Applications Using Handhelds in the Educational Environment

Learning Communities

> Learning Communities

It has been documented that when teachers and staff have access to computers and technology outside of the classroom, they increase the integration of these technologies inside their classrooms (Becker, 2000).

This Building Learning Communities with handheld computers implementation calls for teachers to meet regularly in structured Learning Communities with peer support group to share implementation issues and to conduct research on handheld integration.

According to Stephen and Evan (2000), “Learning communities established by mentoring relationships encourage collaboration, communication and team work and provide on-going support in both technology and pedagogy for both mentors and mentees. Learning communities emerging from a nurturing and supportive environment allow members to exchange ideas, share experiences and learn together to accommodate individual learning styles.”

The establishment of Learning Communities promotes the concepts of teacher empowerment outside the usual bureaucratic structures. As staff members meet in their Learning Communities to share and exchange ideas, they will become more empowered to use the technology in creative and innovative ways. The research cited indicates that as they become more comfortable with the technology, they will incorporate it into their classrooms and work environments.

Explore the subject specific Learning Communities below to view each groups activities, progress and collaboration. * Moderator
High School English/LA Penny Austin-Richardson Harry Brake *Dara Laws Kathy McCormick Judith Richie Geoff Werner February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration	Middle School English/LA Jennifer Bower Timothy Jenkins *Jennifer West Sunny White February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration	High School Social Studies *Tom Chapman Sandra Fulton Jason Jeandell Tim Lee February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration

Middle School Social Studies Maria Miller Scott Bleile Elizabeth Jerman *Jim Mitchell Gary Zoll February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration	High School Business Education *Vicki Bailey Mark Fisher Patti Keeton Tom Keeton Louise Maull February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration	Media Center/Resource *Brenda Treherne Jean Briggs Johnson February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration

Secondary Music Bryant Wharton Lisbeth Baker Danielle LeNoir *Kelly Evans February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration	NJROTC/JDG Richard Norman Chief Michael Welding *Donna Zakrewsky February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration	Nurses Polly Pusey Joan Bloom *Kay Chaffinch February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration

High School Special Education Ken Cummings Letitia Jackson *Claire Krisewicz Carol Lay Steve Richardson James Wearden Lourieann Wheatley Kathi Hipps February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration	Middle School Special Education Joe Brannegan William Cox Valerie Crockett *Ruth Harris Robin O'Day Mary Rendulic Jamie Cook Allison Sammons Linda Zoulek February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration	Administrators Mark Albert Mike Smith *Clarence Davis Don Dehart David Grantz Kim Simmons Stephanie Smith February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration

High School Mathematics Joe Evans Steve Halter Dr. Laurel Hollenbeck Sean Knowles *Peggy Smith February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration	Middle School Mathematics Jeff Forjan Marilyn Jennifer Kidder Charles Michel *Dennis Williams February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration	High School Science *Cindy Borga Sue Malley Terence Moore Susan Pryor Nick Rossiter February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration

Middle School Science Valerie Gray Jennifer Hitchens *Rita Hoster Edie Sipos Baxter Smith Courtney White James White February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration	Secondary PE/Health Camie Brown Todd Vickers Nicole Callaway Bradd Zullo Jo Johnson *Vince Morris February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration	Instructional Technology/Family Consumer Science Sam Ritts Matt Atlas *Marc Dickerson Charlotte Vaughn February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration

Guidance Counselors *Leigh Anne Tull MaryBeth Lewis Jonathan Griffith Bill Shupe John Rohlich February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration	High School Foreign Language Cindy Bayon Dawn Cherrix *Del Swartzentruber February 2005 Collaboration April 2005 Collaboration February 2006 Collaboration
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