Central Michigan University

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

CMU students, professors find benefits with iPod technology in classroom

A CMU student gets ready to respond to a question posed by his professor about the No Child Left Behind Act.

Photo by Robert Barclay
CMU University Communications

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Media Contact(s):

Tracy Burton
989-774-1072
tracy.burton@cmich.edu

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Nearly 650 freshmen and transfer students taking Central Michigan University's Introduction to Teaching course are finding that their iPhones and iPod touches have a purpose in the classroom. And they're discovering how this technology can enhance the learning environment.

The savvy devices, which have skyrocketed in popularity among college students, are utilized in a number of ways during a lecture. Uses range from a professor asking students to access material on the Internet related to a class discussion to having them take a poll on a specific topic or question to gauge their comprehension of the material being discussed in a matter of seconds.

"Using the iPod touch technology in the classroom really promotes active learning because everyone is involved," said Ruth Volz, a CMU professor who co-teaches the introductory course. "The polling also can spark some interesting discussion on what we are teaching so perhaps that one person who was too shy before will now speak up and participate."

Using this technology also prepares CMU students for their own classrooms one day.

"It's the future," Volz said. "We're seeing more and more technology integrated into our classrooms today than ever before. Our students will be ready for this."

CMU freshman Carley Shann of Auburn said using her iPod touch in the classroom did take some adjustment.

"Now that we've figured it out, it's pretty awesome," Shann said. "I don't know of a better way to get instant feedback from so many people in one place all at once. This technology allows us to do that, and most of us already have an iPhone or iPod touch so that helps out, too."

Students registered for the class who don't already own an iPod touch can rent one through the CMU Bookstore for $30.

To learn more about CMU's teacher education programs, visit http://www.cmich.edu/ehs.