LaTonya+Simmons

Week Two Multimedia Project Page I **__i-Pods by LaTonya Simmons [[image:ipod.jpg width="208" height="137" align="right"]]__**
[|Wiki Pos][|t.doc] Introduction Times are constantly changing right in front of our eyes and the ways in which we function in our society are embracing new trends. As our day to day functions change, our educational system is transforming as well. Children are growing up in a new generation, an iGenration. As stated by Rosen (2010) the iGeneration is named after all the devices with an "i"—iPod, iPhone, iTouch, iEverything—plus this generation thirst for any new mobile technology. After reading the article, Listen to the Natives, I agree with Prensky when he suggests that we have to shift gears and make decisions regarding planning based on the technology interest of the children (Prensky, 2005/2006). Furthermore, there are various benefits to integrating iPods into the field of education. I think iPods will have the most impact on the population of students that I serve, as a means for differentiating the curriculum. Explanation As I was probing through different technology conference programs, I stumbled across several new media’s for collaboration. The one that immediately caught my attention was the iPod. In addition, there were quite a few presenters that would be presenting on how iPods were used to help English Language Learner. I am somewhat familiar with iPods due to the fact that I spend countless hours on the go listening to music on my iPod. The fact that it is so user friendly, I’m confident that it is possible for this mobile device to engage students in learning? It was at that point that I realized that I would like to learn how I could utilize iPods to engage students in learning and promote language acquisition with my very own English Language Learners.

Summary The diffusion article that I read was called Reaching ELL’s With Mobile Devices by Ellen Ullman. The article was about a middle school teacher searching for a way to utilize technology as a tool to aid and motivate her special education and ELL students learn the English language (Ullman,2010). It was after watching an Apple commercial, broadcasting the song “Vertigo” on an iPod that she came up with the idea of using music on iPods to help her students. By learning the lyrics to songs the student were beginning to sing their way into the acquisition of the English language. In addition to learning words the students would use the songs for grammar lessons. By the end of the school term half of the students had graduated to general education classes (Ullman, 2010). Conclusion In closing, technology has opened up doors to so many new applications thus allowing us to communicate in ways in which we never fathom. This new type of communication also allows us to come up with innovative and affective ways in which to teach, and being that teaching is my passion, I look forward to completing this project. I am hoping to further continue investigating the current trends of handheld devices such as iPods and iPod Touch in order to encourage students to become active participants in their learning