Handheld computing devices are every where from cell phones to PDAs to mp3 players. Students all over the world use these mobile devices every day, yet they are one of the first things banned from the classroom. Teachers are beginning to realize the motivational potential of these devices and are experimenting with their educational capabilities. iPodject was based on similar ideas and there are myriad possibilities for this revolutionary handheld computing device.
The resources on this site offer an introduction to iPods in education as well as several how-to videos and instructions to help teachers make iPods an integral part of their classrooms. The activities noted below were created using generations five and six of what is now referred to as the iPod classic (30GB or more recommended).
The majority of the ideas and examples listed below were borrowed from other sources and cited on the reference page. The majority of the information collected was discovered on Tony Vincent’s Learning in Hand, CNet's iPod Central, Apple Learning Interchange, and Teacher Tube. Original content and ideas created in conjunction with iPodject are property of Naperville Community Unit School District 203 and the Naperville Educational Foundation.
You're Right...
…until the iPod Touch, released fall 2007, iPod users had to create content using another device (e.g. computer, recording attachment, etc…). Whenever new technology is added ask yourself, What does this device do better then existing technology? Outside of being pocket portable, the iPod doesn’t do a whole lot more then your laptop computer. As the iPod and the computer travel closer to their Promontory Point, one thing remains the same: an iPod is married to the computer. The question is, how can we use it and other handheld devices for education?
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Short answer: A lot!
If you are completely unfamiliar with the iPod, you may want to watch Australian teacher Jonathan Nalder’s two-part video on iPods in Education.
Part One – volume, audiobooks, and quizzes
Part Two – podcasts, iTunes U, video, world time, and stopwatch
*You could also listen to one of Tony Vincent’s podcasts on using an iPod in education.
Now that you know a bit more of the potential, below is a list of possibilities collected from various internet, audio, and print resources.
| Audio | Video | Text | Games | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Podcasting | Video Podcasting | Stories | iQuiz | Stopwatch |
| Audiobooks | Multimedia | Interactive Stories | Flash Cards | |
| Music | Power Point | Podquests | Other ideas... | |
Now that you know the potential of the iPod, begin thinking up ways to use it in your classroom. There are already a plethora of ideas out there and many of them are collected and updated on this site. Begin searching for ideas and lessons on audio, video, text, or games from iPodject’s home page. If you discover an idea or lesson that you think belongs on the iPodject web site, please email!