Why iTeach with iPods Article

I found this article very enlightening. I was aware of the entertainment abilities of the iPod but had no idea it could be used as a teaching tool or had the capacity to be used in the ways it was presented in the article. The educational uses are definitely innovative. Who would have thought that this portable device could help students develop research skills, oral skills and writing skills? Not I. It engages students and puts them in the driver's seat, allowing them to produce their own product or to continue researching from the efforts of others.

Recording presentations to be fine tuned and shared with classmates and the teacher is a great advantage. Needing a desktop/laptop with iTunes, an iTalk microphone and, of course, an iPod is neccessary to perform these tasks. Having access to a free service like yousendit.com is also convenient and helpful in sending large audio files to the instructor. Although, set up for this type of technology seems a bit complicated, it sounds like it is worth the trouble. Training is very important and a campus/district server must have an RSS file that will do ongoing updates.

The information given in this article was overwhelming. It discussed enhanced podcasts. They can contain images hyperlinked to websites using Chaptertoolme, which is also a freeware, but must be prepared by the teacher. The podcasts can be reviewed over and over again and can be stopped and started while students go into the embedded hyperlinks. I can see why using podcasting allows more class time for discussion and higher order learning activities. Students can download all the files in a certain topic at once, organized by the instructor. I think organizing podcasts by topic helps students organize their thoughts for future discussions.

There's also a notes function on the iPod, but the iPod has to be set to an external drive through iTunes. This is something I would like to explore and learn how to do. This seems like an invaluable function. Students could review and study from their iPod, anywhere they are! And using the voice notes function, through a microphone, sounds like something I would be interested in using immediately. I could read my class notes for my graduate classes, recording them and studying with them. I could even take notes as I read the chapters for this class, reviewing them at a later time. Therefore having access to them whenever and wherever I am.

The history project on the Cuban Revolution, discussed in this article, used iPods to record and analyze interviews and promoted further investigations on the topic. The advantages presented was that it created the development of a new curriculum unit at Georgia College and enabled the students to build on prior research. Another advantage to podcasts is the 24/7 availability. Confidence in reading and oral skills were developed through using iPods as well. You can repeat, re-do, revise and review your work, building better proficiency in reading and oral presentations as well as becoming more in tune with the key points at hand. This helps initiate the process of reflection. These advantages are positive, interactive, and beneficial.

I believe that using podcasting along with blogging helps students process and integrate what they have learned in their class discussions. In blogging, writing helps you recall, review, retain and process information. It makes you think and allows you to express yourself in the written word, while podcasting can help you refine your oral skills through presentations and improve reading skills. I do believe that practice makes perfect! Using these methods of technology, collaboratively, fosters an exchange of ideas between the student and teacher, student to student, and presents different aspects on the subject, while developing a unity of hybrid community learners that continue to learn together.

Needless to say, there are downsides. This article honestly exposed some drawbacks to using iPods for podcasting. Until the student has gained expertise with these functions, technical support is needed. The iTalk mike's audio quality is not great either. The instructor will most likely spend an enormous amount of time downloading information and uploading and preparing for podcasting. Training and expertise is essential to develop this method of teaching and the set up of an RSS feed is a must. The Really Simple Syndication file must be continuously updated as well. Of course, in using any technology, you must always allow for technical problems, too. However, it appears to be a learning approach that keeps the students interested, engaged and the correspondence of further learning in their hybrid community continues beyond the end of the semester.

The project, conducted by Deborah L. Vess, using iPods, created a learner-centered environment where students were continuously engaged and encouraged. Its many functions, newly known to me, assisted her in developing a community of explorers with a common goal. I agree that podcasting enriches the learning experience and is probably appropriate for some students at the high school level, and definitely at the college level. It brings a new perspective to education, and although the mike technology needs to be improved, the advantages and various uses are well beyond what my expectations where of this tiny device.

I recently purchased a video iPod for the sole purpose of entertainment, not aware of all these other functions and freeware. As a music teacher, I use it to play songs my students are learning. I am just mastering the skill of downloading songs from my CD's and from iTunes, categorizing them into my monthly units. Using the iPod, as a tool for notes, is something that has sparked my interest and I feel it will enhance my studies. I can't wait to attempt to try it. I really don't think I'm ready to delve into the very technical aspects of its other capabilities yet, and don't have a need as an elementary teacher now, but this article has brought a new awareness to the possible use of iPods as an educational tool.

Possibly, some day, after receiving my Master's degree, if I decide to teach at one of the local Colleges/Universities, I may decide to utilize some of these iPod techniques. I agree with Professor Vess, from Georgia College & State University, in the philosophy that using technology as an educational tool is worth considering, if it helps accomplish something better than I can do without it. I am thankful to the History teacher, Deborah L. Vess, who wrote this article, and to Professor N. Luongo, my graduate Reading teacher who has brought it to light. KUDOS ladies!
http://moscow.spc.edu/@@96325ddcac862207c4dcc9252ff270af/courses/1/GE-570-HYB-08FASG/content/_5395_1/why%20iteach%20with%20ipods.pdf