Having Students Learn Out of the Palm of Their Hand

It’s been a while since I’ve really used an iPod. I prefer the hi-fidelity sound of a CD over an mp3, despite the bulky drawback. However, I’ve spent some time recently using the iPod touch. I was given one to practice with as part of my job. I must say it is a fantastic device. I know that many people reading this will say that, they already know that the iPod Touch is amazing. Others will say that the iPhone is even better. They are probably all right. From using this product it is clear why there are so many apple supporters and fanatics. I am able to check my email quickly and efficiently anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection. I am able to use the “real internet” anywhere with wi-fi. My LG Voyager can do these things too but it is “wonky”. The iPod Touch offers better applications for free that Verizon charges for. Alas, I digress. I was inspired about what could be done with these devices.
Imagine the potential for the iTouch in K-12 Education. Every student has the internet at their fingertips. Every student can sent/receive assignments to the teacher directly from their seat. Laptops were supposed to be the 21st century classroom. Laptops are too big and bulky. Even little netbooks are not the answer. iPod Touches, iPhones, gPhones, handheld devices are the future. Students can use the devices to communicate with the teacher. Schools can track the students where-abouts via the device. Attendance can be taken through the device. If every student had an iTouch in the school, teachers could podcast assignments and students could download them – taking a page out of the ivy league universities. The other advantage is that creating apps for the iTouch is relatively easy, the school could have it’s own app for students to get the lastest news related to the school via RSS Feeds. Practice is cancelled today? No worries, it’s posted on the school iTouch app and RSS feed. Mr. Smith gave the wrong page numbers for the assignment – no worries- its sent out to his students as an alert to their iTouches. Perhaps, textbooks would be available in e-book or even podcast form. Students won’t have to worry about bringing home their big bulky science book or history book. The book is on their device. Included are updates to the books to make sure the students aren’t learning with an outdated book. (Going through history class in the nineties was rough with every map depicting the Soviet Union, when it no longer existed)
Naysayers might complain that this would be bad for education. “Teachers are constantly waging wars against students and their electronic devices; Reliance on audio and video textbooks will destroy students’ abilities to read effectively; These devices would quickly become toys and won’t contribute to the learning and engagement of the students”. All of these concerns are valid. However, today’s students live in the “On-Demand” Generation. They want – No- They expect their media and information to be accessible when they want it, how they want it and for free. This culture is not going away, nor should people try to change it. It’s not a bad culture, it is just different. Students in the classroom however are taught in a closed system. The teacher teaches the lesson one way on a specific day during a specific time. Many students do not want to learn that way. Schools need to educate students on the rules of interaction and behavior. It is rude to listen to your iPod while in a face to face conversation, you shouldn’t take peoples pictures without permission. You should not post photos of yourself on the web. These are all lessons that come with this generation. Lastly, the teachers need to rethink how they teach students in today’s society. Any good educator will tell you: It is not what you teach that students remember, it is how you teach it. Using handheld devices like the iTouch/iPhone or the G-Phone can help reform our educational system and steer it down the path to 21st century learning.