The Use of iPods in the Classroom

Programs have started using iPods in the classroom to aid bilingual students and science teachers. Also, iPods makes school more interesting for some students. One teacher found a useful way of incorporating it into the classroom instruction. She downloaded songs on the students' iPods, left some words out, and this forced the students to fill in the blanks. This is an expensive tool to have, but it is the job of educators to be able to reach out to all students.

Also, I read about Duke University sees a growth in iPod use in the classroom. The growth of iPod use has proven beneficial in the classroom at Duke University. The university has provided all students enrolled in DDI (Duke Digital Initiative) course a video or photo iPod depending on their course requirements. After students adapted to iPods, it became beneficial in the enhancement of classroom materials, lectures, or assignments.

iTunesU Can Be a Useful Tool For Teachers and Students

I think iTunes University can be useful to me as a teacher and student. There is a wide variety of materials and subjects available at no cost to the web. The material here can be used to support and reinforce classroom materials.

Currently, I am going to college to become an English teacher. As a teacher, I think iTunesU can be a support to classroom materials. Sometimes, a student may need an outside source to better understand what is being taught in the class. This is useful and an inexpensive way to reinforce classroom instructions.

As a student, technology had drastically changed since I was in school and iTunesU can supply me with beneficial information. I looked under the literature link and found several useful books. There was some features useful for writing skills, literary analysis, and other topics. These features are beneficial to me as a student, because I have forgotten or am new to many things that are taught in the classroom today.

Dr. Alice Christie's Site

I viewed Dr. Alice Christie's website. I took a tour of the Instructional Media Center (IMC). There, I looked at many useful ways to find assistance in the classroom instruction. IMC has a staff that maintains this blog. Also, you could check out library books there.

I think this site will be an added support in my classroom instruction. I plan on being a high school English teacher. I looked under Charles Dickens' London. There is information available here to assist students with research papers. There will be times when students have reading assignments. They can get the assistance needed here. This will allow me to give individual time to students who have less accessibility to the internet.

Wickipedia's Unreliability

Wickipedia can be reliable if certain precautions are taken to support information obtained from the cite. Virgil Griffith invented the search tool that identifies who makes changes to Wickipedia. The person doing research using this, should check other sources to see if the information matches. I wouldn't want to cite something within a paper using Wickipedia as the sole source. I would make sure the statement comes from Wickipedia and a backup source.

Also, it can be inconvenient. Just like when someone tells you something, you want to hear it from someone else before you believe it. A student working on a research paper may not have the time to look for other sources that back up Wickipedia. On the other hand, it can be used as a supporting source for others. I wouldn't trust its information over other sources, but it can be used to fulfill a works cited requirement.

NPR Podcast Experience

I listened to a NPR podcast that was about 5 minutes long. In Washington, Jiles Snider was giving a report. In his report,Iran is building an enrichment facility.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was demanding they prove it is for peaceful purposes at the 7 nation talk. If I was the type of person that kept up on current events, I would like listening to NPR podcasts.

NPR (National Public Radio) Blog

I read the NPR blog on Wickipedia. I have never heard of NPR like the majority of the things in this class. I didn't realize that the government played a part in radio broadcasting. This site would be convenient for people who try to stay up-to-date on the national news.

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

I viewed Randy Pausch's Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams. Although he was near the point of death, he was very positive and encouraging. He talked about the way people should live their lives or the values he felt people should have. Also, he passed on philosophies people have taught him.

Randy Pausch wanted students to have fun while learning something new. He revealed he did not have very long to live. Despite the circumstances, he was trying to remain positive. He had a good attitude and was enthusiastic. He started the lecture by telling the audience he was in better health than most of them and was making preparations for his upcoming death. He was an imagineer and made dreams come to life by creating virtual worlds. He thought a group of his students did extremely well, but he told them they must do better in reaching their maximum potential.

Pausch included bonding and group work in his classroom. Helping others is a part of working in groups and getting along. These group members worked on projects together and the students were regrouped every two weeks. I think this encourages students to learn by interacting with a wide variety of people. "Head fakes" was a major component of his teaching techniques. This strategy manipulated students to learn by having them think they are learning something else. It is an indirect approach to learning.

Also, he had other motivating ideas and philosophies. He said you should never lose your childlike wonder; keep what is valuable to us; and loyalty is a 2-way street. He talked about its not what you say, but how you say something. He discussed the importance of critics in life. People have gave you up when you are messing up and no one is saying anything. To me, this means just listen to what they have to say whether you think it is right or not.