Creating Voice Memos on the iPod Nano

The iPod is many things and there are so many ideas for ways to use the iPod in the classroom that I decided to break down the suggestions into feature groups. So this post is dedicated to the way Voice Memos or an iPod as an audio recorder can be used in the classroom.  If you are unsure how to record Voice Memos on the iPod, please take a minute to watch the video below.

The first idea that I would like to share is a simple way to help students with written output. Instead of wasting time staring blankly at an empty sheet of paper, unsure of what to write or how to begin, give students an an iPod and have them 'tell' their story first. When finished recording have students listen to the story they created and then write it down. No more blank pages!!

Or take it a step further and try this:
Have your students think of an exciting beginning to a story they want to tell (characters and setting).  Record the beginning using the iPod and press pause (the middle button) when finished.  Then have the students develop their story by creating the middle (plot or introduce the problem) and record it by unpausing the iPod and adding on to the beginning.  Press pause when finished.  Finally, have the students develop the end of the story (solve the problem) and record it by the same method.  Stop the recording and listen to a complete story with a beginning, middle and end.  The student can then write the story they created (or simply listen and upload), and you, can enjoy the dramatic improvement in your students story development and writing skills!

Now, I know these ideas won't work as well for the primary students (and teachers), but I don't want you to think that you can't use the iPods with your students.  So I have tried to come up with some ideas that would be helpful at different age groups.  Here are a few interesting ways to use an iPod as an audio record:

Kindergarten - use the iPod to record an interview with each of your students, describing what they love about their mom. Upload the interviews or burn them to disk and send them home with the students to give to mom on Mother's Day.

Grade 1 - use the iPod to record your students reading at different times during the year.  Upload or burn the recording to disk to send home for parents to keep as a memento.  Guaranteed this one would be saved forever!

Grade 2 - record PM Benchmark retells or other assessments that require students to explain their thinking.  You could even have the students listen back to their retell, asking them if they would like to add any additional details.

Grade 3 - record a collaborative classroom story.  Pass around the iPod and have students record one line of a story before passing the iPod to the next student to add another line.  Listen to the story created as a class and upload to your class website for parents to enjoy as well.

Grade 4 - use the iPods to record public speaking practice.  Have the students listen to their recorded speech and ask themselves if they are using expression, speaking clearly, etc.

Grade 5 - use the iPods to interview an expert on a research topic of choice.  This could be a parent or grandparent for an oral history project or a community leader for a government project.

Here are some other ideas for using the audio recording feature on the iPod nano's in the classroom.


Apple - Education - iPod in the Classroom - Lesson Plans -


Please take a moment and share your ideas for using audio recording in the classroom by commenting below.  Thanks!