I recently read an article by Shelley Pasnik - iPod in Education: The Potential for Teaching and Learning.
She had a number of significant messages that I am in agreement with. If the true role of technology in schools - whether it be for student use, teacher use or school administration - is to improve learning, iPods provide a means to bring a device into education that students "live" with.
Now, don't think me to be brand specific as I do not own an iPod. I have a Motorola Q and a SanDisk MP3 player. The SanDisk will only play MP3's. The Q can do the full suite - MP3's and Windows Media.
What I do know is that the iLife Suite of applications that run on a Mac platform rock. So to create content that can be played back on any of these devices, you need a starting point. I am an AVID PC user, but the value of the iLife suite leaves me begging on a PC. I'll always grab my PC to work in MS Office - I am just way more productive. But to create a DVD or a movie or a podcast - well, I am sheepish to admit that the iLife Suite kicks.
In applying the software to the classroom there has to be a benefit. Shelley relies on the research of Richard Mayer that suggests a few things that make educational sense regardless of platform: Students learn better
- from words and pictures than words alone.
- when words and corresponding pictures are close together.
- when extraneous words, sounds and pictures are not present
- from animation and narration than animation with text
- from animation and narration than animation, narration and text (woah!)
Other implications include the impact of the technology on low-knowledge and high spatial learners than from high-knowledge and low-spatial learners.
When students have the ability to mix familiar objects (pictures and videos) with traditional artifacts, they increase their cognitive framework and have an opportunity to learn in a multi-modal way by using iPods (or any digital media player). The added feature of anywhere, anytime access to rich digital content provided by iPod like devices just increases opportunity for learning. The key is that the content is matched to curriculum outcomes otherwise the media is entertainment that does not enhance learning . (Shalom Fisch '05)
Shelley suggests that iPods add independence and individuality to work but can also be used collaboratively. Authoring software (iLife) allows students to exchange, share and merge their work as co-constructers of knowledge.
As a part of the Mac Pilot in Foothills School Division or the work taking place in any of our schools, iPods or other digital media devices may well be the technology that pushes the challenge of improved student learning to the next level.
James Aitchison
======
Of interest - http://citeseer.ist.psu.edu/449489.html
