This would be a device that would be very similar to existing PDAs, but much more limited in functionality.
Specifically, you could only load software onto them using a passkey unique to each instructor. That means no games unless the instructor sees fit.
They should support some form of wireless networking, to allow instructors and administrators to insert items such as class schedules, homework assignments, appointments, the class syllabus, instructor and administrator contact information, and any information that would otherwise be distributed on paper.
The institution should have control over the modification and redistribution of data they placed on the PDAs. Instructors should have control over what applications may be run during their class. (Limit calculator use in math class, for instance.)
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I could support this if the school both owned AND assumed responsibility for the equipment at no charge to the student since it would be under their control.
It goes without saying that the student/user would also need to be able to import and export assignments and other information they are accountable for (and have a right to) from their home computer or other equipment.
When I was in school, PDA meant "Public display of affection"--like necking in the halls--and was verboten.
Our kids' high school requires that all cell-phones be 'off' during classes because it turns out that many electronics are just a distraction. Also, texting during an exam is a problem. I can agree with this. But they forget to turn them on at the end of the day and I can't call them--don't like that.
Parents still get to see an electronic gradebook on a website and I would support the use of it to make future assignements, but because schools pay a tremendous amount to the companies they contract from for these web services, I'm against them. These companies promise amazing functionality, but a third of the time, their websites don't even work.
Now you're proposing a whole school-based network--with the current trend of 'outsourcing', without permanent IT professionals to run it, it's a disaster waiting to happen. And schools can bare afford to pay teachers, not IT people.
I like this idea, but i think that they need to be controlled by the teacher, so the teacher has a control panel at the front of the class, or a master PDA which can turn on and off different modes of all PDA's in the room, so only applications and files relavent to their class are available, or if they have free time, allow anything. also, i think this actually could be cost effective, since schools struggle to buy new textbooks, e-books could replace them, each day or week, etc, a new chapter is loaded onto all PDAs in the class. students no longer have to carry 40lbs of textbooks home (high schools are being sued for the resulting back problems in students), and the school doesnt have to pay $100 per book plus rebindint every few years. sure, they would still need to pay for the material, but if you eliminate shipping, printing, and all of the other costs of producing real books, the cost would be reduced dramatically. think about it, if for each student you reduce the cost of 5 textbooks by $30 each, thats $150 per student per year, i think that would at least offset the cost of this system.
Maybe this could be piggybacked on a Kindle--all except the digital textbook part, because the Kindle can't really handle images of large pictures or tables. Amazon would allow the school system access to and control of (administrative privileges) of a small part of the Amazon site, the part dedicated to that school's schedules, homework, etc.
I think Amazon ought to seriously consider this as a "wedge" application. Even if it made little money for them directly, indirectly it would make the Kindle a Standard, which is what it needs for long-term success.