Catherine Ritz gives an overview of using iPod Touches in the classroom for language learning. She discusses what iPod Touches are, why teachers may want to use them, and various activities and apps that can be used, such as VoiceThread for audio narration, Puppet Pals for animated scenes, and language-specific dictionaries and news/audio apps. She also covers how to manage multiple iPods and alternatives if funding cannot be obtained. The presentation aims to demonstrate how iPod Touches can engage students and provide interactive, technology-enhanced language learning activities.
2. Agenda
• What are iPod Touches & why use them?
• What can I do with them in my classroom?
• How do I get them?
(And what do I do if I can’t get them?)
• How do I manage them?
3. Ice-breaker
Turn to your neighbor:
• Your name?
• Where you teach & what language you teach?
• What does technology look like in your
classroom?
• Do you have any
familiarity with iPods?
4. What are iPod Touches?
• Arlington’s iPod pilot project
• iPod Touch
• Wifi enabled mini computer
• Identical to iPhone, but wifi only
• Similar to iPad, though some apps are iPod/iPhone only and some
are iPad only
• Cost:
• $199 from Apple (8g or 16g device)
• Why use them?
• Brings easy technology into the classroom.
• Make projects and class activities more engaging and interactive.
5. What can I do with them in my
classroom?
• Speaking activities
• Listening activities
• Mini projects
• Videos
• Student polling/quizzes
• Internet research
• Access authentic materials
online
• Dictionaries
• Language learning apps
6. Voice Thread
• VoiceThread
• Students take pictures with the
iPods, then add their voice (or
text) to make a narration.
• Free account, but limited to
number of VoiceThreads
students can create.
• Students “share” their final
product with you.
• StoryKit
• Similar app. Create stories with
audio narration.
7. Talking Photos
• Babblizer
• Free account
• Students take a photo and make a
“mouth” for it, then add an audio
recording.
• Fotobabble
• Free account
• Students take a photo and add an
audio recording or text boxes to it.
8. Puppet Pals
• Puppet Pals
• Free account for basic characters.
(Pay for access to more varied
characters.)
• Students use pre-created “puppets”
to animate a scene and add audio
narration.
9. SoundCloud
• SoundCloud
• Free account
• Can post sound to
Twitter, Facebook, email it or get
“embed” code.
• Can leave comments at timed
intervals on recording.
10. Dragon Dictation
• DragonDictation
• Choose the language you want (many
choices)
• Students speak and what they say is
transcribed… only if they pronounce it
correctly!
11. Evernote
• Evernote
• Free site. Can access as app or online.
Students create an account.
• Can write, insert pictures, and record audio
directly into the “note.”
12. Doodle Buddy
• DoodleBuddy
• No need to create an
account.
• Students can write or
draw… like a mini white-
board!
13. Video cameras
• Videos
• Built-in camera and video camera
• Use the “Splice” app (free) to link multiple scenes together.
• Email video (if small enough) or upload to class YouTube Channel
(you can set the videos to private, so only you can see)
14. Clickers
• Socrative Teacher & Socrative Student
• Free. Only teacher creates an account.
• Students join “class number.”
• Create “quizzes” or quick student questions.
15. Reference
• WordReference
• GoogleTranslate
• NOT for translating, but as a dictionary!!
• Voice capability
• Conjugeur (French verb conjugation)
• ConjuVerb (Spanish verb conjugation)
• Also has flashcards
• EasyBib
20. iPod Management
• Set up one iPod to be your “master,” back up in
iTunes, then override the other iPods.
• Set iPods to automatically download apps on all
devices, so if you download a new app on one, it will go to
all of them.
• Get tech help or students to assist you!
• Students do need to log out of whatever app they’re using
at the end of each class.
21. Funding / Alternatives
• Local Education Foundation Grants?
• DonorsChoose.org
• How many students in your class have
iPhones/Smart Phones? Use them!