Apple released the second generation iPod Touch last Tuesday. This new iPod Touch now contains the one essential feature for making it perfect for education: it now has microphone support!

I have been eagerly awaiting microphone support for the iPod Touch because I believe simplified podcasting creation is essential for educators.  You could of course create a podcast with Garage Band or some other software program and sync the podcast to the touch, but educators need a simple, no-hassle, one-step solution for creating podcasts at the spur of the moment. Now the iPod Touch has it. The iPod in Every Classroom Initiative I started a few years ago is about to get revamped.

Now the that iPod Touch can create podcasts on the fly like all of the earlier iPods, let’s review the other great technological features that really set it apart from all the others as a learning tool for the classroom. First of all, Podcasting should be an essential part of every classroom. The iPod Touch will make that even easier. Microphones for the previous iPod line was around $50 or $60, but this new Touch will be able to use a much more economical microphone as a MacRumors post has demonstrated. The post states that the headphone jack will accept a four rung headset with microphone. Video Podcasts will now be even better on a larger screen. Second, the Educational Apps for the iPod Touch are growing at an incredible rate.  There are currently over 160 Educational Apps at the iTunes Store, and the list is growing every day. One great app titled Flashcard allows any teacher to create a study tool for the iPod Touch. Third, the iPod Touch’s overall concept of durability, battery reliability, ease of use, and cost ($229) make it a great fit for the classroom.  Anyone can pick it up and start using it.  It is affordable enough for any classroom.  It has built in security features for both theft and volume, and it is a hard one to damage.  The “touch” concept makes students addicted to learning. (Teachers control the content on the device.) Last, and by no means least, it has the internet.  Students can access the sites you announce instantly via WiFi.

I am excited about making an iPod Touch in Every Classroom a new focus.