The PDAs will be used in concert with the School of Nursing's high-fidelity patient simulators like SimMan, a lifelike mannequin that can be programmed to simulate a number of life-threatening ailments. As symptoms arise or procedures progress on SimMan, the students will be able to use their PDAs to quickly access information or view videos of procedures they may need to perform.

Sophomores will be the first to use the PDAs and will be required to purchase the new technology, which will be used in lieu of five required textbooks. The PDAs cost around $350 and require an additional purchase of $200 software, said Linda Siktberg, director of the School of Nursing.

"The cost is about the same as the textbooks," she said. "But the speed at which our students can access information and the ability to download free updates, which keep the information current, make the PDAs a far better reference tool for our students to have. These important tools are becoming more and more prevalent in hospitals and medical settings."

Students will also be able to access patient scenario videos with their PDAs. So, along with having a document describing a procedure, they'll also be able to watch a video, which will reinforce the text they just read, she added.

Instead of seeing students rifling through book bags and flipping through large textbooks to find what they need, students are now executing quick searches on their PDAs and finding nursing diagnoses, current nursing interventions and drug information much faster. Students are also able to access the latest information, thanks to Ball State's Bracken Library providing access to many databases, said Kay Hodson-Carlton, nursing professor.

"Based on the number of correct responses sent via the students' PDAs, a professor can decide to move ahead or review the material just covered," she said. "Seeing the students embrace the technology is exciting; it's as if the students are racing to find the information to see who can find the correct answer first."

The PDA initiative is a result of a collaboration between the School of Nursing, University Computing Services, Bracken Library and the University Teleplex. Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, NuSoft and Skyscape are also partners in the project.