The iPod and What We Can Adapt in e-Learning

Topics this issue:
1. The iPod and what we can adapt in e-Learning
2. Featured slideshow: “Interactivity“
3. Using the best media mix for your e-learning project

1. The iPod and e-Learning: What can we adapt?
Apple's CEO Steve Jobs preaches that the iPod is revolutionalizing the way people listen to music and audio books (Newsweek, July 26, 2004).

The iPod had become an icon, a status symbol, an important part of one's life. It is an extension of their personality.

An iPod is primarily used to access one's own personal music collection; now it is the latest tool for learning.

Duke University will distribute iPods to its incoming freshmen as part of an experiment to motivate both faculty and students to think creatively about using technology in education and campus life. The iPods will be pre-loaded with related content as information on orientation and the academic calendar. Students will also be able to download faculty-provided content.

The gospel of Duke University and Steve Jobs accomplishes three things:

1. It makes it easy for technology to be friendly, cool and hip
2. It will be ubiquitous, becoming a part of our everyday landscape
3. It will make the learning tool portable, self-paced and easy to use

Upon closer review, why would the iPod succeed in the learning environment? On top of being cool, the iPod has a lot of hard drive space (20-40 gigabytes) and has the ability to store, share and play ebooks.

It has the ability to access information quickly, enabling the user to:

1. build their own play list
2. shuffle files
3. search files
4. index files
5. bookmark favorites

2. Featured slideshow: “Interactivity“
This slideshow explains why there is a need for interactivity so that learners can have control over their learning, much like how an iPod owner uses it according to their preference. To see more Vignettes, slideshows and presentations, visit http://www.vignettestraining.com/ela/ela.htm, register to be a Member and login.

3. The Search Function as a Coaching Tool
In the Blended e-Learning Workshop you will learn how technology impacts e-learning programs. Hurry! Seats are limited to 12. Check out the schedules near your area: http://www.vignettestraining.com/workshops/index.htm

Register now and get the chance to own 10 Flash interactivities!

Ray Jimenez, PhD www.vignettestraining.com
"Helping Learners Learn Their Way"