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Wallingford Adult Education: Resource Review: The
Writer Keyboard Appliance*
Teachers:
Joan Troccolo, Language Arts Instructor, ABE
Jo Rossomando, Social Studies, GED, EDP
Mauri Shields, ESL Instructor
Pam Andersen, Technology Coordinator, ABE, GED, EDP, ESL
Type of Resource:
Keyboard appliance
Description:
The Writer keyboard appliance is a light-weight,
wireless, battery operated instrument that contains built-in keyboarding
lessons to assist students with touch typing skills using the
home keys.
The Writer also enables students to create documents
and files and keep them stored on the machine. After completing
a word processing exercise or creating a document, students can
“beam” their file to a desktop computer using an infrared
beam which is received by one of several IR pods in our computer
lab.
How the resource was used in class:
Students used The Writer to complete writing
assignments, compose letters, and practice keyboarding skills.
Many students took the keyboard appliances home to continue their
work and share with their families.
After students familiarized themselves with
the new equipment, our team of instructors were able to integrate
the Writer into several “themed” project-based units.
Please see documentation of our “Research Project”
unit as part of this End Of The Year report.
The things I like most about the resource
are as follows:
Students were able to use The Writer immediately
after seeing it demonstrated in class by our Technology Coordinator.
They were very happy with its ease of use, durability, mobility
and the opportunity to sign them out.
Limitations and suggestions to overcome
shortcomings:
Occasionally, one or two appliances were unable
to “beam” a file to a desktop computer. This was frustrating
for students who had composed lengthy documents.
Technical Support representatives were able
to diagnose one of our “beaming” problems (we had
to unplug the USB cable and plug it into the pod again). However,
at least two appliances still had trouble “beaming.”
Comments:
Students were able to use the Writers as soon
as we unpacked them! (January 2003)
*from Technology Implementation —
End-of-Year Report as of June
30, 2003, compiled
by Jean Mantzaris, Director
Back to Wallingford
Adult Education Lessons Learned index page
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by topic)
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