iTunes for Educators – More Than Meets the “i”

©2011 Mannaz, Flickr

               I’ve been reading about connectivism in education. This simply means that “learning occurs as part of a social network of many diverse connections and ties”(see Networked Student by Dr. Wendy Drexler). As I’ve been learning in my Technology for Educators Course, technology is rapidly changing and it’s important to understand how educators can use these technologies in the classroom.  This week, we covered a plethora of subjects surrounding technologies ranging from blogging, Common Craft, and communications networks to Apple for educators, Virtual Reality, and Netiquette.  Amongst all this learning, the one thing that really caught my i…I mean eye, was Apple iTunes.  I’ve been using iTunes for years so I already feel like an expert. When I say years, I’m talking about ever since I got my 5^th generation iPod with video (bought it through Apple using their educator discount back in 2005). Yep, I’m still using that baby every day and it’s still going strong. I definitely got my money’s worth. Back to my expertise…I feel like an expert because I have used iTunes for multiple features, both personally and for my classroom. I download music often. I download all sorts of free podcasts, including Ben Greenfield, Focus on the Family, and Clark Howard.

                In my first grade classroom, I used iTunes for music. I also started downloading podcasts like Storynory and Free Audiobooks for children.  I would put these on a CD and have 2-3 students listening to the CD at the Listening Station during Literacy Centers.  Listening not only gave the students time to chill out and enjoy stories, but it also provided for fluency modeling and encouraged visualization.  I also had my first graders listen to various fourth grade classes from all around the world who uploaded their own podcasts.  These students had teachers who made the typical assignment not only more interesting, but more global.  They were reading and summarizing stories, discussing how to develop a character, and explaining simple machines for a world audience. 

Top iTunes Podcast ©2008 Marcopako, Flickr

                So with my course assignment this week, I wanted to look into more of what Apple provides for educators seeking to teach with a connectivist approach. Apple offers many resources but I decided to focus only on how iTunes can help educators.  Boy, were my blinders taken off!  All this time I was overlooking many worthwhile iTunes features.  I'm sharing a few simple ways iTunes can help enhance your students’ learning experience.  You can access culturally diverse music when teaching on different cultures or time periods.  There are all kinds of free audio and video podcasts available.  Download some lessons on learning French or Spanish.  There’s even CNN Student News, Why? Science for Kids, and Poem of the Day.  The English as a Second Language (ESL) podcast has short lessons for improving English speaking and listening skills. Lessons vary and include paycheck deductions, animals at the zoo, and being in a flood.

                I don’t know what I thought iTunes U was, but I did notice that tab in the iTunes Store before. With all my exploring this week, I’ve  learned iTunes U is where educators can design and distribute complete courses. You can download lessons, videos, discussions, and music from schools all around the world.  Watch a video podcast about a geometry lesson in building spaghetti bridges from a high school in New Jersey.  Check out a series on the Civil War produced by Mrs. Lee’s 4^th grade class in Columbia County, Florida.  I just watched a 55-minute video podcast of Harvard professor Michael Sandel teaching on justice and morals – The Case for Cannibalism. Who says I’m not smart enough to learn at Harvard? There truly is “more than meets the eye” on iTunes and what I mentioned here is just a tiny snippet of all iTunes has to offer. To learn more about iTunes, visit Apple’s official page.  I’d love to hear how you’re using iTunes in your classroom or even in your personal life. Leave me a comment. After all, I’m still learning too.