iPod Touch – web communications, note taking, video and much more

In September of 2010 Apple released a much-improved version of its iPod Touch device (known as 4th Generation or 4G). Not just another MP3 player - although it is a great device for playing audio. The Touch is just about as multi-functional as possible. In essence, it is an iPhone without the phone (and hence without the £35+ monthly contract). Or perhaps, a small and more portable iPad. It costs from £180, and fits easily into a shirt pocket. It gives us a cheap and effective means for digitising and enhancing the student experience.

I've been using one pretty much constantly since its release. I've got 4 more that I use in teaching and in Open-space Learning projects at IATL.

Here's a list of just some of the reasons why the iPod Touch 4G is a great teaching and learning tool. The Touch has many other features and uses.

Watching video: either downloaded via iTunes, on the web via wifi or using the YouTube application.

Recording video and audio: it has acceptable quality video cameras on the front and the back, and a surprisingly good microphone, coping well with recording in a noisy classroom. Most importantly, shooting video is really simple and intuitive. I've recorded presentations, student activities and reflective pieces (with someone talking into the camera). The IATL iPods have been handed out to participants in workshops, who were then able to record events from their own perspectives. The video can be uploaded to YouTube, or onto a computer for further editing.

Here is an example of a video created from footage shot using iPods by students on the International Design and Communications Management MA:

Taking snapshots: the cameras can be used for taking still images, not of high quality, but good enough for recording an event or the notes on a whiteboard.

Email, videoconferencing, web browsing, Twitter: the wifi access (which is almost totally reliable in wifi equipped spaces at Warwick) gives me access to all of the usual communications and web tools. The four IATL iPods have the TweetDeck Twitter app. I've used them as a means for students to record and share observations during a workshop.

Notetaking: Evernote's free app (and accompanying web site and desktop software) is, for me, the perfect research tool. I can use the iPhone/iPod app (see image below) to record text notes, snapshots, and audio notes. When within wifi range, they are synchronised with my online Evernote notebooks. I then have access to them from anywhere on the web (see image).

Evernote on an iPod Touch:

Adding a note:

Browsing notes:

And this is what the notes look like on the Evernote web site once they have been uploaded:

Robert O'Toole : 18 Jan 2011 14:17 |  Tags: 3-Minutes |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem