Hromadka: Tell us about the "Handsprings to Learning" (HtL) program at ECU. What is it, and how many students are in the program?

Watkins: The Handsprings to Learning program at East Carolina University is designed to enhance the teaching and learning processes by deploying handheld computers -- and soon wireless connectivity technology -- for faculty and student use alike. Handheld technology has advanced to the extent that the handheld computer now works in conventional and wireless environments and is a cost-effective means of instruction and communication.

Currently, the program has approximately seventy-five students enrolled in 6 courses. Each student uses a Handspring Visor Deluxe including a Springboard backup module; a modem; and MultiMail Pro, QuickSheet, WordSmith, Firepad, Docs to Go and AvantGo software, all of which were purchased by the university. The School of Education offers two on-campus courses. Two off-campus, web-based courses are offered by the School of Industry and Technology and the School of Nursing offers one course. The sixth course is an Honors course in art taught by a faculty member from the School of Art.