iPods in the Classroom

For more information or training or integrating these devices into you classroom, please contact Brad Niessen at 973-4743 or at bniessen@usd259.net.

What is an iPod

That Was Then

This is Now

iPod is a brand of portable media players designed and marketed by Apple Inc and launched on October 23, 2001. As of 2009, the current product line-up includes the hard drive-based iPod classic, the touchscreen iPod touch, the video-capable iPod nano and the screenless iPod shuffle. Former products include the compact iPod mini and the spin-off iPod photo (since re-integrated into the main iPod classic line). iPod classic models store media on an internal hard drive, while all other models use flash memory to enable their smaller size (the discontinued mini used a Microdrive miniature hard drive). As with many other digital music players, iPods, excluding the iPod touch, can also serve as external data storage devices. Storage capacity varies by model.

Apple's iTunes software is used to transfer music to the devices. As a jukebox application, iTunes stores a music library on the user's computer and can play, burn and rip music from a CD. It can also transfer photos, videos, games, contact information, E-Mail messages, Web bookmarks, and calendars to iPod models supporting those features. Apple focused its development on the iPod's unique user interface and its ease of use, rather than on technical capability. As of September 2007, the iPod had sold more than 150 million units worldwide making it the best-selling digital audio player series in history.[2]

Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What is a MP3 file

That Was Then

This is Now

(MPEG Audio Layer 3) An MP3 file is compresses CD-quality sound by a factor of roughly 10, while retaining most of the original fidelity; for example, a 40MB CD track is turned into a 4MB MP3 file.
MP3 files are played via media player software in the computer, such as iTunes or Windows Media Player, as well as in countless iPods and other handheld players that use flash memory or hard disks for storage (see digital music player). MP3 sound quality cannot fully match the original CD, but millions of people consider it "good enough" especially because they can pack thousands of songs into a tiny pocket-sized player.

Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Getting to Know Your iPod

Parts and Buttons

Turning the iPod - Touch and part of the Click Wheel

Turning Off the iPod - The iPod doesn’t really work in terms of on and off. Instead it only deals in awake or asleep.

If you use your iPod for a minute or two and then set it aside, you’ll see its screen start to dim, and then eventually go black altogether. This is the iPod going to sleep. When an iPod is asleep, it uses much less battery power than when the screen is lit up and the music playing.

By letting your iPod sleep you conserve your batteries for later.

You can also force it to go to sleep by holding down the play/pause button for a few seconds.

Keeping Your iPod Asleep

If you press any button on your nano when it is asleep, the screen will light up quickly and your iPod will be awake and ready to rock.f you plan not to use your iPod for a while and want to store it, you can make sure that you conserve battery power and keep your iPod from playing a concert to the inside of your backpack by engaging the hold switch.

The hold switch is at the top of the iPod nano. Slide the hold switch to the on position when you put the iPod away. This will lock the clickwheel the same way you lock a cell phone keypad. Now, your iPod won’t accidentally wake from sleep when a button is pushed and drain its power. To start using your iPod again, just slide the hold switch into the other position and click a button to start it up again.
Nano G2

The lock icon means that the Hold switch is on

 

Downloading iTunes

Downloading Steps

The first step is to visit the following site to download the most current version of iTunes - http://www.apple.com/itunes/download

Apple no longer includes a copy of iTunes with the purchase of an iPod.

Management Tips

Synching and Naming

Once you are done downloading the current version of iTunes, connect your iPod to your computer’s USB port and follow the set up instructions.

The first time you connect your iPod, iTunes will download all the songs in your library on to your iPod. Be prepared for this to take some time. 6,000 files= aprox. 45 minute

NOTE: During the sync, don’t switch over to other parts of iTunes, just let it run.

Sync your iPod to get the new songs on it. You can sync your iPod by disconnecting and then reconnecting your iPod, right clicking the iPod in iTunes after it’s connected and choosing sync, or going to the File menu and choosing “sync iPod.”

Creating Libraries

The quickest way to get started in creating a custom playlist is clicking the “+” icon in the bottom left corner of the iTunes library window.  You will see a new “untitled playlist” appear in the “Source” column on the left side.  The text will be highlighted already, so start typing and give it a name. 

 

Click on your playlist title, and you’ll see that there are no songs present, as we must manually add them.

To add songs to your playlist, begin by clicking on “Library” in the source column.  Scroll through your library, and find a song you’d like to add.  To add it to a playlist, simply drag the song title on top of the playlist name in the Source column, and let go.  If you’d like to double check that the song was added, click on the playlist title.

Want to add a few songs at once?  You can select multiple songs by holding down shift or control while clicking on song titles.  Then simply drag any one of the selected songs onto the playlist.  All selected songs will be added.

Continue adding songs as desired.  When you’re finished, you can re-arrange the order of the songs in the playlist by simply dragging them around. 

Recording (Xtreme Mac MicroMemo)

 

The MicroMemo nano is available from Jet Micro (316.260,1148) for under $40 in either black or silver. This device snaps firmly onto the bottom of the  Generation 2 nano via the dock connector and headphone jack.

From there you simply click the record button to begin capturing audio. This device requires no additional software and it's recognized by the iPod. Captured audio is stored (in WAV format) in the "Voice Memos" playlist which is then synced to your computer via iTunes. From there you can listen to, export and edit the captured audio to your heart's content.

A small speaker on the front of MicroMemo allows you to listen to your audio directly - although I would suggest only using the speaker to test the recording. The MicroMemo also allows you to detach the microphone and connect any standard condenser mic with a 3.5mm jack. It records in two quality settings are available Low (8-bit, 22 kHz) and High (16-bit, 44.1 kHz). I would suggest High quality for all recordings.

iPod Integration

Why iPods?

The 3 P’s

Prevalent, Portable, and Powerful

Prevalent

Portable

Powerful

 

 

Integrating iPods in the Classroom-

The iPod allows you to integrate audio, text, and presentations seamlessly into the curriculum. No matter what the subject, you can use music to set the stage, immediately jump to any point in an audio book, share text with an audio book or play a famous speech accessed from the Library of Congress. Audio, video, images and text can be loaded on the iPod and be an excellent conduit for delivering content to students in a unique and personal way. Because they are portable, students can check them out for homework assignments, field trips, or during absences. iPods make great tools for centers or for students who may be struggling with a concept.  Students can listen or view a video of the concept multiple times. Students who are struggling with the English language can listen to audio books modeling the language to them as they follow along with the book. Vocabulary can be put on digital cards along with an image.

 

Model fluent reading – Have the student listen to a recorded piece of text and follow along with a printed version. (Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, music with lyrics)
Use guided oral reading instruction-
Choral reading- The teacher leads the class in read aloud time together.. The audio of this performance can be recorded or a video can be taken and achieved for teacher or student assessment. (Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, music with lyrics)
Give students ways to practice and perform – Have students read passages and record it with the iPod (Nano with video recording required) This then can be kept as a digital portfolio. (Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, play, reader’s theater, music with lyrics)
Implement word study activities to build accuracy – Students need sight word knowledge in order to recognize words quickly when reading.

  • iQuiz - Create a site word quiz
  • iPresented It - Put site words in a PowerPoint format for review

Additional Lessons:

http://www.apple.com/au/education/ipod/lessons/

iPod Management Tool:
Use this simple tool to help manage your classroom iPod sets. This simple document lets you enter the students name and the date they check out the iPod. It also offers a place to enter the content located on the iPod. Each section color corolates with a matching color sitcker located on the iPod. This help with quick identification for the teachers and easy identification for non-readers. [Click to Download]

 

Downloadable Content

Public Domain Books and Resources

Text Only

Completely free books from a variety of different authors, collected here for you to read online or offline. The text can be copied and then pasted into Word and saved as a .txt file which can be read on an iPod. -

Audio

These services provide free audiobooks that are public domain.

Free Speeches

This service offers current audiobooks with a monthly subscription

 

Application and Tools

 


           IPod EBook Creator converts text files from any source to be read by your IPod. It automatically converts the

           file, reduces the file and creates Next Page and Previous Page links and a Main Index page. It makes a new

           folder for each project and can convert directly to your IPod if it is connected. Simple and easy to use.

iPod Image Sets and iMage Tools

Troubleshooting

Diagnostics, Hard reset, Tips and Ticks

 

 

Online Tutorials

 

 

Additional Resources

 

Equipment

Devices Device Details Usage Price
iPod Nano Video

Specifications:
8 gigs or 16 gigs

2.2-inch (diagonal) TFT display


Includes:

Earphones, dock adapter, USB 2.0 cable



Warranty Information		 The Nano is a great middle priced tool for both teachers and students. Unike the Shuffle, this device not only plays both audio and video, but it can also record it. The benefit of the Nano is that it does have a screen for easy navigation and can also play videos and audio books for content enrichment. The Nano will also show enhanced educational podcasts. (Enhanced means they have still images that play during the podcast.)
This device can be used for guided reading or for audio/video assignments. It can be used for accommodations.

The Nano also holds more data than the shuffle.		 For more information:http://store.apple.com
iPod Classic Video Specifications:
160gigs
2.5-inch color display
4.8 ounces

Includes
Earbud headphones
USB 2.0 cable
Dock adapter for use with Universal Dock

Warranty Information

The video iPod is high end tool for teachers and students who need larger storage for both audio and video capabilities. As far as instruction goes, the iPod Video is great for courses where the instructor either video tapes or has suggested videos for students to watch. This device should be a last resort if the iPod Nano cannot support your needs. Just like the iPod Nano, this device plays both audio and video. The iPod Classic Video does have a screen for easy navigation and can also play videos and audio books for content enrichment. This deice will show enhanced educational podcasts. (Enhanced means they have still images that play during the podcast.)
This device can be used for guided reading or for audio/video assignments. It can be used for accommodations.

The iPod Classic can record if a third party adaptor is added:
Xtreme Mac - MicroMemo

 For more information:http://store.apple.com
Optional iPod Accessories This item is highly recommended. Out of the box, the only way to charge an iPod is by connecting it to a computer.
iPod USB Power Adapter- Connect to any power outlet and recharge iPod shuffle or any iPod model with dock connector. Compatible with iPod shuffle and iPod models with dock connector. iPod models with dock connector also require the iPod Dock Connector to USB 2.0 Cable.		 iPod Accessories - [Click Here]  


For more information or training or integrating these devices into you classroom, please contact Brad Niessen at 973-4743 or at bniessen@usd259.net.

 
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