Capacity that Makes a Difference
Quick! What is small in size yet can hold a large amount of space? If you answered MP3 player then you are correct – but just how such a feat can benefit you and your classroom should be further explained.
MP3 players can hold a tremendous amount of information that you can download, often onto multiple players. Digital audio files (like those for music), that are downloaded from your computer, have specific formats and are compressed at different bit rates, which means that the data is reduced in order to create smaller sized files. There are differing bit rates, and there’s also a higher bit rate (max. 192 kbps), thus creating a larger file but that just means that there is more ‘information’ on the file so that you get the crisp, full effect of the sounds, both vocal and instrumental. The Califone MP3 player/recorder can hold a minimum of 6 hours of material so that content can be ready at the touch of a fingertip.
Since use in educational settings for this type of media player goes beyond just having students listen to music or stories, this is why the 8101 has a built-in microphone. This way you and your students can create voice recordings for playback to check their progress or to capture group podcasts (stored directly onto the player’s memory). Such audio files as well as those from an audio book, which are created in a lower bit rate (32kbps) allow for up to 36 hours of material to be saved.
As MP3 players and the technological features they offer become more prevalent in classrooms, taking full advantage of its storage capacity can save you and your students’ time so that all of the audio material you introduce to them is readily available and found on a device in the palm of their hands.
