Advanced iLearning

Last week Julie Salickram talked about the uses of iPods for iLearning. She discussed various ways colleges have utilized this technology and followed up with the implications of video iPods to expand the educational possibilities.

It seems to me that using iPods mainly for recording information misses the bigger picture. Schools all over the country are getting much more creative than that. A good example of this is Longfellow Middle School in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The seventh grade School in the Coulee Pod combines GarageBand and iPhoto with iPods to learn through podcasting.

There’s no denying that students need to be proficient in technology in order to compete effectively after graduation. Fortunately, technology makes learning more fun. Using Apple technology to create podcasts allows several different levels of learning for students.

Longfellow’s Coulee Kids podcast is listened to throughout the world. This is much different than writing a paper for a teacher. Papers are private while podcasts are listened to worldwide,  motivating students to thoroughly research their topics. What student would want to make a major error for the world to hear?

After learning all they can about a topic, students write the information and work out how they plan to share it. This teaches them to communicate in print and to work with each other. They work out the details of how to make the podcast interesting to listeners. Translating their written reports into podcasts helps them to develop their speaking skills.

Podcasting allows students to do something practical with what they have learned. When deciding which pieces of information are worth sharing and putting it together in an effective and interesting way, students are in becoming editors and teachers.

When most people think of technology, they think of computers and science. Mention creativity and their thoughts go to music and writing. Through the use of podcasts, students learn how technology and creativity come together. The value of information is also apparent. Students know that they need good content for a good podcast, but they also need to put it together in a way that holds the interest of listeners.

On a different level, podcasts may help some students when they are thinking of career choices. Students who never thought of broadcasting may find they are highly interested in it now. Others may realize they enjoy the teaching aspect of podcasting. More potential career interests will be opened to students as they begin using iMovies. Students have a chance to find an interest that they would not have been aware of with traditional teaching.

Schools that are not already podcasting should consider it. Just read the comments made by students in the article Podcasting: Transforming Middle Schoolers Into “Middle Scholars” at TheJournal.com. Almost every student talked about the motivational benefits of podcasting. Some stated that podcasting can make every subject interesting. This is clearly a method that can enhance learning.

As technology advances, opportunities for educational use expands. It won’t be long before you find Mrs. Jeanne Halderson, the teacher who started the podcasting program at Longfellow Middle School, using iMovies technology. In order to take advantage of these tools, it’s important that they are relatively easy for both teachers and students to use. Maybe this is why so many schools use Apple computers. Maybe it’s why Mrs. Halderson was quoted in The Journal article as saying, “If we didn’t have Apples and iLife, much of what we’re accomplishing simply couldn’t be done.”