iPods, Education and You

1. About this page

1.1 Ownership, contributions and history of the page

Who	When	What
	July 2008	This page was created the page as part of the FET8611 course. Please comment on this page by visiting the Comments section at the bottom of this page. You may reuse the content of this page under the knowledgeGarden copyright policy.
Anyone can freely add to this page.

1.2 Summary of this page

This page aims to provide educators with ideas for using iPods as a learning tool for staff and students. It also aims to alert you to the advantages and disadvantages of using iPods as a learning tool; provide you with methods to overcome disadvantages; provide tips to ensure success when using an iPod; and provide information and links to related software, knowledgeGarden pages and web sites.

2. Background

While not all learners are Net Generation learners, the number of Net Generation learners is increasing. Today’s generation of students are referred to as the Net Generation. Other terms used to describe this generation include D-gen (Digital Generation), or Digital Natives. Many Net Generation learners are not as successful at school as they could be because of their non-traditional learning styles (Jackson, S, para 2). Net Generation learners think and process information “fundamentally differently from their predecessors” (Prensky, 2001, p1). As Dr Bruce Perry states, “different kinds of experiences lead to different brain structures” (Prensky, 2001, p1). Characteristics of Net Generation learning styles include the following: Learners:

• Like to receive information very quickly, and therefore have little patience for lecture style or “tell-test” instruction;

• Like to engage in parallel processing;

• Like to multi-task;

• Prefer graphics based materials rather text;

• Prefer random access to materials rather than learning being logically sequenced;

• Learn best through social networks;

• Thrive on instant gratification and frequently being rewarded for their efforts; and

• Prefer to play games rather than doing “serious” work (Prensky, 2001, p2).

It is also interesting to note that studies have shown that right brained thinkers are visual learners who think in pictures, while left-brained thinkers are auditory, linear learners (Jackson, S, para 2-3). In addition, studies have shown that some learners, particularly right-brained learners, perform better on tasks when they have been allowed to listen to music (Jackson, S, para 2). Research also suggests that music can assist students to complete tasks, lead to enhanced learning and reduce anxiety (Jackson, S, para 2).

3. iPods and You

• Do you know what an iPod is?

• Have you ever used an iPod?

• Have you used an iPod as a learning tool?

• Do you know someone who has used an iPod as a learning tool?

4. URinvited2

If you answered yes to any of these questions, URinvited2 share your insights by commenting in the appropriate sections below.

If you did not answer yes to any of the above questions, URinvited2 to share your comments too, but, please visit the following websites first or any other relevant websites or information sources.

• http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-ipod.htm

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod

5. iPods in Education

Ways iPods can be used as a learning tool

Administrators:

iPods can be used by administrators to record meetings, manage professional development activities, and as a means to keep contact information on colleagues, external agencies, and students (Meserve, n.d., para 1).


Teachers:

• Recorded Lessons

• With an iPod and microphone, or a computer with a microphone and appropriate software, teachers are able to easily record a lesson (Baugh, 2005, p1). Teachers could then upload these lessons to an online location to enable students to access and download this information to their iPod in a place and at a time that is convenient to them (Baugh, 2005, p1). By recording lessons in an appropriate online website or network, teachers can share their lessons and teaching resources.

• Information delivery

• As iPods are capable of handling audio files, images and text they can be very useful for delivering information. For example, it could be used for delivering commentaries on a novel being studied; or it could be used for giving students information via video clip on a topic that is to be discussed in class or content that is to be discussed in an assignment. By using a program such as Pod2Go, students could download relevant documents related to their study to their iPod. (Baugh, 2005, p4)

• Assessment

• iPods can also be used by teachers as an assessment tool. It could be used to record a student’s ability to read, including the use of running records; comprehend texts; foreign language progress; and for recording student’s understanding in a subject. These saved assessment items could then be shared with parents via email or by burning files to CD. Further, it can be used to record samples of a student’s work, both print based and computer created. (Baugh, 2005, p2).

• Language teaching

• With a program such as iTunes, an iPod can be used to teach languages very successfully. For example, iTunes can use record words and phrased with cover art images or words to teach a language. In addition the audio can also be given meta data via the comments section of the audio file’s information settings, which will enable iTunes to be searched. (Baugh, 2005, p3).

• Audio books

• Audio books can be downloaded onto iPods, which can be used as a tool to foster students’ interests in reading. (Baugh, 2005, p5).

• Podcasting course material

• Podcasting formats such as enhanced Audio, movie and PDF files, enable important and relevant information to be delivered to a student’s computer or iPod automatically. This means information can be delivered to the student’s iPod without any effort on their part. (Baugh, 2005, p5).

Students:

Left brained thinkers could use their iPod for listening to instructions and information orally, while right brained students could use iPods to receive instructions and information through images. Alternatively, educators could prepare instructions and information for their students in an audio-visual manner, and thus meet the needs of both right and left brained thinkers.

• Digital Stories

• Students can use iPods to deliver and share digital stories, which contain audio and images, audio only, or text only (Meserve, n.d., para 3; Baugh, 2005, p6). Images may be student created scanned images or digital photographs. In addition, the digital story could be delivered as an enhanced audio book that contains chapters and images. (Baugh, 2005, p6).

• Pod-guides

• Similar to an audio book, a Pod-guide enables students to provide a guided tour of a variety of different situations. For example, students could produce their interpretation of a local museum, an information guide about the local area or to provide an explanation for a technology design project. (Baugh, 2005, p7).

• Podcasting

• Podcasting enables students to share information with a real audience. Information shared may relate to happenings in the classroom, school or institution that they are involved with. It may also be used for creating radio shows. (Baugh, 2005, p7).

• I teach students in an Applied Media program. I assigned a podcasting project that had the students reporting on issues and events taking place in and around the college. They worked in a group to produce a podcast each week, with the position of producer rotating among them. The podcasts included the same level of production as their radio projects. It was a great success, because they recognized that they don’t have to be hired by a radio station to distribute their stories to the world. I even made them research and create the necessary XML code to post their podcasts. I think it is much more important (and fun) for students to become creators rather than consumers in using new technology. - Steve Roberts

• Documentaries

• For documentary style projects, such as creating oral histories (Meserve, n.d., para 4), students could easily record material, from interviews, information delivered by experts or images such as photographs or scanned images, to their iPod. (Baugh, 2005, p8).

• Reading Records

• Students could keep a record of their own reading progress by completing reviews of books, by recording themselves reading aloud (Baugh, 2005, p8). Students can also retell the stories of others (Meserve, n.d., para 4).

• Listening Activities

• Students can listen to stories and other information (Meserve, n.d., para 4).

Advantages of using iPods as a learning tool

• Some iPods allow users to surf the net through a wireless link. Great for research.

• Students could achieve better results by listening to music as it can help with task completion, enhanced learning, anxiety reduction (Jackson, 2007, para 2).

• Students can listen to materials recorded on to their iPod at anytime or any place.

• Use of iPods can reduce students’ dependence on computer labs and libraries (Brookshire, 2007, p2).

• iPods can increase students’ engagement with classes and research (Brookshire, 2007, p2).

• From a teacher’s perspective iPods can be a very valuable tool as it allows you to integrate audio seamlessly into the curriculum. Video files, audio files and images can be uploaded onto an iPod. These video, audio and image files can be particularly useful in assisting a student to catch up on missed work as a result of being absent (Meserve, n.d., para 3).

• iPods can be used to review materials and thus enhance students’ understanding of topics.

• Students can record all or parts of a discussion, lecture, or interview for later group review.

• iPods have the capacity to become an audio reminder.

• Educators can upload materials, to an online location (or intranet) recorded to iPods could assist those students who are struggling to grasp concepts, or those students who have been absent (Baugh, 2005, p1). Consequently, the struggling student could watch a video clip on an iPod and re-play it a number of times to enable them to fully grasp the concept being taught. In addition, students who have difficulty remembering things could replay video, audio and/or sound files often to assist them to learn new concepts or to complete set tasks (Meserve, n.d., para 3).

• This particularly benefits absent students and those students who struggle to grasp concepts.

• Absent students are able to catch up on missed lessons or lectures in their own time.

• Distance learners (such as home schooled and nomadic learners) might benefit, subject to access to internet. They could also record, upload and podcast their own responses to lesson material.

• ESL (English as a Second Language) students who may be struggling with vocabulary could have flash cards uploaded onto their iPod to enable to see an image, hear a word used in a sentence, and read the word in text. Again, these students could re-play the files on their iPod as many times as they needed to until they are satisfied with their knowledge and understanding (Meserve, nod., para 3). It also enable students to prepare for class, to practice speaking (for example, for the IELTS speaking components) to ensure that their pronunciation is clear, grammar is addressed and that their speech flows naturally.

• By reading aloud, students can listen to how they sound, self-check their reading errors, and identify ways to improve their reading skills. It can also be used by teachers and parents to review progress and for students to keep a portfolio of their reading progress over time (Baugh, 2005, p8).

• iPods are fashionable, powerful, versatile and ultimately cool, as they connote entertainment, rather than education. If you package homework in the right way, it can be done on those long bus journeys across the city, freeing up time for the more prosaic assignments students are likely to take home from your colleagues in other faculties. And given the wealth of quality iPodable resources available on the World Wide Web, it’s not difficult to find suitable material to complement class-based learning. This can be listened to at the student’s optimal pace and repeated until it hits home: The iPod is a very patient teacher!

• There are a myriad of online language resources with supporting worksheets that are free. For example, for teaching a subject such as French, there are a number of podcasts online which are for French learners, with supporting worksheets. These resources are ideal as they enable second language learners to learn at their own pace.

• Students can watch and listen to presentations that are stored on their iPod anywhere and at any time (Citing iPods Sitting in the Classroom, 2008, Advantages of Using iPods in the Classroom, para 5).

• iPods can store a myriad of audio/video/imaged based resources. As they are tiny, portable devices, taking up very little space, they are a great tool for learning on the move (Citing iPods Sitting in the Classroom, 2008, Advantages of Using iPods in the Classroom, para 5).

• iPods can have huge storage capacities. Some iPods have an 80 gigabyte hard drive (Citing iPods Sitting in the Classroom, 2008, Advantages of Using iPods in the Classroom).

• iPods and Special Needs Students: Creating a podcast can be a highly motivating activity for any learners, and particularly for those who have speech and communication difficulties. It encourages them to practise sounds and words they find challenging, and to strive for their 'best take'. (Using Podcasting to Support Language and Communication)

Disadvantages of using iPods as a learning tool

• Belanger has identified a number of difficulties when using iPods. Difficulties identified by Belanger include:

• Problems being experienced when trying to integrate multiple information systems;

• Issues with purchasing or licensing digital content;

• Limited documentation and training;

• Lack of variety of input devices or tools for integrating audio and text (Brookshire, 2007, p2).

• Some iPods lack the ability to record information, which is a standard feature of other mp3 and mp4 brands.

• If you are not savvy with technology, using iPods can be very frustrating (Citing iPods Sitting in the Classroom, 2008, Disadvantages of Using iPods in the Classroom, para 2).

• It can be time consuming to set up presentations (Citing iPods Sitting in the Classroom, 2008, Disadvantages of Using iPods in the Classroom, para 2).

• Not all students have access to technology as some learning institutions may not have sufficient funds to provide them, and some families may not be able to afford to purchase them (Citing iPods Sitting in the Classroom, 2008, Disadvantages of Using iPods in the Classroom, para 2).

• There may be file format issues

• There may be commercial/territorial interoperability issues to resolve.

Ways to overcome disadvantages

• To reduce levels of frustration, take the time to explore and test out the various functions that iPods can perform before using them as a learning tool, and seek support through relevant help documents such as iPods in Education YouTube video clips and Getting Started: A guide for using iPod and iTunes for teaching and learning. Further, you could seek support from those who are familiar with how to use them.

• While presentations can be time consuming to set up, you could work with a peer to set them up; or you and your peers could take turns to prepare presentations for your students. Thus, your work load is reduced.

iPod Tips

For those who are unfamiliar with iPods:

• Watch the iPods in Education YouTube video clips which provides a good overview for iPods and their use in education. Part 1 of the video clip covers basic iPod operations - setting the master volume, Audiobooks, iQuiz maker, and exporting quizzes to the iPod. Podcasts, iTunes U, adding your own video, world time, and stopwatch are discussed and demonstrated in Part 2 of the video clip. (Yuen, 2008, Tech Learning – Dr Steve Yuen, 2007, para 1)

• Read the Getting Started: A guide for using iPod and iTunes for teaching and learning which provides information on what iPods and iTunes are and why you should use iPods and iTunes in education. This guide also provides suggestions for how to use iPods as a learning tool as well as instructions for how to perform various tasks on your iPod such as how to add content to your iPod, how to manage student use of iPods and iTunes, and how to use an iPod as a professional development tool. Further, it provides information on various iPod related accessories, and it provides curriculum ideas, success stories, and iPod lesson starters. (Apple Inc. 2008, p1-41).

Considerations by learning institutions

Policy developers in learning institutions, such as schools, need to check, and revise their policies as needed, to ensure that their policies do not prevent the use of iPods and other mobile devices as learning tools.

6. Related iPod Software

• Pod2Go

• Has the potential to expand the functionality of your iPod by putting a variety of textual content onto it for your reading enjoyment. For example, you can get the latest news, weather and stock information. You can also download song lyrics and text files, and read them. You can also jot down text notes, which is useful when note-taking or jotting down your thoughts. In addition, your iPod can be turned into your Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) as it allows you to synchronise your address Book contacts, iCal calendars, mail messages, stickies notes or Safari bookmarks to your iPod. Further, it enables you to import music from your iPod back to your computer, which can be useful if you accidentally delete song from your hard drive. (Softonic International S.L., 2008, para 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9)

• Audacity

• Audacity is a sound recording program that enables you to record and edit audio files. It also enables you to export audio files as mp3 files, which are compressed files. (Sourceforge.net, 2008, para 1)

• iTunes

• iTunes enables you to transfer music, photos and videos to your iPod and then enables you to view them (Apple Inc., 2008, para 1)

• iTunesU

• iTunesU enables college and university lecturers to easily distribute content to iPods. This enables students to search, download and play course content, just like they would do with videos, music files and TV shows. (Apple Inc., 2008, para 1)

• PoddoX

• It is is an alternative software for data transfer between an iPod and a PC without iTunes (Citing PoddoX, 2008).

• Zelek Software

• Music Liberator v5. 1 is a program which enables you to copy music, movies, playlists and rating from your iPod or iPhone to your computer (Zelek Software, 2008).

• accessTunesv1.7 is a program which enables you to play iTunes music through any web browser or even through iTunes on another computer (Zelek Software, 2008).

• iTunes Album Locator v3.0 is a program which enables you to find and copy missing album artwork into iTunes for use in iTunes and on the iPod (Zelek Software, 2008).

• iPodPhotoLiberator v1.6 enables you to recover and copy photos from your iPod to your computer (Zelek Software, 2008).

• Anapod Explorer 8

• It is a Windows management application for your iPod which allows you copy and backup your iPod's music and playlists to your computer and integrates your iPod into Windows Explorer as a device under My Computer. As a result, a familiar Explorer interface is provided and can be used to transfer and manage on-board music, playlists, contacts, notes etc. A trial version is available for free. (iLounge, 2008)

• CopyGear

• CopyGear is an application for Mac operating systems. It backs up and transfers content from your iPod back to your Mac's hard drive and into iTunes. A free trial version, with limited features, is available. (iLounge, 2008)

• PodUtil 2.5.1

• PodUtil is a shareware program. It is an easy-to-use utility for viewing the songs on your iPod and copying them in a customisable organised manner to your computer. PodUtil also automatically add these songs to iTunes and can rebuild your playlists if you choose. (iLounge, 2008)

• gtkpod 0.99.4

• gtkpod is a freeware program. It offers a platform independent graphical user interface for iPods using GTK2. It allows you to upload songs and playlists to your iPod. It supports ID3 tag editing, multiple charsets for ID3 tags, detects duplicate songs, allows offline modification of the database with later synchronisation etc. (iLounge, 2008)

• WebAttack

• A free program which downloads songs from your iPod to your PC for free (WebAttack Inc., 2008).

• iGadget

• PartyPro

• A program that enables you to access a great party guide from your iPod screen (Helmes Innovations, 2008).

• Canto Pod

• A program that allows users to download song lyrics onto their iPods (CNET Network Inc., 2008).

• iDirectionz

• A free program that enables you to store simple driving directions on your iPod (CNET Network Inc., 2008).

• iPodRip

• It is a program that enables you to recover your songs and playlists quickly and easily (Devor, 2008).

7. Types of iPods

• iPod shuffle
  • Plays music, podcasts and audio books.

• iPod nano
  • Plays music, movies, TV shows, videos, audiobooks, podcasts, photo slideshows and games.

• iPod classic
  • Plays music, movies, TV shows, videos, audiobooks, podcasts, photo slideshows and games.

• iPod touch
  • Plays music, movies, TV shows, videos, audiobooks, podcasts, photo slideshows

For additional information on these products related to price, capacity, number of songs stored, number of photos stored, number of hours of video footage and battery life, visit the Apple Store.

8. Related products

• Apple TV

• iPhone

• mp3/mp4 player

9. Related pages in this community

• MLearning

• Podcasts

• RSS

10. Related web sites

• iPods in Education YouTube video clips

• Getting Started: A guide for using iPod and iTunes for teaching and learning

• Thomas's (2006) article on iPods in Education provides an excellent introduction to the use of iPods for educational purposes, and this recent (2008) Online Education Database feature offers 100 ways to use your iPod to learn and study better. Although this is not a free service, PodcastPeople.com will enable teachers to create materials for their students' ipods, and if you're looking for "quick and dirty" tips to pep up your students' writing, Grammar Girl has heaps of tutorial podcasts! ESL PodCards is also highly recommended for those working with non-native speakers.

11. Contributors list

Your efforts to contribute to this page are appreciated. Please add your name to the list of contributors below so that your efforts can be acknowledged too.

Contributors to this page

	Stacey	Userpage:NickSaunders	Wendy Paton Janice White Chris Byrne?	Paul WatkinsSteve Roberts

12. Comments

Your comments and feedback are appreciated. Please add your comments by clicking on the + link below.

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13. References

Apple Inc. (2008). Download iTunes. Retrieved 7 August 2008, from http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/.

Apple Inc. (2008). iTunes U and Mobile Learning. Retrieved 7 August 2008, from http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/.

Apple Inc. (2008). Getting Started: A guide for using iPod and iTunes for teaching and learning. Retrieved 7 August 2008, from http://images.apple.com/education/products/ipod/pdf/iPod_Getting_Started_Guide.pdf.

Baugh, D. (2005). Classroom Uses for iPod and iTunes. Retrieved 8 August 2008, from http://homepage.mac.com/dvineducation/podcastfiles/ClassroomUsesforiPodandiTunes.pdf.

Brookshire, R. (2007). The iPod Revolution: Coming to a Classroom Near You. Retrieved 8 August 2008, from www.osra.org/2007/papers/brookshire.pdf.

CNET Network Inc. (2008). Canto Pod 2.2. Retrieved August 13 2008, from http://www.download.com/Canto-Pod/3000-2141_4-10455677.html.

CNET Network Inc. (2008). iDirectionz1. Retrieved August 13 2008, from http://www.download.com/iDirectionz/3000-2074_4-10455683.html.

Citing iPods Sitting in the Classroom, (2008, August 8). In Blogger. Retrieved August 8 2008, from http://2-e-learnipod.blogspot.com/2007/05/advantages-of-using-ipod-in-classroom.html.

Citing Wikipedia, (2008, August 4). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 4, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod.

Devor, J. (2008). iPodRip. Retrieved August 13 2008, from http://www.ipodrip.com/.

Eslpodcards.com (2008). ESL Podcards. Retrieved August 7, 2008, from http://www.eslpodcards.com/index.php.

Helmes Innovations. (2008). Party Pro for iPod. Retrieved August 13, 2008 http://www.helmesinnovations.com/partypro/.

iLounge. (2008). 2008 iPod + iPhone Buyer’s Guide. Retrieved 13 August 2008, from http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/ipod-software.

In PoddoX. (2008). PoddoX. Retrieved August 13 2008 from http://www.poddox.com/

Intext citations and reference list, (2008). In KnowledgeGarden: Our Learning Community. Retrieved July 30 2008, from http://knowledgegarden.usq.edu.au/tiki-index.php?page=MLearning

Jackson, S. (2007, February). Can iPods Help Students Raise Their Grades? Retrieved August 8 2008, from http://www.nku.edu/~nkuwip/Students/Essays/ENG%20291%202007.pdf.

Meserve, S. (n.d.) iPods in the Classroom. Retrieved August 8 2008, from http://www.schoolcio.com/showArticle.php?articleID=196604276

Modified Media, Inc. (2008). PodcastPeople. Retrieved August 7, 2008, from http://www.podcastpeople.com/.

Online Education Database (2008). 100 ways to use your iPod to learn and study better. Retrieved August 7, 2008, from http://oedb.org/library/beginning-online-learning/100-ways-to-use-your-ipod-to-learn-and-study-better.

Prensky, Marc. (2001). Digital Natives Digital Immigrants. Retrieved 6 August 2008, from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/ Prensky%20-
%20Digital%20Natives, %20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf.

Quick and Dirty Tips (2008). Grammar Girl. Retrieved August 7, 2008, from http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/.

Softonic International S.L. (2008). Pod2Go. Retrieved August 7 2008, from http://pod2go.en.softonic.com/.

Sourceforge.net. (2008). Audacity. Retrieved August 7 2008, from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/.

Thomas, M. (2006). iPods in education: Innovations in the implementation of mobile learning. The knowledge tree: An e-journal of learning innovations, 10. Retrieved August 7, 2008, from http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2006/edition-10/ipods-in-educationinnovations-in-the-implementation-of-mobile-learning.

Wallener, D. (2008). “WiseGeek: What is an iPod?”. Retrieved August 4, 2008 from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-ipod.htm.

WebAttack Inc., 2008. Snap Files: iDump. Retrieved August 13 2008, from http://www.snapfiles.com/get/idump.html.

Yuen, S. (2007, December). Tech Learning: iPods in Education. Retrieved August 7 2008, from http://scyuen.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/ipod-in-education/.

Zelek Software. Zelek Software. Retrieved August 13 2008 from http://www.zeleksoftware.com/

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