EducationHardware

=**IPODS AND PODCAST**= IPods and Podcast have been used by universities and schools to further enhance teaching and learning techniques. Example of places, the Duke University and Gracemount High School have put this technology into process. Both positive and negative feedbacks resulted. Students learning new language find this useful, as they are able to listen and understand that particular language in greater extent. Downloading the podcast of this subject allows the student to playback a particular session in class many times. This would also mean providing the student with a greater chance of learning according to their pace. This includes allowing the students to study in any time suitable for them; night or day.

Besides those advantages, it also acts as a good device for sharing files among teachers and students. Updated or recent documents can be easily collected and distributed. However, although it is a good device to strengthen teaching and learning technique, it also serves to be a nuisance when one does not know how to use it well. It can be a distraction and may end up student lack in progress. For example, a student may even use it to download unnecessary data, which takes up memory space, or, to use it for other purposes like watching a movie during lesson time.

In addition, it takes time for the teachers and students to learn how to use ipod and podcasting. Feedbacks have shown that many have encountered problems in using the ipod, especially when one needs to find the time to learn all features available. Ipods, like many communication devices (mobile phones) have a durability percentage. In this case, quite low. Users need to take a very good care of it and to limit the number of falls it take. While users have to good care of it, parents are also have to be aware on the security of their child/children. Many may mug the students from Duke University, who provide free ipods. The cost of maintaining the ipods is high. To provide and upgrade the Ipod is also time consuming.

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