Despite their small size and more limited computing power, handheld computers can improve classroom teaching practices and aid in student learning, according to more than 100 teachers who were given the devices through a $2.3 million grant program from Palm Inc.

In a study of the Palm Education Pioneer (PEP) program's effectiveness, independent research firm SRI International surveyed participating teachers and students, made a small number of site visits, and looked at data collected from 86 grant projects in all. The results from the study were released March 6 at the Florida Educational Technology Conference in Orlando.

Ninety-six percent of the teachers surveyed said they believe handheld computers are an effective instructional tool, and 93 percent agreed that "having a classroom set of handheld devices will have a positive effect on my teaching practice." Seventy-three percent agreed that handhelds "are more easily used in the flow of classroom activity than desktop computers."

Researchers cautioned against reading too much into the study's findings, and most experts agreed that further research is necessary. Still, in what Palm called the first major, systemic evaluation of handheld computers in education, the results were encouraging to advocates of classroom technology.

Through its PEP program, administered by SRI International's Center for Technology in Learning, Palm has donated a handheld computer for every student in 175 K-12 classrooms across the country so far, but the company said little research has been done until now on the effective uses of handheld technology in the classroom.

"This research provides us with invaluable feedback that will help Palm and its developers create the right solutions for education. We expect these findings to foreshadow the broader, year-end results to be released later this summer," said Mike Lorion, vice president of education at Palm.

The teachers who received handhelds for their classrooms had to submit an application as part of a competitive grant program and therefore "tend to be highly motivated technology users," the report said.

"We can't say the PEP awardees are very representative of all teachers by and large," said Valerie Crawford, lead project evaluator for the report. But "this research is still important, because we're investigating the issues that need to be addressed before the typical teacher can adopt the technology."

Of the 102 classrooms studied, 15 had classroom sets of handhelds for two complete semesters, and 87 had them for just one semester. The study took place in the fall of 2001.

Teachers praised the portability of handhelds and said they promoted student autonomy and responsibility, according to the study.

Teachers also reported that the devices have created some new problems in the classroom, such as game playing and inappropriate beaming, difficulties in synchronizing information, and easily damaged screens.