i Pods

From foreign language and music lessons to sharing photo slideshows to podcasts and more, the iPod's portability and digital content storage make it a great educational tool. Check out these sites for lessons, tips, and more on how iPods are being used in K-12 and college classrooms -- and on how you might use them in your classroom too.

Apple's iPod in the Classroom
Start your exploration into teaching with iPods by taking a look at Apple's official iPod in education site. The first page is a quick overview of some classroom uses of the iPod. The Lesson Plan page contains more than a dozen activities for a number of grade levels and content areas, with print materials and audio files available for download. The iPod resources section lists tutorials and how-to guides on recording audio and pushing information to other iPods. In the Learn More section, you can read numerous case studies on how iPods are being used successfully in both K-12 and collegiate classrooms.

iPod in Education
Although a bit difficult to navigate, iPod in Education is a great resource for the teacher who is comfortable using technology and wants to jump into using iPods. Begin by clicking the links in the Main Menu. The Download section contains several tutorials and tips on using iPods in the classroom, while the forum, available to members only, offers users an opportunity to share questions and ideas. The Reviews section lets members voice their opinions on the latest pod-related software, books, and accessories. Don't miss the link section as well for more resources on iPods in schools.

iPods Enter Duke Classes
In fall of 2004, Duke University gave each entering freshman an iPod and invited faculty and students to explore how the devices could enhance both the academic and student campus life. After a full year of the experiment, Duke now is offering iPods only for students in specific courses where professors have targeted plans to use the tools. This Web site details how the iPod made a difference in many classes, including nine case studies with audio samples and photos of students working with iPods. The site includes links to overviews of both the first year of implementation and the 2005-2006 revisions; both are helpful to the educator interested in learning from other's successes and struggles with the technology. Finally, don't miss the link to the list of courses currently using iPods.

iPods at Chapin School
The Chapin School, a tech leader among independent schools, now is experimenting with iPods in 8th grade. This Web site will evolve as the year progresses, but current resources include links to other iPod sites and quotes from several K-12 educators currently using iPods. But what is most valuable to educators are the e-mails, policies, and materials available here. (See the Class 8 iPod Information and What Kind of iPod to Buy links.)

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