It's Not Just a Toy

How do we convince parents and others that an iPod is not just a toy? This may be a difficult task for the very skeptical, but none the less, an important undertaking. Incorporating podcasting into our classrooms can be a very beneficial tool to enhance the learning community. It is our job, as educators, to reach all of our unique and individual learning styles. Not all of our students learn in the same format. Some do great with lectures and note taking. Others do better with video learning tools, while others still, need written and verbal information. But according to all the brain research, children learn best when we incorporate the multiple intelligences. When we include music, kinestetics, visual-spacial, and logical-mathematical, to name a few, we can be sure that all our learners are gaining insight from our teachings.
Why not bring that a step further . . . and really be sure we are reaching everyone? By incorporating iPods and podcasting into our daily teaching practices, we are using a tool that brings the information to another level. For example, students who struggle with hearing impairments and have difficulty concentrating on the lectures or verbal demonstrations, due to outside stimuli beyond any one's control, can take the recorded iPod lecture back their seats and review it over and over again until the information is understood. Another example, students who need constant reminders or reexplanations due to disabilities with attention and concentration, can review the recorded demonstrations at their own pace and stay on task much easier. A final example would include allowing students creativity with making their own podcasting in the subject being discussed. This has the potential of involving cooperative groupings and collaberative work.
So there you have it . . . iPods are not just for listening to music and playing games. What better way to appeal to kids in their education by involving multimedia tools!