Using iPods In Instruction

Another way of incorporating technology into instruction has introduced itself through the iPod. Students and faculty are learning how to develop and deliver course content through the use of an iPod. They are being used for a new thing called podcast in foreign language courses, radio productions, recording, and language studies. In an article by Judith V. Boettcher,(http://campustechnology.com/articles/48799/), she says "students review course requirements and see that they will be learning, creating, and presenting with their iPods, as well as reading text and listening to course content with them."

It has even been said that iPods are being used in more than the basic courses. In an article found on (http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2005/12/ipodupdate.html), it says that "the use of digital technologies expanding beyond foreign languages and computer science to engineering, dance, medical physics, biomedical engineering and math". There was another student in this article who used an iPod as a visual glossary for a type of medical/biology class. However, there are things that can go wrong with the use of iPods. Some students have taken advantage of this new in class technology. Instructors have had to ban the iPod from the classrooms on testing days because of students using the iPod for cheating on tests.

I have some concern of the use of them myself such as: Will students be required to have an iPod? If so, are the schools going to supply them? If the schools are not going to supply the students with iPods, who is going to pay for them? What about students who can't afford an iPod? Is the use of an iPod in instruction really all that it is hyped up to be? I see where iPods can be used in instruction, but I am not completely sold on the idea of it yet. I do not know if it is necessary.

This is the link to another interesting article (http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/future-city-police-officers-on-the-beat-with-their-ipods/)