Paper Authors

Abstract

NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Session 1858

Wireless Handheld Computer as a Tool for Interactive Learning in a Digital System Course

Fernando Rios-Gutiérrez Rocio Alba-Flores Electrical and Computer Engineering Department University of Minnesota Duluth

friosgut@d.umn.edu ralbaflo@d.umn.edu

Abstract This paper describes the educational experience gained by the introduction of a wireless handheld computer that is used as an in class and lab tool, in an introductory Digital Design course. The handheld computer provides access to class material and lab tools and makes the learning process more dynamic and interactive and made difficult topics more accessible and easier to understand to the students. The paper concludes with a description of the assessment for the workshop and a discussion of future uses of this technology.

1.0 Introduction The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), College of Science and Engineering requires engineering and computer science majors to have a hand-held personal computer with wireless access for use in some of their classes. The purpose of the wireless pocket PC requirement is both to enhance the technological environment of the engineering and computer science classroom and to better prepare UMD students to be competitive in the work world. In particular, UMD students use an iPAQ1 handheld computer equipped with wireless Internet connections as a learning tool and working tool. The hand-held PC is cutting edge technology, and it has very recently and very rapidly become an important tool of practicing professionals in engineering, industry, business, and information technology. The main motivation to use the iPAQ handheld and implement the wireless access at UMD, was to provide computing and network access to the faculty and student body without having to carry a heavy laptop with them, and to make the learning experience for the students more interactive from almost any point inside campus. The main academic interest for the use of the wireless network as a teaching and research tool involves but is not limited to the following applications:

1 © Hewlett-Packard Company

“Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright© 2003, American Society for Engineering Education”

• Citation

• Format
  • APA
  • APA - LaTeX bibitem
  • MLA
  • MLA - LaTeX bibitem
  • Bibtex
  • EndNote - RIS

Alba-Flores, R., & Rios-Gutierrez, F. (2003, June), Wireless Handheld Computer As A Tool For Interactive Learning In A Digital System Course Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--11880