iPod-Emily

Why is this important for future teachers?
IPods are tools that many children today are familiar with and enjoy using. They are also tools that are fairly easy to use for both teachers and students. They have many uses for the classroom. Some of these uses include audio tests, fluency recordings, interviews, podcasts, writing prompts, second language listening aids, and music for music classes. IPods can aid in the learning for all students, but especially for audio learners, second language learners, and students with disibilities. They also can help engage learners since iPods can be considered a toy when used at home, and therefore interests students since they get to use a "toy" to learn. Students also like using technology to learn and this is a very useful form of technology.

What is my personal connection to iPods/imp3 players?
I got my first iPod about three years ago. I have used it regularly since then, but only for recreational purposes and most only for listening to music. When I learned that iPods and other forms of mp3 players can be used in the classroom, I found this very interesting because I had never thought of it. This inspired me to want to learn more about the use of these tools in the classroom. This learning has led me to realize that there are many uses for iPods/mp3 players in the classroom, and hopefully I will be able to use them in my own classroom some day.

Best Practices
It is very important for teachers to engage their students so that meaningful learning can occur. Technology is a way to engage students by enticing them with tools that they use regularly and enjoy using. Technology also can make teaching easier and more organized. See below for some important uses of iPods and other mp3 players.

Uses
Podcasts are some of the main uses for iPods/mp3 players. Many mp3 players can have a recording device which students can use to create their podcasts. Otherwise, students can create their podcasts on a computer and then transfer and listen to it on one or many mp3 players. Podcasts can be about anything from radio shows to interviews to teacher announcements. The main purpose for iPods/mp3 players outside of the classroom is for listening to music. However, music is an important part of education and mp3 players can be used for students to listen to music from a music class. In high school, I took a music class that required us to be tested on recognizing various compositions. In order to study for these tests we had to use CDs, but the compositions were not in order and there were other problems. Also they were very expensive as we all had to buy a set of CDs. If we had been able to download the compositions and listen to them on our iPods, it would have been much easier. Young readers must have their fluency tested. I have seen classroom teachers trying to test the fluency of all of their students and this can get very busy and complicated. If students were able to record their own fluency with a mp3 player, the teacher could later count their words correct and record this in a more relaxed environment. Young students often are not very competent readers and are learning how to read. Allowing students to follow along in books as the book is read to them on an ipod is a great way for them to listen to readings without having to have a teacher or other adult with them. This is a very common and practicel use for iPods/mp3 players. You can see a video of this below in the media resource section. Mp3 players can also be very helpful for students learning a new language. This includes both English Language Learners and students learning a foreign language. It is often difficult to learn a language without being able to hear it often. By allowing these students to take home a mp3 player with recordings of the new language, students can listen to it at home and simply hear the new language a lot more often than in their language classes. Teachers of young students often have to read instructions for tests since the students are not yet able to read them. If a teacher has recorded all of the instructions on mp3 players, students can listen to the instructions at their own pace and not have to wait for the whole class to go through the test together. This can benefit students at all levels, those who are higher acheiving and take less time to take tests, as well as those with learning disabilities who might need more time.
 * **Uses** || **Examples** ||
 * Podcasts || Interview grandparents about immigrating to America ||
 * Listening to Music || Listen to classical compositions for a music class ||
 * Fluency Recordings || Record and then go over the results with young readers ||
 * Listening to Books || Listen to and follow along with recorded books ||
 * Second Language || Listen to recordings in the second language. Good for both English learners and students learning a different language ||
 * Audio Tests || Verbal tests that can be given to students individually ||

Some Cons
 IPods or other mp3 players can be very costly so teachers may need to petition districts to get the necessary funding. Teachers also would need to be instructed on how to use the devices. However, these tools are definitely worth the price!

Resources
**Blaisdell, M. (2006, March). In iPod we trust. //T.H.E. Journal, 33//, 30-36.** The author, an IT support consultant serving higher education and corporations worldwide, claims that iPods have become very useful and important in the classroom. He mentions specific examples of how iPods are being used in classrooms around the world. One such example includes a student using an iPod to interview his grandparents who are from Guatemala. The author also discusses useful functions of the iPod such as playback, audio content processing, and related software capabilities. Lastly, he discusses how to put iPods in the curriculum. This includes how teachers and students need to be instructed on how to use iPods specifically in the classroom.  Since iPods can be very useful in the classroom, teachers need to learn more about them. They need to know how the iPod can be used through specific examples. They also need to know how to use the iPod. Lastly they need to know what functions it has so that the iPod will be used to its fullest ability.  **Berson, I.R. (2009, March-April). Here's what we have to say! podcasting in the early childhood classroom. //Social Studies and the Young Learner, 21//, 8-11.** The author, who did research on a school that used podcasting in New Zealand, found that young students can use podcasting to learn in many ways. Podcasts can be used for content and communication by recording book readings, communicating with parents by showing class activities, and more. Very young children can use podcasts especially since they might not be advanced enough to write a story, but can tell it. Students can make connections between listening or viewing a podcast and then making their own about what they just learned. One of the main uses of iPods/mp3 players is podcasting. This article discusses ways that young children can podcast especially when they cannot write yet. Also, using a podcast to show parents exactly what is going on in the classroom is a great form of communication. Lastly, podcasts can be used as something to learn from as well as a tool to show what has been learned.

The author, a journalist who interviewed several different groups of people in the New Jersey school system, claims that iPods can have many uses in the classroom and be very helpful for students. One major claim is the usefulness of iPods for English Language Learners. Students using these iPods have learned English faster and are more motivated to do so. IPods are beginning to be used in other subject areas in New Jersey such as chemistry and have been shown to be beneficial in these areas as well. IPods also help teachers connect with students be allowing them to learn using a device that they are interested in. Teachers should be aware of how much iPods can benefit English Language Learners. These ELLs have shown tremendous improvement by using iPods. These iPods allow these students to record themselves and hear their pronunciations, listen to music in English as a fun way to learn English, and create podcasts. IPods also help all students learn better by motivating them and getting them interested in school.  The author, a researcher at the University of Redlands, claims that MP3 players can be very useful in the classroom, but are often a missed opportunity. He did research using several teachers and their classrooms to find the importance of MP3 players in the classroom. The author claims there are many potential uses of iPods including listening to music for music classes, lecture recordings, language learning, and as data storage. His findings showed that students were very excited and motivated to use the iPods. The only weakness he found was teachers were not connecting the curriculum taught with the iPods to the standards. Teachers need to know the pros and cons of using iPods in their classrooms. Teachers need to be aware of all of the different uses including having students learn music from music classes by listening to their iPods. Teachers also need to be aware that although, the iPods can make learning more meaningful and engaging, the curriculum taught must connect to the standards and not just be added activities.
 *  Hu, W. (2007, October 9). In some schools, iPods are required listening. //The New York Times// . Retrieved October 17, 2009 from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/education/09.html?_r=2th&emc=thoref=slogin**
 * Stiler, G.M. (2007, Fall). MP3 players : applications and implications for the use of popular technology in secondary schools. //Education, 128//, 20-33. **

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Media Resources
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**Langhorst, E. (2007). MP3 players in the classroom. [online video]. Retrieved October 1, 2009 from http://www.slideshare.net/elanghorst/mp3-players-in-the-classroom** The author, an eighth grade teacher, claims that iPods can be very useful in the classroom and shares some of his ideas about how to use them. He claims that the audio feature can be used for audio tests, recording fluency, oral history, and more. The image feature can be used for writing prompts and notes. He also discusses some equipment that might be needed such as levelators and microphones. Teachers should be aware of the many uses that iPods and other mp3 players have. This video/slide show shows a teacher’s perspective on how to use these iPods. The video gives many specific examples of how to use the iPod. It also lists other equipment that might be needed in order to use the iPods in the classroom. Teachers need to be aware of this equipment since they will need to request it with the iPods. media type="custom" key="4892507"

2nd Graders enjoy listening to their favorite books using mp3 players. This is just one of the many uses these tools have. media type="custom" key="4892467" Students follow along a lesson created by their teacher involving sign language by using mp3 players. This is another use of these tools. media type="custom" key="4892627"
 * Retrieved on November 24,2009 from http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=108851&title=MP3_Players_in_the_Classroom**
 * Retrieved on November 24, 2009 from http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=43132&title=Students_Using_Recorded_Lessons_on_iPods**