Learn about iPod Touch educational applications at our new iPod Touches in the Classroom workshop.

Enhancing Lessons With Media
by Lealynd Tuskan, 21st Century Learning Consultant ()

As learning moves away from teacher-directed methods, teachers can look to music, podcasts, videos and images to support their content. The World Wide Web is a mecca of educationally appropriate resources.

Following are some examples of media resources that potentially could be used in the classroom to enhance the students’ learning experiences:

• For video, take advantage of Teacher Tube (http://www.teachertube.com) and School Tube (http://www.schooltube.com). Each one of these sites is dedicated to providing educational content shared by teachers and students. Find a video on Teacher Tube that is right for you and select “download for free.”

• On YouTube, you can utilize an online file conversion software for free at http://www.zamzar.com. Zamzar allows you to take any YouTube or School Tube video URL address and download the video to a file type of your choice.

• Continue to connect yourself with media resources through iTunes and iTunes U. Visit www.apple.com and download iTunes for free. The iTunes store provides a large collection of educational resources. Start subscribing to podcasts and receive updated audio broadcasts of content for all subject areas. Search a specific topic and find music and video. As the iTunes Store continues to grow, media resources can be introduced during whole-group lessons or downloaded to students’ mobile devices. ITunes U is an alternative resource dedicated to providing innovative educational content. Explore lectures, language lesson, video, podcasts, audiobooks and more. All resources are free to download and available within your iTunes library. For more information, visit http://www.apple.com/education/itunes-u.

Learn more about digital media at our new iPod Touch in Your Classroom and Working in the Mobile Classroom workshops to be held in April and May. Find out more at www.westernreservepublicmedia.myworkshops.com.