Apple's new iPod Touch seems to be the new craze in the classroom and for many iPod advocates. iPod Touch offers many unique features previous versions on the iPod did not. Users can access the internet where there is a wireless connection and have the world at their fingertips. iPod touch. Touching student lives in the classroom is a collection of accounts from educators explaining how the iPod touch can revolutionize a classroom. This exhibit is making “mobile learning come to life” and hopes to change the world of education.
The iPod Touch offers “application” downloads which can be purchased in some cases accessed for free. These applications are explored through this iPod Touch collection exhibit and truly show how the iPod Touch offers something special to a classroom. Features like iTouch Flashcards allow students to drill and practice content being studied in class. There are even four planetarium applications science teachers may find applicable to their classrooms. Physical Education teachers can take advantage of the personal fitness applications available by Apple. You can check out this exhibit to see more user accounts of how applications are revolutionizing their teaching here!
Adding a microphone and ear buds is simple to do on the new iPod Touch! Teachers can record podcasts for students which makes creating lessons simple!
iPod Touch is a definitely something completely new to the education scene. In Waynesboro we have 2 iPod Touch mobile labs which are constantly being signed out and used by teachers. The awesome thing is you can import data using a memory stick to the iPod Touch so students can have your lesson in the palm of their hands. I use them in my room with various free education applications that the students can use independently, like handwriting applications and basic number recognition. Watch this YouTube video of a student explaining a project he has been working on in the classroom.
Do you think the iPod Touch is something to consider having in a classroom? Does it offer something new that no other technology can? Is the iPod Touch going to make a difference on learning? These are all questions to consider before purchasing for your own classroom and here for our discussion!
The iPod Touch offers “application” downloads which can be purchased in some cases accessed for free. These applications are explored through this iPod Touch collection exhibit and truly show how the iPod Touch offers something special to a classroom. Features like iTouch Flashcards allow students to drill and practice content being studied in class. There are even four planetarium applications science teachers may find applicable to their classrooms. Physical Education teachers can take advantage of the personal fitness applications available by Apple. You can check out this exhibit to see more user accounts of how applications are revolutionizing their teaching here!
Adding a microphone and ear buds is simple to do on the new iPod Touch! Teachers can record podcasts for students which makes creating lessons simple!
iPod Touch is a definitely something completely new to the education scene. In Waynesboro we have 2 iPod Touch mobile labs which are constantly being signed out and used by teachers. The awesome thing is you can import data using a memory stick to the iPod Touch so students can have your lesson in the palm of their hands. I use them in my room with various free education applications that the students can use independently, like handwriting applications and basic number recognition. Watch this YouTube video of a student explaining a project he has been working on in the classroom.
Do you think the iPod Touch is something to consider having in a classroom? Does it offer something new that no other technology can? Is the iPod Touch going to make a difference on learning? These are all questions to consider before purchasing for your own classroom and here for our discussion!
I am curious as to how you use the iPod in your classroom. Do all students have access to the content or is it supplemental for those who have their own iPods? The potential difficulty seems to be same issue that exists with universal access to all technology. I realize that many, if not most, children these days own iPods, but certainly all do not. I wonder if schools could purchase large numbers of them at bulk educator rates. I would suppose then that realistically use would have to be confined only to school premises, perhaps within a lab setting. Maybe Apple could toss in free iPods with all Mac computers purchased for a school computer lab since they are currently doing that anyway with new Mac purchases for college students.
ReplyDeleteGary, I only have a few for my students but we use them in a small reading group setting. Right now the students are using handwriting applications to practice forming letters. They definately do not leave my table and the students are given a talking to before we even touch them each time just to remember how to treat them nicely!
ReplyDeleteAs for the price, it would be awesome if a free one could be thrown in with the purchase of a laptop or something. I did receive mine at an educators discount but even that wasn't enough!
I wrote a grant last year for two iPods for my classroom and they have been received well. I used them in conjunction with debate class, where we taped the debates and had students edit out the bad and keep the good. The thought was that each student could view their performances as review on their own time. The major drawback came with the video taping and storage. iMovie and the film takes a lot of hard drive space and the process was more lenghty than I had anticipated. I am attepting to remedy this by applying for an additional grant this year for portable harddrives. We will see.
ReplyDeleteI am fascinated by Lauren's use of the iTouch in the classroom. This is definetly something I wanted to attempt, but have not been able to come up with the project parameters to justify the cost (?). Too, until RCPS cans its policy of no phones/internet connection for students without going through their server, I am not sure how the iTouch will differ from the Mac laptop labs.
My other concern has been the potential for students ruining or "losing" the iPod. I have been extremely hesitant to allow them to go home with a kid, but this has been the antithesis of my grant. I just have to let go sometimes and hope that students will rise to the occasion.
I am interested to see how student react to this form of technology in the classroom and exactly who will use it is my question. Students who already have ipods, touchtone phone, etc. are of course a step ahead of those other students who do not have phones or such high tech phones as that! But the learning curve will be interesting (which is the point I am trying to make!). Also for older teachers who are oblivious to high tech options of education. This is a great opportunity to engage students in technology I must say.
ReplyDeleteAlso there is questionable doubt as to who is responsible for the ipods if something were to happen to them, the school board, the student? When given such expensive equipment, all of these factors are questionable.
I believe that iPods would be very successful in the classroom, but would take some time for teachers to get used to and be able to use effectively. With any new piece of technology, teachers need to be given ways or ideas on how to use them.
ReplyDeleteI recently sat in on a class with a guest speaker who currently teaches in Roanoke, VA. He is also a huge advocate for the use of technology in the classroom. He has worked with Apple on a couple of different projects and has received free iPods and things from them as a result. So I believe that you can find the resources out there if you truly want to incorporate them into your classroom. Having one for each student might be more difficult but having one or two is still a step in the right direction.
The speaker used his two iPods in a variety of ways. He has used them, like Lauren, to help with handwriting, but has also found ways to use them in other subjects. The one I found the most interesting was how he used the technology in Spelling. He wanted to differentiate the spelling words in order to challenge his more advanced readers. He would give each student an individualized spelling list. He would then have each student create their own spelling test by recording themselves pronouncing each word and saving it to the iPods throughout the week. On Friday, the students would take turns with the two classroom iPods and listen to their individual spelling tests.
Even though these are only a few examples, if everyone shares best practices I believe that iPods could become extremely beneficial in the classroom.
I think the iPod Touch, like other technology can be used in classrooms to ehance classes. However, whether students are using iPod Touches or Computers, or some other means of technology, I think they learn all the same. I don't think iPod Touches bring anything extra to the classroom, that a Mac or other type of technology can't. It is just a different form of learning. With any technology, there is the possibility that something will go wrong, break, or students can be caught "playing." However, if the students are monitored, I think the iPod Touch can be an asset to the classroom. However, with budget crunches that exist, iPod Touches in the classroom may not be a reality for alot of people for a while.
ReplyDeleteWhile watching the YouTube clip of the 7th grader who was playing The Sims 3 on the iPod Touch, I had a flashback of a previous post from Jackie. The boy had to play the game to see what it's like to live in someone else's shoes; however, how do we really know that that was the case for the rest of his classmates?
ReplyDeleteMoreover, I assume that each student was working individually. I know the boy mentioned that he switched his iPod with another student to see how the other "lived"; however, they weren't working together. Perhaps this idea may be a bit far-fetched, but I couldn't help but think about the individualism that technology can foster. Cell phones and iPods can tend to "isolate" people from one another. For example, have you ever walked around campus and yelled hello to someone, but didn't get a response because they couldn't hear you through their iPod? In other words, I feel as though these advancements in technology isolates us and brings us together simultaneously in such a weird way...
I think that this would be something to consider but the Touch I don't think offers anything too different from other actual educational computer software/applications. I remember as a child playing Math Blasters where I learned math and had fun all at the same time. This is something that I think these Ipod Touches are offering with the educational applications. This can be a great tool for a student to work with that may possibly having some trouble in school and understanding the work. Using the educational applications may give them a chance to get more practice while using a different vehicle to do so, rather than just the usual student-teacher and classroom interaction.
ReplyDeleteI have spoken to a few teachers who have small camcorders for use in the classroom and assignments are given where the student takes them home and returns with video for a project. I have also heard of students taking IPOD's home to listen to podcasts in preparation for class.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely the homework of the future. It engages the learner (today's learners) and stimulates the senses that are not used for traditional homework. Yet again, I should stress that these methods should be used in addition to traditional methods for balanced learning.
These things are worthy of our consideration. yes, they seem cost prohibitive now ... but in a few short years, few people will be without them. I would consider it a 'near term' technology (within 10 years) worth exploring in education.
ReplyDeleteI think the iPod touch is great from the classrooms. There seem to be so many things teachers and students can use them for. I think that the iPod gives students a different way of looking at course material.
ReplyDeleteLike Jessica said I do not think that the iPod touch should replace traditional classroom teaching. Especially for kids in K-12 because at that age they need structure.
I know a principal in North Carolina who using it in here school. She said that the kids really enjoy using it,and the kids like the fact that teachers see them as responsible enough to use them. Also, they like mixing their day, and not just having to listen to the teacher all day long.
I think the iPod touch is a great way to change up the flow of the teaching.
This is a very timely topic for me, Lauren. It seems like apple is trying to integrate iPod touches into education. My cousin in Ohio received an iPod touch because she's a teacher. The whole school system did so they could explore uses for the classroom. I was really surprised when she told me this, because it's a very rural area in Ohio.
ReplyDeleteTo me, it seems like an iPod touch is just like a mini-computer. My high school alma mater recently moved to having laptop computers for every student in the school system. The computer is like a book that they have to keep with them everyday. I wonder if the iPod touch will become like this. If so, I wonder what are the pros and cons to distributing laptops to all of the students vs. and iPod touch? Which platform can provide the most educational material that students need in a variety of disciplines?
I think the iPod Touch is a great addition to learning in the classroom. I’m a firm believer in anything that allows students to resources outside of the classroom. I feel that that alone encourages learning not only on the specific topic at hand, but learning in general.
ReplyDeleteI hope that more teachers consider using this, because as technology savvy as most kids are today, they are going to need something like this to even stay interested in school. That’s a scary thing to think about, but I think at some point it does become a realization. Kids need to be occupied and if they are being occupied with a learning tool, then I think teachers have succeeded.