In this era of economic uncertainty, budgetary allocations for education seem to be as bleak as everything else. It really is a sad state of affairs to be honest, but this just is common knowledge, and this complaint is one that is true no matter what the country’s economic state is. Education always seems to be under funded. As a country we want to be a player in the world market, but as the 21st century continues to churn away, we are being left in the dust.
Constantly we hear about educational growth in other countries and we see the labor force becoming stronger and stronger in other countries. Educational plans that integrate technology into curriculum in hopes of bringing 21st century learning experiences to classrooms are birthed seemingly by the hour. Some prominent standards that have been heralded as the techno-integrated battle cry are ACOT2, the ISTE-NETS, and the P21 Framework. With all of these standards, plans, and approaches to neo-educational practices there is the need for computers. Many of them give a subconscious nod to classroom integrations that require 1to1 initiatives. The idea that students are using computers everyday to create their learning experiences.
I recall watching a movie a few years back called Along Came a Spider. In this movie, there is a private school, and a classroom that is featured. In this classroom, every kid is assigned a computer, and instruction takes place there. At the time I marveled as well as scoffed at the scene. I though, “Well another fantasy of classrooms that would only happen for the children of privilege”. The reality is that now, several years after the film, this set up is a reality for many schools.
To bring all of this back to the subject of the iPod Touch and education, despite budgetary limitations, these devices provide a viable alternative to 1to1 computers for students. The iPod Touch is essentially a microcomputer and can be integrated into the classroom in a way that makes this Hollywood private school scene a reality for all children. Now before the criticism starts to fly in respect to my thoughts, let me pose the following proof of this, and offer some pedagogical ideas at the same time.
The iPod Touch out of the box contains several really slick applications that can be integrated into lessons. The Touch comes with the following items: a Notepad, Calculator, Music Player (iTunes), Movie Player, Safari (Web Browser), Mail Client, Maps, You Tube, Photo Library Program, Address Book, Calendar, Stock Tracker, Weather Tracker, and integration for the Nike+ running kit. Right at the get go, it is loaded. In addition to this, more applications can be downloaded to the Touch; many of these programs are free.
With these tools, teachers can have students research right from their desk with the web browser, listen to instructional podcasts, take notes, schedule tests. These may seem like small tasks, but imagine the Touch being used as part of a curricular format.
Here is a scenario:
The class is beginning a new unit on Elizabethan England. Each student is assigned an era category to explore, be it clothes, theater, the plague, you get the idea. The student can research the subject from their desk and take notes; this can be done either on the Touch or with a pen and paper.
By doing this there is no need to schedule library time, or computer lab time. It allows the teacher to have students construct meaning instantly by allowing them to explore subject area at a whim.
Another Scenario:
An economics teacher proposes the classic “let’s follow a stock” activity. Students can track and note their stock choices easily from their Touch.
Still Another:
The past two options seem rather obvious, but let’s take this to a not so typical classroom situation . . . Physical Education! EArlier when I rattled off all of the pre-loaded applications I mentioned the Nike+ system. Now, many people are not familiar with this tool. It is described as:
The Nike+iPod Sports Kit is a device which measures and records the distance and pace of a walk or run. The Nike+iPod consists of a small accelerometer[1] attached to or embedded in a shoe, which communicates with either the Nike+ Sportband or a receiver plugged into an iPod Nano or an iPod Touch 2nd Generation. If using the iPod, iTunes software can be used to view the walk or run history.
| “Nike+.” Wikipedia. 2009. Wikipedia. Web.19 Apr 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike%2BiPod>. |
The student can track their progress in running based activities. This system will actually allow students to see how many calories they burn running. I recently spent some time with some PE teachers in Texas and had the chance to ask them how they use the iPod Touch in their classes, and one of them shared the following activity with me.
The teacher brought in multiple food items. These included candy bars, chips, oatmeal, and salad. They created for the students a”market”. The deal was that students could select items from the market at the end of class based off of the calories burned during the class. The interesting part of this was the learning that took place. Students were disappointed to learn that the only items they could “purchase” with their calorie currency was salad!
This activity showed students how many calories food items have in them and the amount of activity that would be needed to burn them off. Personally I would have never thought of this, it truly is a brilliant activity.
These examples are only a few of the applications that are out for the Touch in classrooms. These examples only use the pre-loaded applications, but as I noted there are thousands of other applications that can be downloaded. Applications like Periodical Tables, Unit Convertors, Graphing Programs, Photo Editors. All of these can be found at the Apple iTunes Application Store.
Given these few examples, I think it is fair to say that as an educational tool, the Touch truly is extraordinary and can certainly fill many of the gaps that lack of standard computers leave for students in classrooms. They are inexpensive and have countless uses.
For further classroom applications, check out the web exhibit created by some colleagues of mine at: http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/story.php?itemID=16472
Please stay tuned for further info on the iPod Touch in later blog entries.
~P
