Apple iPod Touch Getting Started - Page 28

Getting Started with iPod touch: 28 A guide for using iPod touch and iTunes for teaching and learning If you are checking out iPod touch devices from your classroom, you might want to use a sign-in/sign-out sheet to help keep track of them. Along with asset tags, you might want to consider numbering the iPod touch devices to help you keep track of which iPod touch is being used by which student. When you first set up each iPod touch, you are prompted to name it. You can use these same names when you set up your system for checking out the student iPod touch devices. Another management idea is to purchase inexpensive small plastic containers and put together an iPod touch "kit" containing an iPod touch, headphones, and a USB cable for checkout. You can take a photograph of what should be included in the kit and tape that photo to the plastic container. Sharing iPod touch Devices Along with checking out iPod touch devices to students to take to and from school, there are other ways they can be shared. If you do not have a class set of iPod touch devices, you can assign one iPod touch to a group of students, using a project-based learning approach. You can also use an audio splitter, like the Griffin SmartShare, to allow two students to share one iPod touch. Even one iPod touch can be effectively used for recording audio with a group of students-simply pass the iPod touch from student to student, having them record a reading passage for assessment or narration for a story. It's a good idea to have each student say his or her name at the beginning of each recording for easy identification later. (For more information, see "Accessories for iPod touch" later in this guide.) Mobile Learning with the Apple iPod Learning Lab Apple offers a convenient way to manage multiple iPod devices in the classroom with the Apple iPod Learning Lab. This portable lab comes with a classroom set of iPod devices and a fully assembled Bretford cart, which has been built for Apple to specifically meet the needs of schools. The cart allows you to readily manage multiple iPod devices at one time and is easily moved from classroom to classroom. You can charge, store, and transport up to 40 iPod devices at one time and sync 20 at a time to the same computer. The cart is compatible with all iPod models with dock connectors and ships completely assembled. The top of the cart features two drawers, each with the capacity for 20 iPod devices. The cart also has flexible storage space for up to four MacBook computers and a variety of iPod accessories such as earphones. You can purchase a pre-configured Apple iPod Learning Lab or build your own lab to meet your school's specific needs. If you already have iPod devices, the Bretford PowerSync Cart for iPod can be purchased separately. For more information on the Apple iPod Learning Lab, visit: www.apple.com/education/ mobilelabs.