Headline :: PSP set to break into educational sector

[nichomach]

I don't - and are your PDAs going to have external keyboards too, or are you expecting the kids to write essays by stylus hunt'n'peck... ?

As to the sort of access point required, you can do RADIUS, policy-based authentication, that sort of thing on pretty economical Netgear APs, like the WG102, which also gives pretty good coverage. Can't do that via Bluetooth. Just had a look at a BT AP, by the way - 7 simultaneous users at a whole 723kbps!

Podcasts are already used in higher education settings, and there's no reason why they couldn't be used in schools.

As far as the sort of data being input, just consider tests; you can handle multiple choice and some-of-many answers pretty easily, and well-designed software can be adaptive to the responses received.

[Spud1]

are you expecting the kids to write essays by stylus hunt'n'peck... ?

Nope, i'm expecting them to be using a Windows Mobile device, and as such to have the transcriber available to them..which really is damn good at handwriting recognition with the latest updates (at last!). Even using the on-screen keyboard is preferable to text input on a PSP though

[nichomach]

Assuming that text input is actually desirable or necessary, as opposed to multiple or many choice or video playback or podcast. And also bear in mind that the use of these is unlikely to be restricted to the classroom; they'll be expected to roam around the school premises at least, and I'd argue that a good justification for a device as cheap as a PSP (because by comparison to a reasonably competent PDA, it is) is that these CAN be issued to students with downloaded content to take home.

[Spud1]

Yes nicho - I fully agree in one sense - that it would be good idea, and has merit at the idea stage.

The thing is that it just won't happen Do you really think that school or college would do that? Be realistic, I sure as hell wouldn't trust 90% of the kids in my old school, or any school around england with a relativly expensive piece of equipment outside of a monitored environment.

I don't have any issue with the possibilities here, just the reality of it..

A more realistic idea would be for schools to have 'PSP Download Stations' in a similar manner to DS Download Stations, where kids could connect their own, personal PSPs and use them to get the podcasts, timetables etc, but I don't ever see it being something the school provides.

A PDA for use in class time however I think is a much more realistic proposition, and much more useful.

[nichomach]

I don't agree, I'm afraid; if they're in a classroom, then they have access to normal classroom facilities and to the teacher - why IM Miss Simpson the Geography teacher when she's 10 feet away from you?

Seriously, I hope that Sony are serious about this, because with the right vertical integration, and the right software (and Sony have a lot of cash to throw at that) the PSP could be a winner.

Anyway, maybe you're right and I'm wrong, but I think it's definitely worth consideration and trial, and I think that rather than rubbishing it, we should just see how it works out - if it's poorly implemented, it'll fail, sure, but I think Sony really would like a slice of the education budget, so I think they'll try pretty hard to make it work.

[Steven W]

These guys are saying its the PS3 not the PSP.

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=38601

I don't think they checked their source close enough.

[Spud1]

The PS3 - now that makes even LESS sense lol

[LOcKY]

i personally believe this is a complete waste of money, back in the day we were at least interested in education.

i also heard that in chemsitry they arent even allowed to do the practical stuff due to safey (not sure how true that is though).

Even some places pay kids to attend COLLEGE! i mean COME ON! its breeding a lot of kids who feel they need to be paid to stay into education.

Oh well, what can you do

/me ticks conversative on his voting slip*