Christina shares a video about using Ipods in the classroom in her post Introducing Ipods into Special Education. It was a great video and it got me thinking about ways I would use it in my classroom of high school students who were getting an occupational diploma.I think this would be a great way to show task analysis of different behaviors that the student may be weak in. It could be social skills or job skills. First I would plan all of the steps and then model each step. This could be videotaped and copied on the Ipod and the student could review it as many times as necessary. When one of my students start a new job, all the procedures that would be done could be modeled on a video and the student would be able to know which step to do next and how to do it. As an employee goes through the correct steps, it could be videotaped and discussed. Then the video could be put on the Ipod for review as many times as the student needs it. It would also be available if another student gets a job at the same place. Cooking skills could be taught the same way. Each step of the recipe could be videotaped and replayed as necessary.
Math lessons could be videotaped and played on the Ipod at home. This is especially handy if the student can’t remember what step to do next. Or the parent might not understand what procedure the teacher is asking for and the parent would be able to look at this also. I have had some parents who enjoyed learning new skills with their child because they wouldn’t have to admit that they didn’t know something.
I would think it would also be a great way to video tape a lesson where many of the students are absent due to some other activity. I have had half my class on a field trip or away on some athletic activity but I still had to teach a lesson to the rest of my class. The lesson would already be taped and when the absent students return, they would be able to see the same lesson and the same discussion that occurred.
Many parents may find seeing what goes on in the classroom useful. They will get to see the teacher in action and may find a closer bond with the teacher this way. If there is a closer bond, parents and teachers tend to work more as a team to help the child be successful.
These are just some ways I thought of using the Ipod in the classroom. Do you have any other suggestions? Please let me know.
Original image: '"Studying for class"' http://www.flickr.com/photos/30885355@N00/109039319by: Jake Bouma
