Handheld PC’s tested in Chilean high schools

The camera scans the high school classroom to show deeply engaged clusters of teens huddled over their mobile computers. Hands shoot up as the teacher goes from group to group, discussing questions and encouraging her students while they work collaboratively to solve problems based on the math lesson of the day.

In the video of this Chilean classroom and others like it in two Santiago high schools, teachers and their students are trying out a new method of computer supported collaborative learning and online assessment. The results of this experiment will help mold future teaching techniques, and, researchers hope, improve learning and test performance in students of all ages.

During his November visit to SCIL, Professor Ricardo Rosas from the School of Psychology at the University Catolica de Chile presented his work at a Wallenberg hall Special Interest Group session on wireless technology. Rosas works with colleague Miguel Nussbau in Chile.

Chilean experts involved in the project create original content that can be downloaded to a Hewlett-Packard IPAQ by individual teachers at their schools. The content, an exhaustive mapping of the knowledge in different subject areas (math, sciences, language, history) is sent by wireless network to the students. The IPAQ devices, donated by H-P, are transported to class in a custom suitcase that also charges the batteries.

Activities such as case analysis, concept reinforcement and social and communication skills can be shared among students and between teacher and student via a wireless network, which allows immediate communication and feedback.

Rosas is comparing class participation and performance of these wired classes with control groups in similar classrooms where mobile devices are not used. He expects participation and achievement to be superior among the students using the wireless devices.

“ The most important conclusion that arises from this research is that it definitely changes the normal class dynamics,” said Rosas. “Students must collaborate in order to advance in the sequence of questions. The technology supports communication and mediation that allow students to share their knowledge and know if they are doing well.”

For more information on the Chilean mobile learning project visit: www.mobilelearning.cl

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