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| January 7, 2009 |
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Who says you shouldn’t use your iPod in class?Pensacola Catholic High technology coordinators encourage their students to design podcasts to help elementary students learn their lessons. 
AMY FERRARA SMITH | FC PENSACOLA | Little Flower Catholic School fourth-graders Jarred Shelby and Liam Salcido took turns talking into a microphone May 15 at Pensacola Catholic High School. Next to them, senior Richard Rodriguez, himself a Little Flower graduate, monitored the sound of their voices on a computer screen. By the end of their visit to the high school, the fourth-graders had designed their own audio podcasts. The high school’s technology department, a directed-studies media class and a design-portfolio class partnered with two local elementary schools to develop these podcasts as part of the iPod Pals Project to further the learning of both the high school and primary school children. The project is the result of creative thinking on the part of Pensacola Catholic High technology coordinators Coleen Glaude and Michelle Bourgeios. Designating iPods as the learning tool, Glaude and Bourgeois had their students design podcasts, or audio files that deliver content over the Internet, to help elementary students learn their lessons. “The design-portfolio class designs the media to meet the needs,” said Glaude. “The directed-studies class manages the media and serves as the mentors.” 
AMY FERRARA SMITH | FC Junior Jarrod Lycus, a former student at St. John the Evangelist School in Pensacola, said that this project has given him a chance to see how the other parish schools learn. Katherine Joyce, also a junior and a former student at St. John the Evangelist, echoed his thoughts. “The interaction with other parishes is wonderful,” she said. “We never had the opportunity to incorporate technology the way they have with the high school students. It also helps the fourth-graders to know that we have technology at Catholic High and that one day that may be able to help other fourth-graders.” The high school has worked with Little Flower Catholic School and Oakcrest Elementary since March. Next year, said Glaude, they hope to expand the program to other elementary schools in the area. Because the fourth-graders at Little Flower found the memorization of the Ten Commandments particularly challenging, the high-schoolers created an audio file featuring a skit about God’s deliverance of the commandments to Moses, an interview with God and a catchy song to the tune of “Ten Little Indians.” They then posted it to the Pensacola Catholic High School Web site. Using iPods borrowed from the high school, the younger students downloaded the Ten Commandments audio lesson. And then they set out walking. The technology department not only aims to encourage creative thinking, but also healthy living. Little Flower students listened to the Ten Commandments podcast while exercising on their school’s campus. The technology department has also discovered a way to help the younger students practice their math skills. The Nike + iPod Sport Kit is a set that includes an iPod, to be worn on an armband or waistband, and a small shoe-mounted device, created by the Nike footwear company, that is capable of transmitting data to the iPod. When the user runs or walks, the device transmits the pace and mileage. A person can then upload this information to his or her computer and track performance over a period of time. The high school has shared this technology with Little Flower students to encourage physical education while also sharpening their math skills. “The goal is to bring technology to the schools,” said Glaude. On May 15, Bourgeois and Glaude divided the Little Flower students into small groups and partnered these groups with one or two high school students. While some students used the ran on the track recording their performance, others designed their own podcasts. They then rotated activities. Alex Colley of Little Flower School turned her attention away from the computer only briefly to talk about the day’s activities. “It’s fun,” she said, “and I can get exercise by doing it.” MORE INFOView the high-schoolers’ podcasts at www.pensacolachs.org by looking to the left column of the home page and scrolling down to find podcasts. Click and view. iPod is a Registered Trademark of Apple, Inc.
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