Journal #4
Portable Data Empowers Leaders
Mary L. McNabb
Volume 34 (2006 - 2007)
May No. 8

This article addresses the struggles faced by many school administrators in Michigan, to increase student achievement in core content areas and to help students become technology literate. Ther are new standards that school officials are being held responsible for while maintaining a safe conducive learning environment for students. In 2002, a program called LEADing the Future (LTF), set out to train 80% of Michigan school administrators using a wide variety of technology methods. They focused on four goals that paralelled ISTE's NETS for Administrators. During a follow up to this initial training period, the LTF offered a hands on training opportunity, for all administrators, in the use of handheld technology. The goal is for school administrators to be able to research, access, organize, and evaluate data wherever they may be.

1. Are laptop computers better than hand held portable devices?

Handheld devices are capable of matching just about every function that a laptop computer can. With the help of blue tooth technology and the ability to connect to other technology sources such as a printer, scanner, or digital camera, hand held devices are proving that although they are smaller in size, they can handle just about any big job a laptop can do. The real advantage is in the size. While a laptop computer needs to be carried around in a briefcase sized bag, the handheld portables can fit right in to the compfort of a jacket pocket.

2. Why else would a hand held portable device be more beneficial than a laptop computer?

In this article by McNabb, she points out a very important reason that a handheld may be more beneficial than a laptop, and that is during an emergency either on a school campus or a field trip. A laptop is a bit too bulky to carry around at all times. During an emergency, whether on a school campus or a trip, administrators will be able to access all emercency contact information for each individual student from their hand held portable device. They can access parent contact information, or emergency contact information in a matter of seconds.