IPods in Instruction

I have considered ideas on using IPods in education. Apple has created many educational aspects to their products, not excluding their IPods. All the websites I looked at pretty much mentioned Podcast; which is something we have discussed in class. One suggestion I appreciated was using the basic use for music to get students interested in other cultures, to hear their music and speakers or movies. All basic IPods come with a picture viewer on it as well. Using this to being pictures to the students in a new and interesting way. They could view normal things, but it would be "on an IPod!" It would be a new cool technology thing. The students at Duke who received the IPod were able to use it in so many ways! One of the uses was to improve a foreign language accent by listening to the language on their IPod.

I think the biggest plus of using an IPod in education in our day and time, is the accessibility. One of the educational websites talked about the students liking the fact the audio and video possibilities are portable. You can put some ear plugs in anywhere; the doctor's office, the mall, car trips, in between classes, in your bed, the possibilities and places are endless. Not only can you take it with you anywhere, but you can stop the media and start it right where you left off later. You also have the ability to rewind to re-listen or watch something, or fast forward to a new thought.

One of the few cons, but it is a big one, is the price. One of the cheapest IPods that can show video and audio is in the $250 range; something most college students can't afford.

Links:
http://t4.jordan.k12.ut.us/t4/content/view/212/37/
http://cit.duke.edu/pdf/reports/ipod_initiative_04_05.pdf