An iPod for each pupil

[j17sparky]

What it keeps coming back to for me is why an iPod? It strikes me as "we're cool" rather than we've choosen the best product for the job. Do iPods support flash yet? As alot of our VLE content is flash based.

Id be interested to know what made an iPod better than a netbook. As apart from the slight advantage in portability (remember netbooks are smaller than 1 text book so its really not a big issue) netbooks win in managability, the fact that you can do the work on them rather than them just being a research/"these are your lesson instructions" tool, they can work at home on them, replacable batteries, and most importantly consistancy of variety of general and educational software (you can run your science software on a netbook, you cant and never will be able to on the iPod).

[rogerblue]

ipods, mobile phones etc etc when for example using technology to allow kids to access the vle on their mobile phones, so they can watch the lesson as their going home on the bus, as suggested by one of our tech obsessed HOD he had no answer to my statement ' if they haven't listened to you in class because your boring the pants off them why on earth would you think they would waste their own time on a repeat viewing?' he slunk away without a word!!


PS Boring he is, technology does not mask crap teaching!!!

[tmcd35]

What it keeps coming back to for me is why an iPod? It strikes me as "we're cool" rather than we've choosen the best product for the job. Do iPods support flash yet? As alot of our VLE content is flash based.

Id be interested to know what made an iPod better than a netbook. As apart from the slight advantage in portability (remember netbooks are smaller than 1 text book so its really not a big issue) netbooks win in managability, the fact that you can do the work on them rather than them just being a research/"these are your lesson instructions" tool, replacable batteries, and most importantly consistancy of variety of general and educational software (you can run your science software on a netbook, you cant and never will be able to on the iPod).

I questioned this at first. I mean great idea - but why an iPod.

But then I looked at the pro's and to be honest don't think I can come up with a better alternative

1. Small design, fits in shirt pocket
2. excellent touch screen interface
3. full web browser
4. wifi support
5. The App Store
6. iTunesU
7. Podcasts
8. vlogs support
9. Calendar
10. Pocket e-mail
11. Battery life

I'm sure there are other reasons. Your quip about the range of educational software is actually the very reason why the iPod is ideal. Have you seen the amount of apps available in the app store or the growing range of content on iTunesU.

Both my sister and my brother-in-law are at uni and swear by the iPhones for study content.

Besides, a netbook is too big to fit in your pocket!

[bossman]

[QUOTE=broc;411462]This is a very interesting question.
How many people can remember 'playing' with beads of mercury on the bench? Nowadays it is a major chemical alert needing the fire brigade & breathing apparatus if any gets spilled.... kids can only do 'safe' experiments in science now.
QUOTE]

I recieved coperal punishment for this (6 strikes of the cane accross the behind in front of the whole school)
Thanks for reminding me Broc

[somabc]

Just think how much you use your smartphone every day... checking the odd bit of news, finding out the weather forecast, etc. It's all finding little nuggets of information in the quickest time possible - the kind of thing that students need to do in lessons.

That is not a recipe for learning anything, that is a recipe for googling the answer and then not understanding why it is the answer.

Don't make me break out the learning pyramid!

[mac_shinobi]

I questioned this at first. I mean great idea - but why an iPod.

But then I looked at the pro's and to be honest don't think I can come up with a better alternative

1. Small design, fits in shirt pocket
2. excellent touch screen interface
3. full web browser
4. wifi support
5. The App Store
6. iTunesU
7. Podcasts
8. vlogs support
9. Calendar
10. Pocket e-mail
11. Battery life

I'm sure there are other reasons. Your quip about the range of educational software is actually the very reason why the iPod is ideal. Have you seen the amount of apps available in the app store or the growing range of content on iTunesU.

Both my sister and my brother-in-law are at uni and swear by the iPhones for study content.

Besides, a netbook is too big to fit in your pocket!

Nothing to do with the ipods but LOL @ this too...bet the teachers are loving this

"To help to create a culture of democracy, teachers will also have to drink their coffee and catch up on administration in spaces shared with children."

12. Use your ipod / iphone to listen to your own music to as to drown out noise from kids lol

[webman]

What it keeps coming back to for me is why an iPod? It strikes me as "we're cool" rather than we've choosen the best product for the job. Do iPods support flash yet? As alot of our VLE content is flash based.

Not forgetting the minute screen size compared to that of a netbook. How many existing educational resources are a) in a supported format and b) readable at that screen size.

[russdev]

Right been watching this..

I like the idea and any school willing to push the boat like this great. I can see lots of educational benefits to this think of Ipod yes got videos of the classroom teacher but heck lots of other good education videos out their. If got a school cutting edge like this maybe get someone with the skill to write an apps for the Ipod.

Students will always engage with new technology in better way then traditional methods if nothing else than cool factor (key is harnessing that surge).

Also in few years time doesn't matter what we think should be used it will be what ever the student brings in.

Sorry some of you may have missed some of the opportunities here..

[fayfrancis]

I like your thinking on this, it definately doesnt have ropey wifi though, mentioned a few things I hadnt thought of either

[webman]

Sorry some of you may have missed some of the opportunities here..

I don't think we're missing the opportunities at all. I think what we're trying to do is highlight some of the potential pitfalls of using devices like this in an educational setting with the types of children we have experience with.

Here's just a few questions that spring to mind. I'd be happy to consider it a good idea if most of these are met with sensible, sustainable and manageable solutions.

1. How do you prevent users swapping inappropriate material (pornography, copyrighted music/video) with each other?
2. Would you even know if that was happening?
3. What happens two years later when the batteries will no longer charge?
4. What happens when kids get frustrated with the device (see last point?) and decide to slam it on the floor/desk/out of the window?
5. How do you manage what software is available?
6. How do you prevent them from removing proxy server settings?
7. What happens if a student loses/forgets and is unable to partake in lessons?

I'm desperately not trying to be defeatist, but for my own justification I want to know how things will work in the real world. It's all well and good saying "this school introduced iPod Touches and it was fantastic" - but that's not very helpful to me.

[j17sparky]

1. Small design, fits in shirt pocket - see below *
2. excellent touch screen interface - its not better than a keyboard though
3. full web browser - afaik without flash, so not so full
4. wifi support - same as just about any portable device nowadays
5. The App Store - Is it better than the software we already have? Id doubt it will be
6. Podcasts - Again most devices can do this
7. Calendar - fair enough, the calenders better than most, but again isnt an exclusive feature
8. Pocket e-mail - most devices do this
9. Battery life - This really depends how you look at it. With it being a "cool music/video/games thingy" its going to be used before and after school and during lunchtimes...

* personally i dont see having a keyboard and bigger screen as a disadvantage, especially when it can potentially replace several textbooks, and even workbooks.

[broc]

I need convincing;

I would like to see how the use of iPods fits in with the curriculum; how & when it is used, in what subjects, and also what other technology is available to students in school and at home?

It is clearly not a substitute for desktop PCs where processing power or screen real estate is needed, such as media studies, graphics, photography, technology?

It am not convinced it is tool for sustained use in office type applications, for writing, preparing presentations, desktop publishing, preparing coursework either.

[fayfrancis]

I don't think we're missing the opportunities at all. I think what we're trying to do is highlight some of the potential pitfalls of using devices like this in an educational setting with the types of children we have experience with.

Here's just a few questions that spring to mind. I'd be happy to consider it a good idea if most of these are met with sensible, sustainable and manageable solutions.

1. How do you prevent users swapping inappropriate material (pornography, copyrighted music/video) with each other?
2. Would you even know if that was happening?
3. What happens two years later when the batteries will no longer charge?
4. What happens when kids get frustrated with the device (see last point?) and decide to slam it on the floor/desk/out of the window?
5. How do you manage what software is available?
6. How do you prevent them from removing proxy server settings?
7. What happens if a student loses/forgets and is unable to partake in lessons?

I'm desperately not trying to be defeatist, but for my own justification I want to know how things will work in the real world. It's all well and good saying "this school introduced iPod Touches and it was fantastic" - but that's not very helpful to me.

the school do have security measures in place as they would on their network anyway,I cant disclose the schools full information, the school have undertaken some insurances to cover eventualities, there was a lot of development went into this, not just from the school but the also apple, wirless vendor and itunes as this is the platform that the media runs on. If the device is lost this is covered by insurances. iTouches have not replaced all pc's. They are a learning assistant for the students, this is to assist students that may not engage generally very well within certain topics will have podcasts and information around this subject to assist them.

(not my employers view or the schools)

[fayfrancis]

1. Small design, fits in shirt pocket - see below *
2. excellent touch screen interface - its not better than a keyboard though
3. full web browser - afaik without flash, so not so full
4. wifi support - same as just about any portable device nowadays
5. The App Store - Is it better than the software we already have? Id doubt it will be
6. Podcasts - Again most devices can do this
7. Calendar - fair enough, the calenders better than most, but again isnt an exclusive feature
8. Pocket e-mail - most devices do this
9. Battery life - This really depends how you look at it. With it being a "cool music/video/games thingy" its going to be used before and after school and during lunchtimes...

* personally i dont see having a keyboard and bigger screen as a disadvantage, especially when it can potentially replace several textbooks, and even workbooks.

I think that the size was very important, based on the location and what (i interpreted) the school felt that it had a duty of care to the students to not make them targets of crime. Your reference to pocket email? laptop in pocket?

[j17sparky]

I think that the size was very important, based on the location and what (i interpreted) the school felt that it had a duty of care to the students to not make them targets of crime. Your reference to pocket email? laptop in pocket?

Sorry was just running through quickly. So out of my list of reasons all you can do to counter them is be pedantic? Im not trying to be deliberatly obtuse, im just trying to work out why the decision was made to go for iPods over netbooks?

And really, what difference does it make if a kid recieves his emails though his pocket or his bag...?