It’s no mystery that Apple’s iPhone is quickly working its way up the list of top trendy things for college students to own. The iPhone’s unique touchscreen interface has introduced the potential for huge numbers of applications both practical and fun. In fact, some colleges are even beginning to issue iPhones to new students. Many developers have seized this opportunity and made extremely useful applications for reading, writing, and studying. As the iPhone becomes more popular, ambitious developers are inventing new ways to use it for Education.
Among the simplest of Educational uses is the ability to take notes. While typing on the iPhone proves to be a bit more difficult for new users than it is simply typing on a keyboard, taking notes on the touch screen is far faster than trying to type on a regular cell phone. Experts can even learn to type faster than they write, thanks to the iPhone’s built-in ability to correct typos and misspellings. The iPhone has a built in application designed for notetaking. There are numerous other more complicated writing applications available for download on iTunes, both free and paid, for those who are considering using their iPhone as a primary method of notetaking. For those not sitting in a quiet classroom (or those sitting close to the instructor), the microphone on the device can be used to take audio notes.
The iTunes store has a number of applications designed specifically as study aids. Regardless of what a student’s major may be, the online store provides some form of useful program intended to make life easier. Special calculators, most of them free, designed just for Math and Physics majors. It is no trouble finding free applications that list, or even describe, the entire table of elements. An entire category of applications designed just for medical students and professionals has been added to the iTunes application store.
Though normal college students can benefit from an iPhone or an iPod Touch, few will benefit as much as students who take courses online. The iPhone helps students who take distance learning courses online overcome things that might otherwise serve as roadblocks. The iPhone can store entire downloaded video or audio lectures for busy students. Those who store much of their schoolwork on their home computer can install applications that allow them to remotely access files related to their studies. The built in browser allows iPhone users to research topics nearly anywhere, and allows iTouch users to research in any location with a usable wifi signal. In addition to this, the built-in browser is helpful for students who take online courses to easily access course websites and information.
The world of technology continues to make learning easier every day. There can be no doubt that an interested student will find something in the iPhone or iPod Touch to aid them in their studies.
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