According to a recent article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, handheld devices are gaining momentum in a number of Virginia classrooms. Several elementary schools in Richmond have been using Palm handhelds for four years to teach phonics, spelling, letter recognition and writing, and students at Colonial Heights Middle school, students now use iPods to watch educational videos. "They are a cell phone, iPod, Xbox generation," says teacher Richard Ridpath. "This is just meeting [students] where they are."

In Chesterfield County the school board recently approved a five-year technology plan that includes $3 million for a mobile technology pilot program for students. The money will come from the district's capital improvement plan. According to Chesterfield's director of school improvement, Dallas Dunce, the district is looking into the feasibility of using cell phones, iPod Touches and netbooks for the pilot program.

As districts around the state try out the handheld devices, a number of researchers will be monitoring the results. Two years ago the Virginia Department of Education launched Learning without Boundaries. The initiative, in cooperation with Virginia Tech and Radford University, is studying the potential benefits of wireless handheld technologies in schools.

The jury is still out on the devices, according to the article, with many people dubious about the misuse of cell phones and other handhelds by students. As one parent is quoted as saying: "If the technology assists in the learning process and assists the teacher, I am all for it. If the technology is an attempt by the school system to be cool, then forget it."

Source: Mobile devices said to be the next wave in education, Richmond Times-Dispatch.