelds.
- At the end of class, 2 students are assigned the job of verifying that all handhelds are turned in with their styluses.
- Overnight
the handhelds are secured in a locked cabinet.
- Inappropriate
use can also result in a student losing usage privilege for a period
time. Examples of inappropriate uses include:
- using something other than a stylus to tap on the handheld.
- beam at inappropriate teams
- not using the appropriate application when directed by the teacher
- Due assignments must be completed and turned in before students are allowed to use a handheld.
- Students do not take the handhelds home with them. We are considering having a special 1 time take home event to allow the students to share their work with their parents.
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Menu - Set up - Charging and
Hotsyncing - Storage - Privilege
of Use
Initial Lessons- Beaming
- Gaining Community Support
- Our first 2 lessons with the handheld covered basic handheld and Palm OS skills. You don't have to teach the students every single tech skill associated with the handheld before using it for instructional purposes. They just need to know some basics such as on/off, how to use the stylus, etc. and any skills necessary to use the particular application for that days lesson.
- We made a point of using the appropriate terms such as pick list, screen, and input area. We also stressed to the students that we would call our learning tools handheld computers, or handhelds, not PDAs or Palms.
- During
Lesson 1 the teacher used a slideshow
to cover:
- safety
and security
- respect
of property
- the
privilege of having use of this tech tool
- storage and distribution
- using
only the stylus for taping
- inappropriate
use and consequences
- taking home
- finger and tap buttons
- application icons
- graffiti
- Graffiti is a simplified alphabet that Palm handhelds can understand. Have the class go through the built-in application called Graffiti. This gives them some practice with the strokes. Next student play Giraffe, an arcade-like game where you must write in Graffiti to prevent letters from crashing into the ground. Students who have a score of 800 in Giraffe are doing well.
- We have also found that turning on the Writing Area under Preferences is helpful when learning Graffiti. This enables the students to see what they are writing when using the stylus on the screen.
- safety
and security
- For Lesson
2 the teacher used a document camera to teach:
- using the on-screen keyboard
- using the pick list
- turning the writing screen on and off
- Students were instructed to use graffiti and the on-screen keyboard with the Memos application to practice inputting text into the handheld. They also played Giraffi.
- During
Lesson 3 the students learned to beam and used Quizzler to review a
set of vocabulary words in preparation for an upcoming test. They were
also allowed free time to explore whatever they wanted on the handheld.
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Menu - Set up - Charging and
Hotsyncing - Storage - Privilege
of Use
Initial Lessons- Beaming
- Gaining Community Support
- Sometimes when their is a need to transfer data you can choose to beam instead of HotSync. Beaming a document or small application takes about the same amount of time as passing out a worksheet to each student. The beaming process works just like passing out paper. For example, the teacher beams the application or document to the students along the front row. As soon as a student has received the file, they turn to the person in back of them and beam. BeamPro is a shareware program, that when installed on the teacher's handheld, enables her to beam several files at once.
- You can beam applications. But, if an application has a conduit, then it needs to be installed on the desktop and HotSynced to the handheld. Some programs will function successfully when beamed. Accept beamed applications with discretion. Third party software always has a risk of incompatibility. Plus, any application that is not free should not be shared by beaming or otherwise.
- For the most part, I recommend beaming data files and using HotSync to install applications. If a data files is over 300k I would recommend using HotSync.
- If you have verified that beaming is turned on under Preferences>Power and the handheld is not found when a beam is being attempted, do a soft reset and try again.
- If you use a backlit document camera when demonstrating beaming to your students the intensity of the direct light may interfere with the beam. Placing the handhelds very close together and it may work.
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Menu - Set up - Charging and
Hotsyncing - Storage - Privilege
of Use
Initial Lessons- Beaming
- Gaining Community Support
It is always important to keep your community well informed about what is going on in the schools. This community includes parents, patrons, administrators, students, teachers and staff. During these financially challenging times in Missouri we felt a special obligation to inform the community about the funding and benefits of the handheld project. Below are the strategies we used to gain the support of the Willard community.
- We developed and implemented an Evaluation Plan to document benefit and progress. This plan included parent, student, and teacher surveys. The teacher keeps documentation of her observations, grades, attendance, and student motivation. She also documents which applications she uses and how often the handhelds are used in class. The results of this evaluation will be shared with the community.
- A Parent Newsletter was published and distributed at the start of the project. It explained how the student would use the handheld computers in class, where the funding came from, and the benefits of using handhelds for instructional purposes.
- A Parent Night will be held in the Spring during which time parents will view their child's work on the handheld and experience some the applications used in class.
- Articles have been published in the School District's Newsletter published by High School students, in the District's Technology Curriculum On-line Newsletter, and in the local newspaper.
- A "Take Home Your Handheld" event will be sponsored in spring for the students to have the opportunity to check out a handheld for one night. This will give them the opportunity to share their work and experiences with their parents.
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Menu - Set up - Charging and
Hotsyncing - Storage - Privilege
of Use
Initial Lessons- Beaming
- Gaining Community Support