PROJECT GRAD STUDENTS AT BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE RECEIVE PALM HAND-HELD COMPUTERS
July 10, 2001, Bloomfield, NJ - This summer, high school students in the Project GRAD enrichment program at Bloomfield College are receiving more than a taste of college life. Each student is also receiving a Palm M100 Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) to help with classroom assignments, note-taking and organization. Upon full participation and completion of the five-week Project GRAD Summer Institute, the students will be awarded the Palm M100 to keep.
“We’re trying to create a better-prepared student, so we need to give them the resources they need to succeed,” said John Johnson, Vice President for Student Affairs at Bloomfield College and Executive Director for Project GRAD. “The Palm computers are getting the students excited about their educational experience, and excited about the prospect of going to college.”
Project GRAD is a summer enrichment program funded by Lucent Technologies that serves rising juniors from inner city high schools. Project GRAD guarantees scholarships to all students who participate in two summer institutes and graduate with a 2.5 grade point average. More than 45 students from Shabazz High School in Newark are participating in the program at Bloomfield College. The students commute to campus Mondays through Thursdays to take courses in math, science, humanities, communications, and SAT preparation.
According to Johnson, Bloomfield College is the only Project GRAD site in New Jersey to offer the Palm computers, which are being used across the curriculum. “We’ve loaded the Palms with a scientific calculator and a periodic table of the elements for use in science and math classes. In addition, the students have a Project GRAD calendar of events is in there, along with a ‘To Do’ list, and Project GRAD phone numbers and assignments,” he said.
Students must bring the hand-held computers to class every day. To master the devices, the students are also taking a special course in PDA Technology taught by Bloomfield College professor Kenneth Myers. Often while the class is being taught, students are experimenting with their computers and are figuring things out on their own. “All the experimentation and discovery really boosts their self-confidence,” said Johnson.
The Palm M100 initiative was funded by Bloomfield College in partnership with Project GRAD, Lucent Technologies, and Shabazz High School.
Johnson is pleased with the Palm initiative so far and he hopes that it will continue to pay dividends long after the students have completed Project GRAD. “This really opens up so many possibilities for the students to enhance their everyday lives,” he said.
