The iPod Octopus
Implementing the iPod Touch in a PC Only environment without an Apple iPod Touch cart using only free apps requires us to problem solve some challenges. Here is a picture of what that may look like.
Parts
1: Synching PC Laptop
2: Power Supplies
3: Main USB Hub: Connects to laptop
4: USB Hubs: Connects to Main USB Hub (which connects to laptop).
The teacher synchs all iPods through a single iTunes Account. As a classroom teacher, think about the possible challenges:
1) Got Space? Look at the picture. You’ll need it.
2) Got Procedures? A good teacher provisions for everything that happens in the classroom, so determining, modeling, and coordinating a synching procedure for 29 students is very important. For example, how often will the teacher synch the iPods? When will this occur? Which students go first? How will the students get their iPods back? What will the students be doing when the teacher is entangled in those wires trying to synch?
3) Got Behavior Problems? One won’t if they do #2 correctly. (This refers to the students, not the teacher or technology specialist trying to synch.) 
4) Got Saved Work? The synching process will remove all student data from the iPods, so any files must be transferred prior to synching.
5) Got Flexibility? Not all iPods may synch upon connecting the Main USB Hub to the laptop. Based on my experience, one should not try to synch more than 5-10 iPods at a time. Which leads to:
6) Got Time? A teacher will need time to manage the synching process.
Just some of the technical challenges involved.
Due to these issues, we only synched once prior to the start of the pilot. Therefore, we had to think of all the applications and media that the students would need to do the activities. Since we used a WordPress class website, instead of our county’s Blackboard system, we did not have any problems with getting content to students.
That pic and those very smart 6 points are the reason I am fearful about going down this path in 2009. I see lots of applications for iPhones, iTouch in the classroom but this aspect of how that would actually happen make me, already time-poor, want to wait until there is a better way.
Or maybe even a purpose-built education solution.
Hello Cameron,
There are many ways educators are implementing these devices- some have gone full blown with the entire school (students and teachers taking them home) and with all the supporting Apple products like the carts, ect. Others are more limited, such as part time use of sharing a classroom set.
Obviously being able to have all the supporting products would lessen the maintenance and troubleshooting, but not everyone has that luxury- hence the purpose of that picture to help people think about what it would look like in their class. In our case, we are a PC ONLY environment limited to free apps. Your case may be different.
The important thing is to be prepared in advance- think about exactly what you want to do, start small, and plan ahead. If you do that, you will minimize most of the technical headaches.
You’re correct in pointing out that these devices have lots of applications- now just think about how they will be used and what it will take to support them based on your context, and you should be fine. Have fun. It’s worth the effort!
Patrick,
I just received a set of 15 iPod Touches for the classroom, and this is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I find myself in a similar situation as you, as I was awarded a grant for the iPods, cases, and headphone splitters only (i.e. no cart, app. budget, etc.).
Any suggestions on protective cases for the iPods? I was awarded about $10 per case.
Thanks again,
Eric
We are getting 75 itouch devices and two sync carts. I am glad I read your post- gave me something to think about. Timing the syncing process and making sure we are working efficiently and not harder.
Hello Jenny- the synch carts should help your workflow tremendously- should reduce alot of technical challenges and let you concentrate on the instructional stuff!
Patrick
We purchased a set of 25 iTouches last spring. I’ve been looking for a way to set up charging and syncing more than 3 at time. What brand/model USB hubs worked in your setup?
Hi,
Administration ordered 75 iTouches (50 for students and 25 for principals / asst. principals). We have two Bretford PowerSync cart for the 50 student iTouches 25/per cart. I haven’t had a chance to use the carts, but the sync process looks pretty straight forward. The carts are quite expensive (i think like 2000+ dollars a cart), but they look promising. I’m not sure how we are going to manage, if we do, the syncing of the administrator iTouches. When I say manage, I mean the handling of iTunes accounts etc. Each is going to do their own thing, but we want to be able to “push” audio books to their iTouches as needed. Lots of questions and no real solid foundation for a plan…It’s quite frustrating! Anyone want to brain share?
Could I suggest the possibility of using ebooks by using an RSS feed? You could post them to a blog site (most can be read by any of the free RSS reader apps). You have to fetch them though (just the tap of a virtual button in the app).
If the ebooks are available as iTunes podcasts, your RSS feeds could just be a link to the iTunes store to download.
I haven’t tried this, but it sounds feasible!
As far as this ‘octopus’ setup goes, does it allow you to sync more than one at a time? I have heard others say that only Apple computers allow more than one to sync at a time (I use Macs, and this can be done).
If kids want their own music/videos, choose the ‘manually manage music and video’ option, and these files can then be added from ANY computer. This is very useful for time management. Audio/video can be added from a group of computers, so you only need to sync with your ‘app computer’ when you add new apps.
If you give each class the responsibility for managing their own apps, this can easily be timetables.
Each class at my school has their own iTunes account (I started with $40 credit) and this has been plenty for the first 8 months of the year. Nobody has even nearly spent it!
I have described in a little more detail here:
http://deonscanlon.edublogs.org
How have you all gotten funding for such AMAZING techno tools?
Just curious…I come from a small school in a rural/low SES area where county $ is sparce – but I love any techno tools and would love a class set (15-16) in our 5th grade rooms!
That looks tricky! I’ve only got 7 for my class. 5m slowly trying to sync my 1st generation ipod touch’s at mo. At the moment i am using the same itunes account to upgrade to version 3.0. But each ipod has to download the files, do you know of a quicker way.
Thanks
Phil
how do you manage syncing a classroom set? do you set them all to the same profile? I just got a set of 15 3 days ago and in the first trial I am syncing them as a copy or restore of the first one.
what are drawbacks to this method? what has worked for others?
I too am interested in knowing what is the best method for setting up the profile and accounts for syncing the IPods. Should all the IPods have the same name (profile) in order for them to all sync to one account? What are some of the things you learned by doing in this respect? Do you use all free apps. Will one account work for all IPods if apps are purchased?
We are in the process of setting up the IPods and I’d like to do it the best method right out of the blocks. Thanks
I have 60 iPod touches and 2 TriBeam sync carts with non-Mac laptop computers. I’ve been trying unsuccessfully to sync for weeks and am ready to start throwing them at people. I have been able to sync some with an older version of iPod touch software but the ones with the new version will not sync. The company has not been helpful–their software won’t even load on the laptop. I even called Apple whose response was ‘buy a Mac’ and then they hung up. Please not I was NOT involved in choosing these, just presented with them after someone else made all the decisions and charged me with making them work.