iPods and Creativity in Learning and Teaching: An Instructional Perspective

Creativity is a term that has many interpretations yet is seen as crucial to the development of students in higher education. As part of a wider research project entitled “Podagogy” at the University of Wolverhampton, a number of individual projects were undertaken within the performing arts subjects. The focus of the projects was to explore the potential use of iPod technologies to support student learning. This article analyzes to what extent the instructors’ use of the iPod can nurture creativity in learning and teaching. Using an interpretative approach, the research has found that the iPod is a powerful tool for developing creativity within the learning and teaching environment. In addition to identifying a number of factors that can be associated with the notion of creativity when using the iPod, the study also considers certain conditions that need to prevail in the wider institutional environment if iPods are to be adopted as a learning technology. The study also proposes a number of areas for future research.

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