Stephen Decatur Middle School

Palm Pilots and Ubiquitous Computing (Phase 2)

• Clinton, MD
• Locale: Urban Fringe of Large City
• Students: 921
• Teachers: 57
• Grades served 5-8

• Membership by Race/Ethnicity:

• Am. Ind./Alaskan:10
• Asian: 25
• Black: 758
• Hispanic: 19
• White: 109

For the 2002-2003 school year, MAR*TEC and Decatur will conduct a controlled study into the effectiveness of handheld computers (personal digital assistants or PDAs) when used in three content areas: math, science, and language arts. The investigation will center around three teachers and classes who will use PDAs (1-1 ratio) to support each of the subject's curriculums. Through several data collection strategies, the effects of the PDAs will be recorded in comparison to those classes (taught by the same teachers) not using the technology. Results will be included in a paper to be presented at conferences to be determined in 2003-2004.