Is the iPod a good learning tool?

Dan Colman over at Open Culture posts 10 ways to use your iPod as a learning device.

The iPod can supercharge your learning. But it’s often a matter of finding the right software and content.

I suppose the iPod has some good educational uses (I listen to German language learning podcasts for example) but to say this little device can supercharge your learning is excessively enthusiastic.

Let's go through some of the items on Dan's list:

1) Put Wikipedia on Your Ipod: Encyclopodia is a free piece of software that brings Wikipedia to the iPod. Encyclopodia can be installed on iPod generations 1 through 4, as well as iPod Minis.

Very limited utility here. Works only on older iPods. Navigating Wikipedia this way will make you want to throw brittle ceramic objects against walls.

2) Watch DVDs on Your iPod: This free, open source software works on MacOS X, Linux and Windows, and makes it simple to load and watch DVDs on your video iPod. Here are some helpful instructions to get you started.

A program mentioned here, Handbrake, is actually pretty cool. But it takes a loooong time to convert a DVD to watch on your iPod. And I'm guessing most people who use it would probably convert Superbad over some dry educational material. But perhaps I shouldn't project my lack of iPod-based intellectual curiosity on the general public...

3) Load YouTube Videos to Your iPod: ConvertTube allows you to take any YouTube video and convert it to a format that works on your iPod.

I'm going to give this a try, as well as a similar service, Tubesock. But I'm probably going to lean toward funny or entertaining YouTube clips over the brainy variety.

6) Create eBooks for the iPod: This bit of software turns text files into ebooks that you can read on your iPod. After you load a text file, it will make the text readable through iPod Notes (which you can find under “Extra Setttings”).

Reading a book on an iPod? Nein, danke. But hey, if it's your cup of tea...

7) Record Web Audio and Move it To Your iPod: Designed for Macs, iRecordMusic enables you to easily record audio from web pages and Internet radio streams. So if you’re surfing the web and find a good piece of streamed audio, it lets you record it and then transfer the media to your iPod.

8) Get a Civic Education on Your Ipod: This site allows you to download to your iPod ten important documents that any educated American should be familiar with. The texts include: The Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, Bill of Rights, Louisiana Purchase Treaty, Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, Civil Rights Act, and several others.

Having these documents on your iPod would be ok, but how often will you truly be consulting the Louisiana Purchase Treaty on your music player? I think you know the answer.

10) Study Foreign Languages, Take University Courses, and Listen to AudioBooks on Your iPod - All for Free: Ok, so this is a cheap but worthwhile plug for some of our richest podcast collections. Our Foreign Language Podcast Collection lets your learn over 25 different foreign languages. Our AudioBook podcast collection will give you portable access to 100+ classic works of literature and nonfiction. And this university podcast collection provides access to over 85 courses recorded at leading American universities..

As I mentioned, I listen to some German language learning podcasts because I'm trying to learn the language. I've sampled every podcast I can find in this category, and I can say that most are a waste of time. But I've found a couple of good ones. I'll listen to them as I take walks around my neighborhood. Open Culture is a great place to go to find this material. Thanks for all the work, Dan...