What is the tool? I-pod Touch. Yes, the i-pod touch that millions of kids and adults alike use to download and listen to their favorite songs can now be used for educational purposes with the thousands of downloadable applications - apps - made specifically for the family of Apple-Mac technology, including the i-pod touch.
How can it be used? For student use in the classroom, students can listen to class pod-casts, national pod-casts such as CNN Student News, and teacher created pod-casts that parents can use to keep updated as well. This mobile device allows the students more freedom to learn on the go.
Also, There are apps for the i-pod touch that specifically address many educational needs such as, for Language Arts, an app called Dragon Dictation, a free speech-to-text app, as well as apps that lead to informational sites such as Dictionary.com. Students can also use the device to gain access to directions, instructions and tutorials on virtually any type of technology available.
Furthermore, When a teacher wants to include new technology in a lesson plan, she can save valuable time by listing links to websites, videos and applications that the students can use to become familiar with the technology at their own pace. This could be extremely helpful in an integrated classroom where students might move at very different paces. The students who understand the technology can move forward with an assignment while the teacher focuses her time on helping those who need additional instruction.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this tool? The advantages include direct access to the world wide web, straight from the device, to download applications without the use of a computer. The teacher can select a program for use in a lesson and if she has access to class i-pods, the lesson can begin immediately.
The only huge disadvantages I can find are the size; the screen is small and not conducive to reading for long periods of time, and the cost; an i-pod touch averages $150 to $200 for one, making it difficult to have enough for each student, unless they own one themselves.
Who is the audience for this tool? Before researching the applications available for the i-pod touch, I would have thought middle to high-school age children. However, upon further research, I have discovered several instances where 4th and 5th graders are using the i-pod touch to play games that practice math skills, study current events and geography, and to get help writing essays for English.
Where can we learn more about this tool? Here is a video describing how to download apps to the ipod-touch. This video is blurry at times but I chose it because a kid made this you-tube video and I think students would respond to that:
Here is a wonderful site that has a list of iPod Touch apps that are appropriate for education
Here is a link to iphonefootprint.com - This site has links to many educational games and apps for use in the classroom.
What is your opinion on the usefulness of this tool? I believe this tool is very useful for the tech-savy students of today. Students stay focused and interested in the material they are learning when they can research material at lighting-fast speeds, and having an i-pod touch at hand is like having a mini-computer at their fingertips.
Selena Fischer
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