New Technology for Year 9 – Set 1 - iPods.

Our set was given the opportunity to try out Ipod touches in the classroom, to see if we found them a useful device to have. I’m sure I am speaking from the whole of 9-1 when I say we have had the best time ever using these devices. At first we found them a bit difficult to use in class, but we were just getting used to them, but after a while we all learned how useful they actually were. From simple things like using the calculator or using the dictionary, to having the Internet in almost every classroom and been able to individually do our own research.

We used them quite a lot in History and Geography, for geography we downloaded an app, which had all of the countries in the world on it and lots of different bits of information about that country, also we did a lot of work on the ‘draw it’ app, which was basically just like paint, but you used your finger to draw, this was quite a funny experience. Then we would email what we had created to our class mates and our teacher. In history we used the Ipods a lot to watch videos, instead of watching it on the board, you could plug in your headphones and use your device to watch it individually.

In English we would use them to read, Mr Jamieson created an app in which allowed us to read the book we were studying in class ‘Of Mice & Men’. It was so much better reading from an Ipod, than having to give out books to everyone.

I believe the whole of 9-1 has enjoyed having the Ipods for their own personal use as well, having your own personal device which you could add games and your own music to, believe me they are so much more fun to carry round, rather than a learning passport.

Everything in which your learning passport contains you can have on your Ipod, the diary, the traffic lights and many more.

When we have to give our Ipods back to school I’m sure we will all be upset about it, but we have enjoyed every minute of having them, and I hope maybe one day they will actually be given to everyone in school instead of just planners.

Nicole