Using iPods in Instruction

I had no idea how useful iPods really were until I did the research for this post. Honestly, the only reason I got an iPod was so that I could listen to music and lots of it! I had no idea that it could do everything from listening to music to recording a podcast! Using an iPod in a classroom can do anything from playing some music that goes along with your lesson, to playing Martin Luther King's "I have a dream..." speech in History class. Using iPod's in the classroom started off by students' being able to use them in music class. Then it was offered into the foreign language classrooms so that the students' could download their lessons. This would be especially helpful because when learning a foreign language, you must practice at home. By having your lesson downloaded onto your iPod, you have help with you at all times especially when learning how to pronounce a word.

Duke University was the first school to integrate iPods into the classroom. They were given a grant that gave every freshman a 20 gig iPod. The professors at Duke uploaded their class notes as well as lectures and made them available for the students to download onto their iPods. This would make it easier for students to study on the run especially if they have jobs! Unfortunately, select students decided to use their iPods for reasons different from educational purposes. Because of these students', only freshman students enrolled in music and foreign language classes are able to get an iPod. Such a shame because this really was a great idea.

I found this website to be very helpful in learning how to use iPods in the classroom. http://www.schoolcio.com/ShowArticle/1014