Handheld computers in the library

This blog is about an assignment where our technology director gave us $10,000 to spend on technology. I chose to spend the money on the Apple ipod 32G. This particular ipod is $299. per unit, this would allow the library to buy 33 ipods. The remainder of the money, a little over $100, will be used for extra ear pods, each unit comes with a set. Students will be encouraged to purchase their own. The itunes store offers free educational apps for the ipod. I noticed celebrations about Jamestown's 400th birthday, art projects as well as ebooks. This would also be an excellent way for nonreaders to complete their reading assignments. This would be great to use for example in a history class. The students could chose a character from the Jamestown podcast and produce a power point or report to describing Jamestown from his perspective 400 years ago. Geography classes could down load videos about countries they are studying and get a more accurate feel for the culture and the environment than a textbook could give them. Ipods could also be used for students that missed an important assembly or presentation, this would especially be good for homebound students. While browsing through the itunes store I was reminded of the Apple application where anytime anyone says anything the announcer says, "There's an app for that."