The iPod Touch in Costa Rica

Hello from Denver! I am writing from the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Conference. There have been some amazing panels and workshops. My closing workshop of the day dealt with a project by Judith Beaver, Jerome Burg and Sharon Sikora Franz, PhD, in which students were taken on a science field trip to Costa Rica to conduct field research at several sites, including Santa Rosa National Park, Earth University, and Rincon de La Vieja National Park. At these sites, students explored the rainforest and collected data on flora, fauna, and geology using the iPod touch as their primary technology tool. It was incredible! The teacher had them download about 10+ science related apps that they used for fieldwork.

• Quickoffice
• FiRe Field Recorder
• Tap Forms
• Caliper
• TapeMeasure
• Clinometer
• iBird
• Distant Suns
• Dragon Dictation
• Sonic Pics

They were mainly helpful as far as field work went. For instance, SonicPics allows you to create picture slideshows with custom timing and record voice narration over them. You can then upload them to the web and make them available. I think the ability to create custom media like this can enable course developers & facilitators to reach a diverse range of learners.

Let it go on record that I plan to spend an entire day exploring iBird. Simply because of the name.