Using iPods to learn and study

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

Paul Nelson reportingRetailers say there's a generational gap in how people use their iPods. Some say older people aren't even using them as music players.

Let's see, what on my iPod? I've got some Fall Out Boy, some Sara Bareilles, some Earth, Wind and Fire and M.C. Hammer's "It's All Good." That last song has sentimental value, it's not like I actually like it.

You don't believe me, do you?

Anyway.

I don't have anything on my iPod that could make me smarter, and neither do many people I've met in Salt Lake.

I asked one man, "What do you have on your iPod?" He answered, "Just a big variety of music."

I asked two others if they knew there were study guides and tutorials they could get for their iPod. Both assured me they had no idea.

The Online Education Database has come out with its list of 100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better. Its list includes everything from cooking lessons to SAT prep classes to audio books and electronic versions of CliffsNotes. One Web site, called VangoNotes, lets people download history lessons, while the WorldNomads Language Guide can teach you to chat with someone in Indonesia.

While some people may look at these things as cool extras, others see these tutorials and podcasts as the real reason to get an iPod in the first place.

Best Buy Media Customer Specialist Traci Thunborg said, "Actually the older generation [customers] that come in, come in wanting it for the podcasts. They can stay up on their news and what's going on in the world. They could kind of care less about the music."

Thunborg says many customers don't realize how many podcasts are even available, and more mp3 players are equipped to download these things.

"The Zunes are starting the podcasts, too." Thunborg said.

Maybe I should start looking into ways my iPod could make me smarter. I still feel pretty stupid for downloading Captain and Tennille's Love Will Keep Us Together. Seriously, man, what was I thinking?

E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com