An iPod Classroom?

As a student of Mary Ward, I believe that the introduction of the use of iPods as an educational device would prove to be a very contributive and beneficial to the learning to the students of Mary Ward. It would further the self-directed learning of Mary Ward students and expand the educational environment of the school to new perspectives.

Should Mary Ward introduce the use of iPod as a learning device, I believe that students of Ward (including myself) would learn well using it. This would expand our learning levels beyond that of a classroom and place easy access to seminars in the palm of your hands. With the introduction of the iPod, preparation for tests can now be done on a TTC bus instead of just waiting to study when you get to school. Time management would be more easier if the lectures of your teacher can be accessed with just a push of a button.

With Mary Ward's commitment to self-directed learning, I hope that sometime in the future, the school will embrace this new technology as part of the school curriculum. Advantages of such technology would enable students to view seminars during transportation to/after the school, before TA check ins, lunch periods, in between periods, and revise last minute lectures before tests/exams. Also, it would aid students who are unable to attend seminars just by downloading it off the internet. With this technology, the creation of evolution of time management and dedicated learning will interest students to the new options they have in their path to success. The indirect fusion of technology and books open doors that leads to many possibilities including that of advanced learning. Although these doors may lead to positive roads, there will also be bumps along the way that represents its disadvantages. Some students may use their iPod for learning, while others may use it as an excuse to kill time while listening to music during classes. The temptation to listen to music or watch videos such as "The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift" on your iPod during classes may be too strong to resist. Aside from its crude temptation, the cost of an iPod is very high, especially to those students whose allowances cannot cover the cost. These are the barriers that we must be willing to break if we were to sucessfully use its power without negative results.

All in all, i believe that Mary Ward should embrace this technology. Thus leaving it to the students to adapt to its rewards as well as its consequences.