iPod Classroom


1. A video on your iPod as a way of learning? I think it's a great idea. Nobody says that there has to be a limit on how students should be taught. This way of learning still enforces the subjects and information students are meant to learn. It doesn't take away the level of knowledge being taught, and neither does it make the lessons any easier. All this type of teaching does, is make the teachers' lessons available to students on the go, to fit their schedules much better. Our world is beoming revolutionized by all this technology. In many cases, we see technology take over a large number of things i our society. Sometimes, in this large number of changes from old-fashioned "do it yourself" or "man made" to a takeover by technology, not everything created is for the good of our generation and the generation to come. I think Kelly Parke's creation is genuis because she is using technology to better our community. She thought of an idea that would help not only satisfy students but also their teachers and family. This way of learning, I think, would encourage students to be more focused and actually allow them to learn. Not all students are able to concentrate while in class. Some students get bored, not listen to the lessons taught, or sometimes even not go to class because of their lack of interest. However, if they were to use this method, I think more students would learn. Students would be more interested because their lessons are within their reach any time they want it. They wouldn't have to feel forced to learn. Even though teachers aren't there with them, this doesn't mean students aren't able to ask questions because Kelly has also created this method to enable students to be able to book a chat session with their instructor. This method would allow students to be more self-directed and learn to manage their time. I think this idea of an iPod as a classroom is great because it will allow students to learn both book knowledge and responsibilities.

2. Being the self-directed school we are, I think Mary Ward should embrace such technology because it would help students be able to complete the things they're doing in their units with more understanding. I think this technology would be able to help the students of Mary Ward since we don't really have any scheduled classes, and lessons aren't occassionally taught by teachers. Although teachers are available to students, sometimes some us need to be taught first hand, rather than just asking questions. Also, although we do have seminars we can attend to understand the lesson of the unit, it isn't always convenient for everyone because it is often that we find ourselves not available for that period of the day and it interferes with our schedule. Therefore if we were to have this technology at our school, students would be able to catch up on the lessons that were taught at seminars or scheduled classes we missed, ready for us when we need it. If Mary Ward were to embrace this technology into our school, the self-directed school would be even more self-directed than it already is. Students would have to manage their time even better because then we would have control over when we decide to do our homework but also whether we choose to go to seminars or scheduled classes. This movement to an even more self-directed school can be viewed as both an advantage and disadvantage. This can be an advantage because the students could become more responsible and disciplined, and in the future more successful in life. However, this could also be seen as a disadvantage because some students may feel they can slack off and forget about their studies since everything would be available to them when they do decide to study. Although this is a very debatable issue, "v-casting" through iPods are still a genuis idea because even though it could potentially have students neglecting their studies, I think more would actually do the opposite. Students that are willing to enter into a school like Mary Ward show that they are also willing to handle the hardships that come along with a self-directed school. This means that they are willing to have the discipline to do their units and complete courses. "V-Casting", I think, would get other individuals to also do their work because they would no longer feel forced. Some students neglect school and their homework for the simple fact that they want to work at their own pace and not feel like they're being forced to do anything and "V-Casting" could be one of those solutions that could much such a thing happen. As I had stated earlier, "V-Casting" is definitely a very debatle subject. Many people differ in opinions when it comes to this subject. Although I think that V-Casting should be available for Mary Ward students, as of now instead of being imposed on students it could be considered as optional, only offering it to students who think they're capable of handling such discipline and time management.