Okay, up front, I must admit--I don't own an ipod. Everyone else in my family does, and everytime I have bought one thinking it was for me, someone has taken it before I ever even get to open it. So, amazingly, even though I am pretty savvy (or think I am) on Web 2.0 technologies, this goes to Web 3.0 and I am still getting there. Hey-I am still figuring out all the things my Blackberry can do!
I am the brand new owner of an itouch, though. It came "free" with my college students new computer. So I got it out yesterday to start on this assignment. OMG. Did you know there are 208 different apps for sale on itunes just under "Education"?? And that the top selling apps are for TODDLERS? I am definitely behind the times.
So I have discovered that an itouch can hold about 140 different apps. I found a couple of really cool organizing apps--I especially like one that counts down due dates (Datewheel) , and also a schedule organizer (IstudiezPro) which would be great for my college student. Then I found the Google Apps! Google Earth! I used this last year and didn't know there was an itouch app for it. Oh, and the touch graphing calculator! How cool is that for a Math teacher! A visual that you can plug into your computer without having to have a Smart Board to demonstrate.
I was having a hard time "visioning" why it might be better to use these apps rather than the PC/WEB versions or a thumb drive, but I guess it all goes back to portability and also speed. Last year I was a floating teacher. It would have been good to have these apps all loaded in a portable device where I could just plug it into the projector rather than taking the time to have to access the computer, access the website, and wait, wait, wait burning up valuable class time. I've already made a note I need to buy that cord so I can actually DO THAT this year.
I'm interested to know "Real Life Examples" from somebody that has actually used this in the classroom!
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