iPods as educational tools

While researching various issues for my final, I discovered that you can use an iPod for studying with. The only things I’ve ever seen it used for is music and games. I’m also sharing the information with our credit recovery teacher because her kids love using the iPods. Ken Fuson, in an interview with professors at duke university, noted “They become study aids for students, allowing them to fast-forward to a part of a lecture they may not have understood the first time or review complicated themes before exams (Fuson, 2006). Furthermore, “Students across the USA can download everything from instructions on how to perform an emergency medical procedure to a virtual architectural tour of campus. They also can be assigned to produce a "podcast" — audio and visual programming downloaded from the Internet — instead of writing a research paper” (Fuson, 2006). These are ways of using the iPod I never knew about. In addition, “other professors say using iPods and MP3 players actually increases class attendance, because students are excited to discuss what they have been listening to or watching”. Although this is antidotal information, perhaps iPods could be incorporated into the classroom in an educational manner so we increase student learning. John Parrot agrees with this in his article when he states “Not only is using iPods in education an opportunity to look cool, it fuels the learning process by catering to some students' passion for electronics and gadgets. Beyond cool and fun, they are interactive”(Parrot, 2007).
Duke University even did a study to see how well iPods work as educational tools which can be found at cit.duke.edu/pdf/reports/ipod_initiative_04_05.pdf. The report is an evaluation which lists the pros and cons of using iPods and is quite through.
This website lists 100 places to go for educational material that can be downloaded to the iPod. http://oedb.org/library/beginning-online-learning/100-ways-to-use-your-ipod-to-learn-and-study-better

Fuson, K (2006, March 14). iPods now double as study aids. Retrieved April 15, 2008, from USATODAY.com Web site: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2006-03-14-ipod-university_x.htm.

Parrot, J. (2007, May 7). Using iPods in the classroom promotes interactive learning and more effective studying. Retrieved April 15, 2008, from Associated Content: The People's Media Web site: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/230656/using_ipods_in_the_classroom_promotes.html.