How to incorporate unlikely technologies into the classroom

As teachers we will constantly be looking for new and innovative ways to present new material and keep our students' attention. The use of unlikely technologies into the classroom is just one way to accomplish this goal. Unlikely technologies that can be very helpful in the classroom are ipods, iphones, and idocs. These tools may not appear to be classroom tools, however there are many uses for these new popular devices. There are new educational apps for your iphone or itouch that aid in student comprehension such as the bilingual app, and the reading aid app. These apps and more are shown here: www.scribd.com/doc/24470331/iPhone-and-iPod-touch-Apps-for-Special-Education.

I docs can also be very useful in class room simulations. They help create a fun and inviting learning environment that caters to all types of learning. Incorporating an ipod/ idoc into your lesson will enable auditory learners to make connections with the content that they may have missed had the material been presented in an alternative way. Here are just a few examples of how one can incorporate an idoc into their lesson:
Social Studies lesson: a teacher can simulate trench warfare by:
1. Breaking the students into two teams.
2. Turning over the desks
3. Collect enough newspaper and scrap paper to act as "bullets".
4. The students duck down behind their desks while wearing their backpacks to simulate war conditions
5. The students will then commence throwing paper balls at one another, abiding by the rule of where ever you get hit, you lose that limb. If you get hit in chest you are automatically out. Head hits are strictly forbidden.
6. The idoc can be inserted in this lesson to simulate the sounds of flying bullets as a means of making the simulation more authentic.

Math:
Students can learn their multiplication tables through various songs. These songs can be stored on the teacher's ipod and amplified through the use of an idoc. These tools are easier to control and more efficient than former musical technologies.

Science:
Students can instantly be transported into various ecosystems through the use of visuals such as powerpoint and an ipod/idoc to simulate the sounds of various ecosystems

English:
The aforementioned iphone apps would aid greatly in promoting reading comprehension as they present the content in a fun way that aids different comprehension techniques.

These are just a few of the many ways in which ipods/ iphones/ and idocs can be incorporated into the classroom to create a fun and innovative classroom environment.