The iPod Octopus

Cross Posted at: http://edtechbytes.com/

Implementing the iPod Touch in a PC Only environment without an AppleiPod Touchcart using free apps only requires us to problem solve somechallenges. Here is a pictureof what that may look like.

Parts

1: Synching PC Laptop

2: Power Supplies

3: Main USB Hub: Connects to laptop

4: USB Hubs: Connects to Main USB Hub (which connects to laptop).

The teacher synchs all iPods through a single iTunes Account.

As a classroom teacher, think about the possible challenges:

1) Got Space? Look at the picture. You’ll need it.

2) Got Procedures? A good teacher provisions for everything that happens in the classroom, so determining, modeling, and coordinating a synching procedure for 29 students is very important. For example, how often will the teacher synch the iPods? When will this occur? Which students go first? How will the students get their iPods back? What will the students be doing when the teacher is entangled in those wires trying to synch?

3) Got Behavior Problems? One won’t if they do #2 correctly. (This refers to the students, not the teacher or technology specialist trying to synch.)

4) Got Saved Work? The synching process will remove all student data from the iPods, so any files must be transferred prior to synching.

5) Got Flexibility? Not all iPods may synch upon connecting the Main USB Hub to the laptop. Based on my experience, one should not try to synch more than 5-10 iPods at a time. Which leads to:

6) Got Time? A teacher will need time to manage the synching process.

Just some of the technical challenges involved.

Due to these issues, we only synched once prior to the start of the pilot. Therefore, we had to think of all the applications and media that the students would need to do the activities. Since we useda WordPress class website, instead ofour county’s Blackboard system, we did not have any problems withgetting content to students.