Using iPods in Instruction

I explored several different websites and found the Duke University Website most informative on the instructional use of iPods in the classroom. In August 2004, Duke University distributed 1600 Apple iPod devices each equipped with Belkin Voice Recorders to entering first year students. The Center for Instructional Technology(CIT) coordinated an evaluation of the academic use of iPods, drawing on course-level feedback from student and faculty and administrators and important campus stakeholders groups.

The findings from their evaluation came from 15 fall courses taken by 628 students and 33 spring courses with over 600 students involved with iPod use. Foreign language and music courses integrated the device but its use also extended to other social science and humanities courses. It was found that Audio-intensive courses reported that the iPod increased the frequency and depth of student interaction with audio course content through portable and flexible access offered by the iPod. Digital recording capabilities ultimately generated the highest level of student and faculty and recording was the most widely used feature for academic purposes. The iPod's music database and hard drive storage capabilities were widely used by the first-year students in academic contexts.

It was found that the academic uses of iPod devices by the faculty at Duke came under its use in course content as a dissemination tool, as a classroom recording tool, a field recording tool, a study support tool and as a file storage tool. The benefits of the iPod by the faculty and students was its portability of digital course content and independence from physical materials. Its flexibility to carry around reduced dependence on lab or library locations and hours. It also became and effective and easy-to-use tool for digital recording of interviews, field notes,small group discussions, and self-recording of oral assignments.

After reading about all the wonderful uses of iPod in the classroom, I couldn't help but reflect on my college school days when I would carry my 6 by 12 tape recorder to tape my classes. I lugged that tape recorder around for four years and now in this day and age I can simple take out my credit card size iPod and record. We've come a long way and I can't wait to see what's coming next.