Ipod Touch in Education

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Permalink Reply by Jeff on January 28, 2009 at 9:13pm

www.classroom20.com/xn/detail/649749:Topic:215849

Hi Matt. There is an interesting discussion going on at the link above - sorry - I don't know how else to share it in this forum. We are expecting a learning lab with 20 touches any day and three teachers and I have been experimenting with a collection of 4. Feel free to join in - as I wrote in the other place - it would be nice to connect with people all trying something new. Jeff:)

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Permalink Reply by George Churchwell on May 22, 2009 at 2:42pm

We developed an iPod SDK development class for students. It lets the kid build their own iPod app in the Schools colors

Here is a sample application we provide for student development

http://iphone.timefold.com/training/myschool/

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Permalink Reply by Megan Iemma on May 22, 2009 at 4:30pm

There are some great ways you can use the touch...it;s something that I specialise in training teachers ....
There are a few projects you should look at:
Jenny Ashby @ Epsom Primary here in Australia and Louise Duncan @ Shepparton High (google them both)..they are running student based projects.

I tried doing a scavenger hunt (basic) to teach teachers about the ways you can use them in the classroom.

http://www.evernote.com/pub/meganaiemma/meganaiemmasnotebook/
(CHeck the PDF under iPods on this website)
Hope that helps..otherwise email me!
Megan

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Permalink Reply by Ian Grove-Stephensen on May 24, 2009 at 7:07pm

Matt, please do post regularly on your experiences with the Touch. I will be really interested to know if they settle into being a valuable tool of the trade, or one of those "good idea, but...." gadgets that litter the recent history of formal education.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Benson on May 24, 2009 at 8:38pm

Here is a good .pdf presentation file with ipod touch information presented by an Apple rep.

http://melbenson.com/docs/iPodTouch.pdf

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Permalink Reply by Deon Scanlon on June 13, 2009 at 10:56pm

Hi matt
I live in Tasmania, Australia.
Every student at my school (currently 90, but will be 200+ in 2010) has their own iPod touch. We are beginning to get rolling with these (the school only opened this year) but you can read my blog to keep up with progressions:
http://deonscanlon.edublogs.org

I would also be keen to follow what you do!

Ciao

Deon Scanlon

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Permalink Reply by George Churchwell on August 31, 2009 at 3:25pm

Here is an App that lets you create content on a PC and then publish it as an iPOD App.
http://www.t2000inc.com/MyApp/MyLesson/index.html

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Permalink Reply by Edwin Everett on June 14, 2009 at 6:49am

I'd stick to computer stations. I have 12 networked computers that are 12 years old and still work fine. Why use hand-held devices when a computer will do far more? There are tons of applications out there already for computers--many allowing for 2 or 3 kids to log in per station (e.g., www.pathoslearning.com), and a decent station can be had for about 50 bucks these days on craig's list or Ebay--less at garage sales--free if you go to businesses and ask for their old computers. They love the tax write-offs!

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Permalink Reply by Deon Scanlon on June 14, 2009 at 6:33pm

I can give three serious advantages handheld devices have over old desktops:

1. Kids want their own devices, and therefore DO use them;
2. Tech support - the amount of time old machines spend not doing what you want them to is far in excess of anything new. Our school system here won't provide support for machines older then four years... Do you have technical support staff at your school? If so, what do they think of so many old machines? Does the cost of new machines outweigh this? I think so.
3. Portability - the iPod can be used anywhere, anytime. Videos can be watched on the bus on the way home, or whilst lying in bed. Blogs and wikis can be accessed anywhere there is wifi (even at McDonald's and Starbucks!!!).

The iPod DOES NOT replace actual computers, though. It can be used for about two thirds of our ICT cross-curricular needs, with an overlapping two thirds being done on portable computers (we use MacBooks). Content-creation is very difficult on an iPod, but viewing content is fantastic!

Sure, the cost is considerably greater, but there are no restrictions on what you can do, based on system requirements.

Ciao

Deon

PS: Are your machines really 12 years old? They would have to be Pentium II computers, which were introduced in 1997, and the Apple standard was the PowerPC (the iMac was released in 1998) ... These machines wouldn't have flash or java support (well, not up to today's standards) and their processor power won't allow them to run current web browsers.

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Permalink Reply by George Churchwell on August 31, 2009 at 3:29pm

Here is a product that will allow you to create content for the iPOD touch customized to any topic you want. It is based on an Engine that uses Assessment Based Learning - This way you do not need to purchase content, make your own. Better yet it is currently free as it rolls into the market place. The only charges involving publishing to the App store and cutting you checks if you charge for your Apps.

http://www.t2000inc.com/MyApp/MyLesson/index.html

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Permalink Reply by Edwin Everett on September 10, 2009 at 4:47am

Yep, they're pentium II's and they use updated applications, including Java and Internet Explorer. Our tech support have no problem working on them--which they rarely have to do--in fact, it's the new comps they complain about, with motherboards going out due to crazy fast drives and overheating processors. All the Pathos Learning programs work just as well on these old machines as they do on new ones. I use them instead of textbooks, for instance. A lab such as mine can had for $1000 or even less if you know where to look. Add inexpensive wireless cards and you're set! We can agree to disagree about handhelds vs. stations. I use stations daily and they're key to nearly everything I do in my classroom.

Cheers,

Ed

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Thompson on December 8, 2009 at 11:14am

I have a question for all of you using the Ipod Touch, how do you go about syncing all the applications and settings on these, especially after students change things daily since they have access to the settings.

Do you sync them one at a time? Everyday?..... I know I can use the Iphone configuration tool for some settings, but not to sync the applications....

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