El iPod touch

Recently I went to a SOITA (Southern Ohio Instructional Tecnology Association) workshop on iPod touches. It was what they call a "Learn with It, Leave with it" workshop. That is, I got a free iPod touch out of the deal (free because I get reimbursed from my school for going to the workshop--and CEUs, too!). I was amazed with everything that this little tool can do. Essentially, the iPod touch is like an iPhone without the phone part. You can search the internet, receive email, listen to music and podcasts, watch videos, buy music from iTunes--basically everything you can do on a desktop computer can do with the iPod touch. And it's about the size of a deck of cards. Amazing! A plus that I did just for fun was that I changed the settings to be in Spanish!

What makes the iPod touch different from a regular iPod is that you can get for free or purchase different applications that could be useful for students. There are To Do lists, Math flashcards, Homework Applications for keeping track of homework, foreign language flashcards that also have audio, voice recorders, and SAT review applications.

So, besides being pretty fantastic, what can the iPod touch do in the classroom? In the foreign language classroom, the possibilities are endless. Here is a list of the activities / tools I am pondering:

1. Spanish flashcards on the go. This would be a great tool for travel, too!

2. Making podcasts. Poddio is a rather expensive application ($29.99) that can create podcasts for you. I have not purchased it because I am experimenting with the free applications right now. From the Apple Store I bought a pair of earphones ($29.00) that has a remote and mic attached. I am amazed as how clear the recorded audio is with such a small microphone. So far, QuickVoice seems like the best free app, but I cannot email bigger files.


Students could record their voices on the iPod touch in the classroom. It would be an easy way to assess speaking, and it would not require any extra computers in the classroom. They would just take turns recording themselves, and I could have all the recordings in one spot that I can take home with me in my purse.

3. Spanish / English dictionary. Another great tool for travel.

I am sure there are more ways to use this in the classroom, and I can't wait to discover them!