Apple iPod Touch Getting Started - Page 33

Getting Started with iPod touch: 33 A guide for using iPod touch and iTunes for teaching and learning Staying Organized All students, and particularly those who have difficulty with organization, will find many valuable tools included with iPod touch. They can use the Calendar application and write notes to themselves to keep up with due dates. You can send email to specific students with information, reminders about classwork, and PDF files of assignments. Students can also use the Clock application, included with iPod touch, to set alarms for themselves to stay on track, and download additional apps from the App Store to help organize their time. Motivating Readers with Audiobooks Audiobooks can be downloaded for use on iPod touch, or older students can use iPod touch with a voice recorder or GarageBand to narrate and record books for younger students to listen to. Younger students can read along using the book as they listen. Students can pause as they're listening to an audiobook to take notes with the Notes application or use the Internet when they have a question about something in the book. They can also read the text of the book on the iPod touch as they listen. Some teachers find it helpful to have hesitant or struggling readers listen to the first chapter of a book on iPod touch so they can get "hooked" on the book, and then have them read the rest of the book on their own. Reaching All Learners iPod touch can be a supportive tool for students with special needs. Using an iPod touch, students with visual impairments and learners at all levels can listen to audiobooks, speeches, foreign language samples, podcasts, your recorded lectures, test review information, lab instructions, and notes they record themselves. Students can reinforce their auditory learning by viewing slides, photos, and videos. With VoiceOver on iPod touch, students can hear navigation information read aloud. And with voice recording software, you and your students can record many types of audio files-for example, ELL students can record and play back English dialogue, students can record notes if they have difficulty with written note-taking, or you can record test questions for students to play back in class. Where in the World You can enrich curriculum in many subject areas with the use of Google Maps, included with iPod touch, and Google Earth, available from the App Store at no cost. Students can find famous locales, sites referred to in literature, or explore locales to set their own stories or scripts. They can use Google Maps and Google Earth to develop a presentation about historical buildings or locations in their community, switching between views to learn more. They can then use iPod touch to take notes, view photos, and look up more information on the Internet-and then share their presentation with others via iTunes and iPod touch. Many other applications can be downloaded to support students' global studies, such as reference apps about the world's countries and historical games.