Anyone who has been around any children or adolescents today, knows that iPods and iPhones are an everyday common occurrence among the youth. I have a 15 month old niece who already knows how to use my iPhone and my dad's iPad. She does not know necessarily how to function the apps, but she knows that if she touches the screen for her games, she can play them, and that if the camera app is on, she can see herself. Did I mention she is only 15 MONTHS OLD??!! I know for a fact that my students constantly have their earphones in and are listening to music while they are exercising. I, personally, do not have a problem with them listening to music while exercising, but I do, however, have a problem with it if they have their earphones in while I am giving instruction or talking to them. I think it is just a growing trend as to how much our youth today is effected by technology and music in general. I wish that podcasting was as big as it is now back when I was in college, 3 YEARS ago. Oh how much has changed in 3 years! I know for a fact that it would have been amazing to have sat through a lecture, and then been able to go back and listen to it later in case I missed some important notes or needed help grasping a concept. As a physical education teacher, I believe it might be hard to do a podcast because so much of what we teach to our students is done by visual demonstration along with audio directions. I have referenced my students to YouTube many times, encouraging them to view videos on the sports we are in. For example, we did a unit on Frisbee Golf. 97% of my students have never heard of Frisbee Golf, so, I told them to look it up on YouTube and see how it is played at the "professional" level if they want to get a better idea. I have also told the students during a Nutrition unit to find videos of The Biggest Loser to watch and grasp the idea of what bad eating and exercising habits can do to a person if they are not careful. I think technology can be grasped and utilized in any subject matter. Creativity just plays a big role in adapting technology to fit your subject and the audience you are trying to reach.
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