Time is a precious commodity. You have to use every little second efficiently when preparing for a big test. There is so much information to pack into your head and so little time. Why not use your ipod to maximize your information absorption and retention? This is exactly what I will teach you in this article. We will cover using the notes function in your ipod and recording MP3s and importing them with the free open source audio software Audacity.
Ok, if you have an iPod, you're in luck. It can be an incredibly useful educational tool. I found the notes idea on the Online Education Database. It involves creating notes, flashcards, bullets, or study guides and importing them into your iPod's note program. If you like this tip, go visit the OED and read the other 99 iPod education tips.
Portable notes [from Macworld]
"Podcasts are useful tools, but what if what you really need is easy access to class notes, minutes from a meeting, or a speech you’re trying to memorize for your daughter’s wedding? You can use the iPod’s Notes feature to store lectures and other material that you can peruse at any time.
To start, you’ll need to put your iPod into disk mode. Connect your iPod to your Mac, go to iTunes, and select the iPod from the Devices list on the left. Under the Summary tab, click on the Enable Disk Use option. Once you’ve turned on disk mode, your iPod should appear as a volume on your desktop. Double-click on the iPod icon and locate the Notes folder.
You’ll then need to convert anything you want to show up in the iPod’s Notes to plain text files [i.e. a .txt file], either by using a program such as Apple’s free TextEdit or by saving your Microsoft Word documents as Text Only (File: Save As). Then, just drag each file you want to the Notes folder on the iPod. If you plan to store a bunch of notes, it’s best to create folders—say, one for each class. You can help keep those lists further pruned by creating subfolders and organizing notes by week or topic, for instance.
Once you disconnect your iPod, you can find your files under Notes. If you don’t see this option in your main iPod menu, look under Extras. If you want to promote Notes to your iPod’s main menu, visit Settings: Main Menu, scroll down to Notes, and click on the iPod’s select button to turn this option on."
The next tip involves using a free program called Audacity to record classes or notes that you need to review and importing them into your iPod. The first thing that you will need to do is download the program. Version 1.3.4 is still in the beta phase, but seems to be stable. I have been using it for about a month and have had no problems. The benefit to using 1.3.3 or higher is that you can record audio and convert it directly out to MP3. This is good because iTunes will readily accept MP3s.
Once your audio is recorded, you can edit it to reduce background noise, cut pauses or comments out, and increase or decrease the master volume [check out the Audacity Wiki]. Then choose File>export>Save as type and choose MP3. Name the file and save it to some easy to remember folder. Next open iTunes and import the MP3 to your library. At this point, you can sync your iPod. Now you can take your home-brew brain food on a walk or to the gym. Exercise and education, now that is a winning combo!
Currently rated 4.5 by 2 people
- Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5