mLearning Hub - How eLearning Goes Mobile

mLearning & Apple's iPod

mLearning Products Possible with the iPod

Here is a list of the types of educational products that can be successfully deployed onto the iPod. Please note that there is a huge variety of iPod models out there, and not all products will work on all iPods. Please view our iPod version chart to see which mLearning products are compatible with what models.

• Audio: the iPod started its life as a portable music player, and thus any model will support audio-based educational content. Lectures, presentations, audio glossaries, narrated tours and of course Podcasts are popular mLearning audio products for the iPod.
• Video: in 2005 the "video" iPod was introduced with full support for color video. This opened the door for video-based educational content such as lectures, presentations, visual "how-tos", video podcasts, animations and related media. The iPod uses a proprietary video format .mv4, however it will play .mp4 files, just with a sometimes noticeable reduction in quality. Most popular video formats can be converted into the .mv4 file type with software such as QuickTime Pro.
• Quizzes: the iPod has two different native applications for presenting quizzes: "iQuiz" and "Notes".
  • iQuiz is a graphical-based application that supports small questions in the True / False or Multiple Choice formats. It keeps score, provides feedback and sets a time limit for answering questions. This feature is only available with the more advanced iPods.
  • Notes is a text-based application that works off of a very simple mark-up language similar to HTML. Notes-based quizzes do not support formatted text or graphics, but they do support links and audio. There is also no imposed limit to question length or number.
• Flashcards: iPods with color screens and the capabilities for storing images can support the use of flashcards. Stylish designs incorporating formatted text and images are possible with flashcards, however there is a limit to the amount of text that can be placed in an individual card.

Apple's iTunes University

Apple is actively engaging the mobile learning world with the introduction of iTunes University. We strongly encourage all considering entering the mobile learning market to check out iTunes University and what it has to offer.