iPods as Mobile Multimedia Learning Environments: Individual Differences and Instructional Design

Abstract

In recent years, educators across the globe have begun to employ portable, digital media players, especially iPods, as educational platforms. Unfortunately, while the iPod grows in favor as a mobile multimedia learning environment, relatively little is empirically known about its educational impact. This chapter explores the use of the iPod as an educational platform and reports on a study designed to examine individual differences in iPod use as a mobile multimedia learning environment. This exploration into applied and basic research involving the iPod reveals that iPods are being used across a variety of content areas, educational levels and geographic locations, involving a variety of pedagogies. However, very little research has been conducted to establish the efficacy of the iPod for fostering learning. To address this need, the authors conducted a study that examined the effects of working memory capacity (WMC) on learning within an iPod-based mobile multimedia learning environment.