Hertfordshire Handheld Learning Pilot Project Updated
 From September 2008 to July 2009 Wilbury Junior School in Letchworth Garden City has been running a pilot in Year Six, involving the use of one-to-one personal digital assistants (PDAs.)
The PDAs offer a variety of multimedia tools which can be used for learning, including internet access, animation tools and a voice recorder. Every child in the year had access to their own device, which they were able to take home if their parents/carers agreed, and which accompanied them throughout the school day.
The PDAs were used across the curriculum, with a focus on literacy. Some of the key findings of this pilot include:
- The children were very motivated to learn by the use of the personal device, and this motivation did not wear off after the initial novelty had worn off.
- Many children did additional work in their own time, which was not set by their teacher.
- The children became more independent in their learning as they developed the skills to choose the right tool for the activity they were completing.
- Having a range of digital tools available meant that the needs of the individual pupils’ learning styles could be better met.
- There was a noticeable improvement in some of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Writing Assessment Focuses, in the sample children identified for the pilot.
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